Paneer Tikka discs is a deicious bite sized appetizer for everyone. Crispy bread coated with a layer of mint pesto, filled with paneer tikka and topped with cheese.
A nice fusion of great flavors in a single bite. What else does one need other than this for a quick bite. Crispy, crunchy, spicy and so cheezy and very appetizing to the eye and taste buds. So these paneer tikka pizza discs are so great and lovable by the family. A pizza for kids, paneer tikka for adults, creative cooking idea for a home chef.
WHY MAKE THESE PANEER TIKKA PIZZA DISCS?
- They are bite size appetizers, simple portion size.
- Uses all fresh ingredients and no added preservatives.
- Can be made ahead for a party, just bake while serving.
- Paneer tikka has a nice flavor and taste.
- Quick and easy to assemble and make than regular pizza base.
- Choose your bread to make the discs.
- Low in calories compared to traditional pizza bases.
INGREDIENTS AND POSSIBLE VARIATIONS
-
- Paneer : Paneer is the main ingredient of the recipe, for a dairy free option use tofu or any choice of veggies.
- Bread : Any kind of bread works fine for this recipe, brown bread adds a nice darker color to the recipe.
- Mustard Oil : This is the main ingredient that adds thats smoky flavor to the paneer tikka. Can use any oil but try not to substitute for the flavor.
- Cheese : Any processed cheese you like on your pizza works here.
- Besan : Besan is a flour made from grinding beggal gram ( a lentil). It helps to bind the spices well with the paneer pieces and veggies, you can skip it too.
- Spice Powders : While the chioce of spices can vary, roasted cumin powder, coriander powder, tandoori masala powder, kasoori meethi are a must. Use garam masala in place of tandoori masala.
- Lemon Juice : Juice of lemon enhances the flavors of the recipe.
- Veggies : Green bell peppers, onion and tomatoes are major veggies that enhances nice flavor to the paneer tikka.
- Butter : Brush the assembled bread discs with butter. While this is optional it will enhance a crispier and brown finished product.
PROCEDURE TO MAKE PANEER TIKKA PIZZA DISCS
Marinate paneer and veggies
To make these amazing pizza discs we need to marinate the paneer first. Cube paneer into 3×3 cms and dice the veggies.
Prepare the marination by adding a spoonful of mustard oil, YES mustard oil has a bold flavor and is a must for all your marinations, especially veggies. Add besan, spices and mix well. Coat the paneer cubes and veggies and set aside for 20 minutes.
Prepare mint pesto
The base of the bread is coated with mint pesto or any chutney like corinader. This mint pesto has a bold and nice flavor, so i always have this in hand. It can also be used to marinate tofu, paneer and veggies.
Feel free to use any thing in hand or to prepare this mint pesto click the link for recipe.
Mix mint sauce from above recipe or corinader chutney to yogurt and set aside. The remaining canbe used as a dip later.
Saute paneer and veggies
Sautee the marinated veggies in a teaspoon of oil. Set aside to cool when oil starts oozing out. It usually takes less than 5 minutes depending on the heat.
Prepare your bread
Bread has to be little stale rather than soft for this recipe. It is always recommended to leave the bread out ahead to dry, as this will ease cutting into discs. You can also cut them ahead.
To cut the bread into cirlces we need to different size cookies rings, one smaller than the other. In place of cookie rings you can use any sharper edge utensils like cups or glasses.
First cut each slice of bread using the larger cookie ring. This larger bread circle acts as the base of the disc. Now to make a ring use the small cookie ring(usually a cms smaller than other) to further make cut it.
Have equal number of discs and rings.The pictures/video below should make you understand the process better.
You can use the smaller disc to further make another ring and disc.
Prepare the pizza discs
To prepare the pizza discs coat the disc with mint pesto. Then place the bread ring on the top. This forms a pocket to hold the veggies and paneer.
Put a spoonful of cooked veggies in the center and spread.
Cover the top with shredded mozerella cheese. Cheese melts and holds the bread and veggies together. Brush the edges with melted butter. It is optional but adds a nice color.
Bake the pizza discs
Bake the pizza discs in a preheated oven. Bake till the bread is brown on the edges.
