This easy Vegetarian Paneer Fajita Traybake is a vibrant midweek meal you can prepare in advance.
Serve the sizzling paneer with tortillas, guacamole, salsa and sour cream for a Mexican-inspired feast.
The ultimate vegetarian meal prep recipe
This is a great dish for meal planning. Prepare it up to 3 days in advance.
Assemble everything as per the recipe but don’t bake it. Cover the marinated paneer and veggies tightly and refrigerate and bake when you’re ready. Simple!
How to make homemade fajita seasoning
I toss the sizzling paneer and veggies in this recipe with a blend of my favourite blend of herbs and spices.
My Mexican-style blend includes: Fresh garlic, chilli powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, ground cumin, ground coriander seeds, lime juice, light brown sugar and salt. That’s it.
Smoky, sweet and with a lime tang, the combination of creamy paneer, tortillas and all the usual fixings like guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños make this dish incredibly fresh and flavoursome.
How long does it take to make?
Have it on the table in under an hour, including prep time! The recipe is more of a chop and assemble job as opposed to hands-on cooking. I welcome this style of cooking, especially for busy weeknights.
What to put in vegetarian fajitas
You can always try one of the following options, cut into strips or bite-sized pieces:
- Halloumi
- Beans (pinto beans, kidney beans or black beans are particularly good)
- Cauliflower or broccoli
- Tofu, tempeh, seitan, soya chunks or other plant-based meat substitute
- Chickpeas
- Mushrooms
- Courgette
- Squash or pumpkin
- Fried potatoes
- Aubergine
Can I make a vegan version of this Vegetarian Paneer Fajita Traybake?
Sure! Swap the paneer for your vegan protein of choice. Tofu, tempeh, seitan, soya chunks or mycoprotein (Quorn) all work well.
Equally, you can make it with a mix of your favourite vegetables. I love these fajitas with cauliflower and/or mushrooms.
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Should I use homemade paneer or shop bought?
The choice is yours. The most important thing to consider is if the paneer is firm enough to slice into strips without breaking.
I opt for shop-bought paneer in this recipe for ease and because it’s usually very firm.
How to achieve a smoky char without a sizzler
There are a few things you can do. If you have large cast iron pan, preheat it until it’s smoking hot and then add the marinated paneer and veggies.
I don’t have a cast iron pan big enough so I’ve used a regular baking tray. Bake it in a hot oven and after cooking for 25 minutes, give the paneer a quick flash under the grill (broiler). About 5 minutes should do it.
The smoked paprika also does a fantastic job of giving these vegetarian fajitas smokiness.
Other recipes you might like
- Masala Chips & Vegan Avocado Mayo
- Restaurant-Style Chilli Paneer
- Tandoori Hasselback Potatoes
- Crispy Popcorn Bhindi Bites
How to make this Vegetarian Paneer Fajita Traybake
Vegetarian Paneer Fajita Traybake recipe
Equipment
- Large baking tray or roasting dish
Ingredients
- 450 g paneer cut into strips
- 2 peppers cut into strips
- 2 onions finely sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp chilli powder or according to your taste
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin seeds
- 3/4 tsp ground coriander seeds
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp light brown sugar
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 15 g fresh coriander roughly chopped
To serve:
- 8-10 small wheat or corn tortillas
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Jalapeños
- Lettuce optional
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F.
- Place the peppers, onions and paneer on a large baking tray.
- Add the oil, lime juice, garlic, oregano, ground cumin seeds, ground coriander seeds, chilli powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar and salt. Toss everything well using clean hands or two spatulas to make sure all the paneer and veggies are well coated.
- Bake for 25 minutes. For a slight char and smoky flavour, place under the grill (broiler) for 4-5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh coriander.
- Serve immediately with tortillas and all your favourite fajita sides. I simply must have mine with guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños.
Recipe Video
Sanjana’s Notes
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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Masala Chips
Love Sanjana
Albertina
Friday 12th of February 2021
My family has been asking me to make some paneer recipe recently and this one looks delicious.
Sanjana
Tuesday 23rd of February 2021
Enjoy this
Bhavya
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
This recipe was amazing! Super easy and so tasty! I love how much more filling this fajita is compared to other vegetarian recipes I've tried. Thank you so much Sanjana!
Gurps
Monday 1st of February 2021
I tried these yesterday and I have to say they were so tasty and so easy to make. This is a great recipe to make when you are busy and want to rustle up something quick. Plus it has so many flavours running through it. It is versatile because you can have salsa, sour cream, guacamole or a dip of your choice to compliment the warm flavours. I will be making it again.