Fried Paneer Recipe
Description: This pan fried paneer is easy to make under 15 mins and makes a great appetizer & side. Serve it with mint chutney as a appetizer or as a side with dal-rice, curry-rice or with pilaf and biryani.
Ingredients
- 200 grams (7 ounces) Paneer (block, Indian Cheese)
- ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (adjust to heat preference, leave out for kids or reduce)
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric (optional)
- ½ teaspoon garam masala (adjust for flavor)
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
- ½ teaspoon chaat masala ( (or 1½ tablespoon lemon juice)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon kasuri methi ( (dried fenugreek leaves)
- ¼ teaspoon salt ( (adjust to taste)
- ¾ tablespoon poha powder (optional, but recommended to make crispy paneer)
- 2 teaspoons oil (or ghee)
Instructions
- Preparation
- Add all the spices & poha powder to a plate and mix them well. Taste test and adjust spices and salt. (To make poha powder, grind ¼ cup poha in a grinder to make a slightly coarse powder)
- Rinse paneer block with 1 cup water and place it on a chopping board. Dice to 4 parts and then slice each portion to 2. You will have 8 slices of paneer.
- If using lemon juice in place of chaat masala, dip each slice of paneer in the lemon juice before you go ahead with the next step.
- Place the moist paneer in the spice mixture to coat evenly. Coat one after the other and place them on the plate.
- How to Make Paneer Fry
- Spread half of the oil on a non-stick pan or a well-seasoned cast iron pan and heat it well.
- Once hot, place the paneer pieces over the hot pan and let fry on a medium heat for 3 to 4 mins, until the bottom is crisp.
- Reduce the heat and using 2 spatulas (1 small and 1 medium), turn the pieces gently to the other side.
- Add the rest of the oil and let fry until crisp on a medium heat.
- Hold with the spatulas and position one of the sides on the pan, fry for a minute. Turn them to the other side (Check pictures in the post).
- Turn off the pan and leave them on the sides. Transfer pan fried paneer to a serving plate and serve with mint chutney & onion salad. Or Serve with dal-rice, curry-rice, pilaf or biryani.