I am always brainstorming easy weeknight meals that are tasty, require no stove-top cooking, and provide the necessary vegetable and protein intake for my family. These Spring Naan Pizzas with Hariyali Paneer fit the criteria.
What is Hariyali Paneer Tikka?
Hariyali Paneer Tikka is a popular appetizer served at many Indian restaurants. It is one of those easy peasy recipes that requires minimal time in the kitchen. The marinade is basically the same as the quintessential, yogurt-based Paneer Tikka marinade, but with the addition of cilantro and mint, which makes it vibrant and fresh. Hariyali means green in Hindi, signaling the herbs.
Once marinated, the paneer gets tossed onto a skewer along with vegetables like bell pepper and onions, and grilled until those beautiful signature char marks appear. It is best eaten with Indian chutneys like cilantro mint chutney or date tamarind chutney.
As kids, when we would go to restaurants on weekends with my parents in Mumbai, Hariyali Paneer Tikka was typically the appetizer of choice. The dish would come with five pieces, and being a family of four, my brother and I would fight over the last piece, which eventually my mom would divide exactly into half (he could not get even a millimeter more!).
Spring Naan Pizza with Hariyali Paneer for dinner!
For this week’s recipe, I am putting Hariyali Paneer on top of store-bought naan for a fast, homemade version of Indian pizza. You can find naan easily at regular grocery stores these days in the bread section or even the frozen section.
- TIP: Assuming you are using store-bought paneer, soak it in hot water for 15 minutes first. This helps to soften it and make it squishy. If you don’t like paneer, try firm tofu instead.
Ingredients for the Spring Naan Pizza with Hariyali Paneer
The ingredients for the Spring Naan Pizza with Hariyali Paneer are:
For the Hariyali Paneer
- Paneer
- Yogurt (plain or Greek both work)
- Indian spices like : chaat masala, amchoor, Kashmiri red chilli powder, garam masala, ground cumin, ground coriander, dried fenugreek leaves
- Garlic cloves
- Ginger
- Herbs like: Cilantro, mint, basil
- Green chilli
- Lemon juice
- Vegetable oil
- Chickpea flour
For the pizzas
- Cheeses like: Fontina and Monterey Jack
- Asparagus stalks
- Sugar snap peas
- Plain or garlic naans (store-bought)
How to make the Spring Naan Pizza with Hariyali Paneer
My twist on the Hariyali Paneer marinade is adding basil for an extra burst of freshness and brightness. The marinade is made in a high-speed blender for a smooth consistency, then I leave the softened paneer in it for at least 30 minutes.
You can even make it the night before, store the marinating paneer in an airtight container in the fridge and use it the next day so dinner can be ready in no time.
Beyond the paneer, I use a blend of fontina and Monterey Jack cheese because I love their flavors together, especially on these pizzas. I place the cheese on naans on a greased baking sheet, then add the marinated paneer pieces, along with a drizzle of the extra marinade for a full flavor explosion.
I springify the naans by adding in-season asparagus and, my favorite, sugar snap peas. The naans are baked at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until light brown in color. Then I turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes until the paneer is charred, the naan browns and the cheese is bubbling.
For a final touch, I employ a vegetable peeler to peel the asparagus from the bottom to the top to get these thin shavings, which make for a beautiful garnish. Serve immediately and enjoy with chilled wine.
Where should I buy paneer from for this Spring Naan Pizza with Hariyali Paneer?
Paneer can be bought at any Indian store – my favorite brand is Gopi, their paneer is softer than the other brands.
Sach paneer is a new-ish brand in the market and their paneer is really very good and a must try. They are available in the Bay Area – around Costcos, although I have not seen it in the Costco near us. Their paneer is available online.
Can I make it with vegan yogurt and vegan cheese to veganize it?
Yes! Absolutely this dinner can be easily veganized.
Where do I buy naans from?
Naans are easily available at local super markets nowadays, including Whole Foods.
Can I store the leftover baked naans?
Yes, the leftover naans can be wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge for upto a day. To revive them, toast them in a toaster oven or an oven for a few minutes, until warm and the cheese has melted.
Other easy Spring dinners that you can make are:
- Spring Vegetables and Paneer Makhani
- Beetroot Tikkis or Patties
- Gnocchi Asparagus Bake with Peas and Bean Puree
- Eggless Eggplant Parmesan
- Fennel Green Peas, and Green Garlic Risotto
If you make this recipe, please tag #thejamlab on Instagram and/or leave a comment on this blog post.
XO
Amisha
*First published in S.F.Chronicle linked here – on May 23rd 2025.*
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Spring Naan Pizza with Hariyali Paneer
Ingredients
For the Hariyali Paneer
- 9 ounces paneer, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (or 1/4-inch cubes if you prefer smaller pieces)
- 1/2 cup yogurt (plain or Greek both work)
- 1/2 teaspoon chaat masala
- 1/2 teaspoon amchoor (dried mango powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1-inch piece ginger
- 3/4 cup cilantro (leaves and tender stems), packed
- 1/4 cup mint, packed
- 1/4 cup basil, packed
- 2 green chillies
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 2 tablespoons chickpea flour
For the pizzas
- 4 ounces fontina cheese
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese
- 10–12 asparagus stalks, tough ends trimmed and sliced into thirds, plus 3 stalks shaved for garnish
- 20–25 sugar snap peas, cut in half horizontally
- 4 plain or garlic naans (store-bought)
Get Recipe Ingredients
Method
For the Hariyali Paneer
- In a bowl of hot water, add the paneer pieces and soak for about 15 minutes. This softens the store-bought paneer.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients except the chickpea flour into a high-speed blender and blend until you get a smooth consistency. This is the marinade. Place it in a medium bowl.
- Drain the water from the paneer bowl, and add the paneer to the marinade. Using a rubber spatula, stir the contents such that all the paneer pieces are well coated with the marinade. Sprinkle the chickpea flour all over and mix again until well combined.
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
For the Spring Naan Pizzas
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- On a baking sheet, spray cooking spray all over.
- Place the naans on the baking sheet.
- Mix the fontina and Monterey Jack cheeses together in a medium bowl.
- Distribute the cheese evenly across the 4 naans, then evenly distribute the marinated paneer on top. Drizzle some of the marinade too for extra flavor. Distribute the sliced asparagus and sugar snap peas evenly on top of the cheeses.
- Place the baking sheet in the lower middle rack of the oven for about 13-15 minutes, or until the naan turns light brown in color. Broil for about 2 minutes to char the paneer slightly and get the cheese bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with the shaved asparagus and serve immediately.
Notes
Where should I buy paneer from for this Spring Naan Pizza with Hariyali Paneer?
- Paneer can be bought at any Indian store – my favorite brand is Gopi, their paneer is softer than the other brands.
- Sach paneer is a new-ish brand in the market and their paneer is really very good and a must try. They are available in the Bay Area – around Costcos, although I have not seen it in the Costco near us. Their paneer is available online.
Can I make it with vegan yogurt and vegan cheese to veganize it?
- Yes! Absolutely this dinner can be easily veganized.
Where do I buy naans from?
- Naans are easily available at local super markets nowadays, including Whole Foods.
Can I store the leftover baked naans?
- Yes, the leftover naans can be wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge for upto a day. To revive them, toast them in a toaster oven or an oven for a few minutes, until warm and the cheese has melted.
