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Indian cooking / Dishes / Dahi Ke Kebab (Tandoori Home Cooking)
Dahi Ke Kebab (Tandoori Home Cooking) (Spiced Yoghurt & Paneer Kebabs with Chilli, Ginger & Garam Masala)

Dahi Ke Kebab (Tandoori Home Cooking)

Spiced Yoghurt & Paneer Kebabs with Chilli, Ginger & Garam Masala
VegetarianMakes 9

Dahi ke kebab are soft pan-fried patties made from drained yoghurt and grated paneer, seasoned with chilli, ginger, coriander and warm spices. They have a creamy centre and a lightly crisp golden crust.

Kebab spices

1.8 gStirred into the kebab mixture (step 3)
01
Cumin seed · Jeeracoarsely crushed
1.1 g½ teaspoon
spice
02
0.7 g¼ teaspoon
spice blend
Crush the cumin coarsely and add it, with the garam masala, to the kebab bowl.

Everything else

02
Paneerfinely grated (shredded)
120 g
dairy
03
14 g2 tablespoons
other
04
12 g2 tablespoons
flour
05
2 g2 tablespoons
herb
06
3 g2 chillies
vegetable
07
Fresh ginger · Adrakfinely chopped
10 g2½ cm
aromatic
08
to taste
salt
09
Oilfor shallow frying
to taste
oil/fat

Method

  1. Line a sieve with muslin and spoon in 250 g greek yoghurt. Draw the cloth ends together, tie them, suspend the bundle over a bowl and refrigerate overnight so the liquid drains off and the yoghurt becomes firm.
  2. In a bowl, mix 120 g paneer, 13.8 g fine breadcrumbs, 12 g chickpea flour, 2 g coriander leaf, 4 g green bird's-eye chilli and 5 g ginger root.
  3. Stir in the kebab spices.
  4. Add the drained yoghurt and salt to taste. Work everything together into a thick mixture that holds its shape.
  5. Divide into 9 portions and press each into a small flat patty. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
  6. Film a wide frying pan with oil and heat over medium. Add the patties and cook for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp at the edges.
  7. Lift onto kitchen paper to blot.

Don't have something?

Greek yoghurt
Paneer
  • Extra-firm tofu

    Use equal weight, pressed well to remove excess moisture and cut into cubes. Pan-fry lightly before adding; absorbs sauces similarly, though it lacks dairy sweetness.

  • Halloumi

    Use equal weight, soaked in warm water for 20 minutes to leach out excess salt. Holds shape during frying, but has a denser, saltier chew.

Fine breadcrumbs
  • White breadcrumb

    Use the same weight and pulse fresh white bread to a fine crumb; adjust with a little extra liquid if the mix feels dry.

  • Panko breadcrumbs

    Use the same weight but crush them finer; they give a coarser, crunchier texture and absorb less moisture.

  • Dried breadcrumb

    Use 75–80% of the weight and moisten with about 10% extra liquid; dried crumbs absorb more and can dry a mix.

Chickpea flour
  • Yellow split pea flour

    Use 100% of the weight. Many commercial gram flours are milled from split peas; performs identically in pakora batters and kadhi.

  • Cornstarch

    For crisping batters or binding cutlets: use 50% to 60% of the weight. Produces a very crisp shell but lacks the earthy, roasted nutty flavour of besan.

Coriander leaf
  • Coriander

    Use equal weight finely chopped; this is the exact same fresh herb.

  • Mint

    Use half the weight finely chopped; provides vibrant green freshness, though the flavour profile becomes noticeably cooler and sharper.

Green bird's eye chilli
  • Bird's eye green chilli

    Use the same weight; heat and flavour are very close.

  • Green chilli

    Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; deseed for less heat. Larger chillies are more watery.

  • Fresh green chilli

    Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; chop finely and adjust heat by tasting.

Fresh ginger
  • Ginger paste

    Use equal weight. Sauté in hot fat until the raw allium smell disappears; slightly wetter, but provides identical warmth and pungency.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.

Cumin seed
  • Ground cumin

    Use 70% of the weight; add with ground spices or sauce bases rather than hot oil tempering, where it scorches quickly and turns bitter.

  • Black cumin seeds

    Use equal weight for oil tempering. Delivers an earthy profile with an additional musky, smoky, and slightly bitter edge.

  • Fennel seed

    Use 60% of the weight for tempering; offers comparable warm aroma, but leans sweet and liquorice-like rather than savoury and earthy.

Garam masala
  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.

  • Lentil stew spice mix

    Use 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Oil
  • Vegetable oil

    Use the same weight. It is neutral and behaves the same in frying and tempering; no noticeable change in flavour.

  • Corn or vegetable oil

    Use the same weight. Neutral and good for high heat; the dish will taste virtually the same.

  • Groundnut oil

    Use the same weight. It has a mild nutty flavour and is good for Indian cooking; heat until just hot, not smoking, so the nuttiness does not dominate.

Similar dishes

Mattha/Chaas
Cooling Yoghurt Drink
Mattha/Chaas is thinner, colder and more cooling than this dish, with a light tangy yoghurt base and a gentle chilli-ginger spice kick rather than a creamy paneer centre and crisp crust.
  • Same: Mattha/Chaas shares Greek yoghurt, green bird's-eye chilli, ginger, cumin seed, coriander and salt with this dish, and both get their tang from yoghurt.
  • Different: Mattha/Chaas adds water and is whisked into a chilled drink, while this dish adds paneer, breadcrumbs, chickpea flour and garam masala and is pan-fried in oil into patties.
Haraa Paneer Tikka
Haraa Paneer Tikka tastes fresher and more herby from mint and coriander, with mild chilli heat and a smoky char, while this dish is creamier inside with a crisp golden crust and warm spice.
  • Same: Haraa Paneer Tikka shares paneer, Greek yoghurt, chickpea flour, garam masala, green chilli and coriander leaf with this dish.
  • Different: Haraa Paneer Tikka adds bell pepper, red onion, mint, garlic, lemon or chaat masala, butter and vegetable oil, and it lacks this dish’s breadcrumbs, ginger and cumin seed; it is oven-cooked as cubes rather than pan-fried as soft patties.
Dakhani Paneer
Paneer in Tamarind Coconut Curry
Dakhani Paneer tastes tangy and coconut-rich with crisp fried paneer, while this dish tastes creamy and yoghurt-forward with a lightly crisp crust.
  • Same: Dakhani Paneer shares paneer, chickpea flour, coriander leaf, cumin seed, garam masala, ginger and chilli with this dish.
  • Different: Dakhani Paneer adds onion, tomato, coconut milk, fresh coconut, tamarind extract, garlic, turmeric and black pepper, and it batter-fries paneer cubes in chickpea flour before serving them in a coconut gravy, while this dish uses Greek yoghurt and breadcrumbs and pan-fries soft patties.
Paneer Bhurji
Stir-Fried Paneer with Chilli, Turmeric and Peppers
Paneer Bhurji is savoury, gently hot and fresh with lemon and coriander, while this dish has a creamy tangy yoghurt centre and a lightly crisp golden crust.
  • Same: Paneer Bhurji shares paneer, green bird’s-eye chilli, ginger, cumin seed, garam masala, coriander and salt with this dish.
  • Different: Paneer Bhurji crumbles paneer and stir-fries it in vegetable oil with onion, tomato, red bell pepper and turmeric, souring it with lemon juice, while this dish mixes drained Greek yoghurt and grated paneer with breadcrumbs and chickpea flour and pan-fries patties.