Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (2024)

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My 110th recipe, "Chilli Paneer (Dry)", a wonderful appetizer from the Indo Chinese cuisine. Paneer tossed in delicious Asian sauced until dry and succulent.

Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (1)

Indo Chinese cuisine is the adaptation of Chinese seasoning and cooking techniques to Indian tastes through a larger offering of vegetarian dishes. It was basically developed by the Chinese community that settled down in the Eastern states of India. With an enormous number of mouth watering vegetarian dishes, it is one among my very favorite cuisines.

There was a time in my life when I would place an order in a restaurant without any second thoughts and even without looking at the menu. It would be always Butter Naan and Paneer Butter Masala. That is basically because I love Paneer so much. How would it be when both my loves combine ? It would be surely a party in my mouth. That is exactly what Chilli Paneer brings to the table.

Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (2)

Soft Paneer cooked in the best of Indo Chinese sauces and flavors. I absolutely loved it when I tried it for the first time at the Paradise Restaurant here in US. While I have happily eaten it multiple times at the restaurant, only recently I decided to give it a try in my kitchen. Ever since, I never had to return to the restaurant again to have my favorite Chilli Paneer 😉

Chilli Paneer (Dry)

Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (3)

Chilli Paneer

Revathi Palani

Chilli Paneer is a wonderful appetizer from the Indo Chinese cuisine. Soft Paneer cooked in the best of Indo Chinese sauces and flavors.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • Oil - 1 Tbsp
  • Onion - 1 Medium (Cubed)
  • Capsicum - ½ Medium (Cubed)
  • Sugar - a large pinch
  • Salt - a pinch (Adjust as needed)
  • Spring onion - 3 (Finely chopped)

For fried paneer

  • Paneer - 7oz (½ Packet)
  • All purpose flour/Maida - 1 ½ Tbsp
  • Corn flour - 1 ½ Tbsp
  • Salt - ¼ tsp (Adjust as needed)
  • Oil - For frying

For Chilli garlic sauce mixture

  • Oil - 1 Tbsp
  • Garlic - 1 ½ Tbsp (Finely chopped)
  • Ginger - 1 ½ Tbsp (Finely chopped)
  • Asian hot sauce (Sriracha) - 1 tsp
  • Tomato ketchup - 1 Tbsp
  • Crushed red pepper/Chilli flakes - ½ tsp
  • Fresh ground black pepper - ¼ tsp
  • Soya sauce - 4 drops
  • Salt - A large pinch (Adjust as needed)

Instructions

  • First cut the paneer into smaller cubes and let it sit in hot water for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile take a mixing bowl add the all purpose and corn flours, Salt and required amount of water (about 3 Tbsp) mix well to get a thin paste.

    Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (4)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (5)
  • Now remove the paneer from water and add to the prepared batter and mix in such a way that the batter gets coated evenly over the paneer cubes. Keep aside and let it rest for 3 minutes.

    Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (6)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (7)
  • Meanwhile heat the oil for frying. Fry the batter coated paneer in batches until golden brown. Drain the excess oil on a paper napkin.

    Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (8)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (9)
  • Now will move on to the chilli garlic sauce mixture for chilli paneer. Heat a pan with oil, add the garlic, ginger and saute until they are golden brown. Turn the flame to low-medium. Now add the other ingredients listed under "For chilli garlic sauce mixture" in given order and saute until the mixture becomes slightly thick and starts to ooze out the oil. Turn off the flame and keep aside.

    Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (10)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (11)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (12)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (13)
  • Now heat a large pan / wok with oil, add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the capsicum, salt, sugar and saute for a minute. Follow it by the prepared sauce mixture and give a stir until well combined.

    Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (14)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (15)
  • Finally, add the fried paneer and toss until they are well combined with the mixture. Add the chopped spring onion give a quick toss and turn off the flame. Transfer to the serving plate.

    Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (16)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (17)Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (18)
  • Enjoy hot as an appetizer.

Notes | FAQ

- Soaking paneer in hot water is purely optional. It is needed to soften the paneer. In case of using home made paneer you can skip that step.

- The batter should not be too thin or thick. It should get coated over the paneer, but it should not be a thick coating.

- You can shallow or deep fry the paneer.

- Do adjust the spiceness (Hot sauce, Black pepper, Chilli flakes) according to your comfort level. The quantity mentioned is for a spicy version.

- Do adjust the salt according to your taste keeping in mind that the sauces added have salt in them.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Avanish says

    Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (19)
    My favourite recipes of indo Chinese cuisines it is a very easy recipe and it taste was yummy nd delicious thanks for recipe

    Reply

    • revifood says

      Thanks for trying Avanish. Glad you love it 🙂

      Reply

  2. Mukesh Dua says

    Thanks for the yummy recipe. I love chilli paneerand tried your method it was really good. Thanks a lot.