The veggies are already cooked so bake till the cheese melts.
Bake on stove top
To bake them on stove top, brush a wide pan with some butter or oil and place them in single layer. Cover and cook till cheese melts on low heat.
Enjoy these pizza discs as is or with chioce of accomplishments. These bite sized party appetizers are a new way of delight from regular pizza. Loaded with full of flavors and soft paneer these will definetly wow your guests at any gathering.
The process might seem a little overwhelming but most of these can be made ahead like slicing the bread, mint pesto ect..
Assemble them ahead in time and just bake before your serve.
TOP TIPS FOR THIS RECIPE
- Place the bread outside the pack ahead, this will make the bread harden a bit and easy to cut.
- Adding sour cream to the mint sauce will lessen its spicy flavor.
- You can spread the mint sauce with out mixing to the sourcream for more spicy flavor.
- Do not spread the mint sauce too ahead of time it will make the bread soggy if your bread is very soft.
- Assemble the pizza discs while the oven is preheating and place the in oven quickly do not let them sit out too long.
- while serving for a party for larger quantities prepare all ingredients and assemble and bake quickly just before serving.
- Use bread that is stale insted of fresh bread, leave it outside ahead, this results in crispier discs.
WATCH PANEER TIKKA PIZZA DISCS RECIPE HERE
Paneer Tikka Pizza Discs
Equipment
- Oven
- Medium/Large Pan
- Mixing bowls
Ingredients
For Paneer Marination
- 2 tbsp Mustard Oil
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Besan
- ¾ tsp Coriander Powder
- ½ tsp Roasted Cumin Powder
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice ½ lemon appox.
- 1 tsp Tandoori Masala
- ½ tsp Kasoori Meethi Dried Fenugreek leaves
- 1 tbsp Water or Yogurt/Sour Cream
- Salt to taste
For Paneer Tikka
- 150 gms Paneer (cubed to small pieces)
- ¼ cup Onion diced
- 3 tbsp Capsicum 30 gms diced
- 2 tbsp Tomato deseeded and diced
- 1 tbsp Oil any oil
For Mint Spead
- 2 tbsp Mint Pesto (recipe link in notes)
- 2 tbsp Sour Cream
For Bread Discs
- 12 Bread slices White or Brown
- ¼ cup Shredded Cheese Mozerella
- 1 tbsp Melted Butter
Instructions
Prepare Marination
- Mix all the ingredients from the marination list to form a smooth paste.
- Cut Paneer, onions, green peppers (capsicum) , tomato to tiny pieces. (use pic/video for referernce). Mix paneer and veggies to the marinate and leave for 10 - 15 mins.
To Prepare Bread discs
- While its marinating prepare the bread discs and mint pesto.
- Use a large disc, bowl to make circles of bread ( 12 pieces). Set 6 bread discs aside. Now with slightly smaller bowl or ring make cut 6 rings. Save the center disc to make 3 smaller discs and rings.
- In a small bowl add 2 tbsp Sour Cream and Mint Pesto (mint corinader chutney) and mix well.
Cook Paneer
- In a pan add oil and cook the marinated paneer for few minutes, till oil starts leave from edges.
Assemble Paneer Discs
- Preheat the Oven to 350°F/180°C
- Spread prepared mint spread on 6 large discs and place the ring on the top. That creates a space in center for the paneer tikka.
- Add a tbsp of cooked panner tikka in the center, adjust to all the discs. Top with grated cheese.
- Brush the edges of the bread discs with butter, this adds nice color when baked
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes till edges of bread are brown and cheese is melted.
- Serve hot with left over mint pesto chutney, your favourite sauces or as is.
Notes
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK !!!
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this recipe if you make it. So drop me a comment below, and be sure to tag on social media.
Also, let us know about any varaitions you made to this recipe, we would love to try it too.
Love to share your yummy pictures with us? Please share on Instagram @connect2hameesha and hashtag it #connect2hameesha
Subscribe to my Youtube Channel Hameesha for more amazing videos.
These look sooo good! I can’t wait to try.
This looks so delicious
This looks sooo good