Vegetarian Barbecue

This post is on a request by one of my very good friend M.
Barbecue usually means freinds and family grilling and having good time outdoors in spring. Usually chicken, fish, lambs, sausages etc are used for grilling. Being a vegetarian, I have been asked many times that what exactly you guys grill ! Plants?! :D
Well yeah, kind of, but we have many more options too!
How?
Answer is:
- Paneer and vegetables tikka masala(most popular)
- Potatoes or patties (can make burgers out of it with any burger dressing)
- Soy sausages (make hot dogs)
- Pineapple thick slices
- Corn on the cob with hint of lemon and salt (very much Indian.. umm monsoons :) )
- Sliced Aubergine, button mushrooms, tomatoes (with branches easy to flip..tip courtesy by A ;) )and what not!

So to end your amusement, here is the secret recipe of  Indian Tikka.

Tikka masala has not been only loved by Indian people but by the people from rest of the world.
Be it chicken, Paneer or vegetables, this recipe is everyone's favorite for summer picnics (read BBQ and more BBQ as no tomorrow).

Indians usually have all these spices at home which are mentioned below but if you can't find them all then can use readymade tikka masalas available in most of the Indian stores(or can order it online ).

To make 1 cup tikka masala at home, you will need:

Ingredients:
3 teaspoons garlic powder (Lasun)
3 teaspoons ground ginger (Adrak)
3 teaspoons ground cloves (Lavang)
1 1/2 teaspoons grated nutmeg (Jaiphal)
3 teaspoons mace (Javitri)(Optional)
4 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin (Jeera)
6 tablespoons ground coriander (Dhania)
3 teaspoons ground fenugreek (Methi)
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon (Tuj or Dalchini)
3 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper (Kalimirchi)
3 teaspoons ground brown cardamom (Elaichi)

Mix all the above ingredients (without roasting them first) and pass through a fine sieve.
Store in an airtight container and close the lid tightly after use.
This has good shelf life.

OR
you can buy this product:
Patak's tikka masala paste (easily available in Sweden's Indian stores too)


To marinate:

Paneer cubes or pieces of cubed bell peppers, onion, deseeded tomato, etc according to your preference
1 tsp of tandoori masala or paste
1 tsp Minced garlic and ginger
2-3 tbsp of thick yogurt(Greek is best)
Salt to taste
and you can add more red chili powder to make it spicy.

Mix masala, ginger, garlic and salt in yogurt.(make sure this mix shouldn't be watery)
Add paneer and vegetables(except tomato) to this mix and leave to marinate for at least 2 hours.
Skewer the paneer cubes and vegetables alongwith tomato and put it on grill.

You can use same marination for non vegetarian dishes like fish and chicken.

Good thing about this recipe is that if you want to serve it as main course with Naan/chapati's or rice then just toss them in a tomato,Onion gravy and it will taste tangy and spicy!