    Reply

    • revifood says

      Thanks for trying Mukesh. Glad that you liked it 🙂

      Reply

  3. Farisha says

    Thanks for sharing paneer recipe. ...please post some more of your favorite recipe

    Reply

    • revifood says

      Thanks Farisha 🙂

      Reply

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Chilli Paneer | Easy Indo Chinese Appetizer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is chilli paneer made of? ›

Chilli Paneer is one of the most popular recipes in Indo-Chinese cuisine. It is simply flour or batter coated fried paneer cubes tossed in a spicy, salty, tangy and sweet sauce made with green bell peppers, garlic, ginger, green chillies, soy sauce and more seasonings.

Is Chilli paneer healthy? ›

It is simple to digest and rich in calcium, an essential nutrient for developing sturdy, healthy bones. - One of the best foods for a nourishing diet is chilli paneer for weight loss. - Nutritious chilli paneer helps to trigger satiety and avoids binge eating.

What are the ingredients in Ching's secret paneer chilli masala? ›

Corn Flour, Salt, Mixed Spices, Garlic, Onion, Chilli, Ginger, Cumin, Coriander, Pepper, Sugar, Natural Colour, Soy Sauce Powder, Soybean, Wheat, Salt, Flavour Enhancer, Tomato Powder, Anticaking Agent, Dried Glucose Syrup, Emulsifying Stabilizing Agent, Sunflower Oil, Acidity Regulatory.

What is paneer 65 made of? ›

Paneer 65 is a vegetarian variation of the popular South Indian Chicken 65. Similar to the original version, Paneer 65 is made by deep frying marinated and batter coated paneer until crisp. It is later tossed in a spicy tempering made with spices, garlic, curry leaves and sometimes yogurt or lemon juice.

What is paneer called in English? ›

Likely originating in India, paneer is also known as Indian cottage cheese. You might find that the mild taste of paneer reminds you of American cottage cheese.

What are the three types of paneer? ›

Mattar paneer (paneer with peas) Shahi paneer (paneer cooked in a rich Mughlai curry) Paneer tikka (a vegetarian version of chicken tikka, paneer placed on skewers and roasted)

Is paneer healthier than chicken? ›

Fat Content

Chicken tends to be lower in fat, particularly saturated fat, compared to paneer. Skinless chicken breast, in particular, is a lean protein choice with minimal fat content. On the contrary, paneer is a dairy product and typically contains higher amounts of saturated fat.

Can diabetic patient eat paneer chilli? ›

–Add turmeric, cumin, and a pinch of red chilli powder for a flavourful and nutritious side dish. Paneer is a delicious and nutritious choice for individuals with diabetes, offering proteins, healthy fats and essential nutrients.

What does paneer do to your body? ›

Paneer is a rich source of protein and nutrition. It is full of mineral elements such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. This may play a central role in regulating and lowering high blood pressure. A healthy balanced diet with paneer containing these minerals and proteins might keep a check on your blood pressure.

What is the difference between paneer tikka and paneer masala? ›

Is paneer tikka the same as paneer tikka masala? Paneer tikka is an appetizer of grilled paneer skewers whereas paneer tikka masala is a curried dish of grilled paneer in a spicy tikka masala gravy.

What is the difference between paneer masala and paneer tikka masala? ›

What is the difference between paneer butter masala and paneer tikka masala? Paneer butter masala is essentially cooked in butter, has a smooth silky curry to which raw paneer is added. But paneer tikka masala is made with grilled paneer and is predominantly spicy and has some texture in the curry.

Where does chilli paneer originate from? ›

Chilli Paneer originated during the mid-20th century, when the Indo-Chinese cuisine movement began in Kolkata, India. As Chinese immigrants had to adapt their traditional recipes to local preferences, Chilli Paneer emerged by combining the delicate texture of paneer with the bold flavours of Chinese cooking.

Why is paneer so expensive? ›

Most store bought paneer contains additives or at least citric acid that is not good for health. At home we can make paneer using curd or lemon juice and the quality is much better than the store bought one. The processing of the milk to turn it into cheese is expensive in terms of both labor and capital.

What is the difference between paneer 65 and Manchurian? ›

Unlike paneer manchurian, this step by step photos recipe of paneer 65 does not use soya and chilli sauce to get spiciness; instead, it uses varieties of Indian spices and combination of cornflour, all purpose flour and curd to get its signature tongue tickling taste.

Why is paneer called paneer? ›

According to this theory, paneer comes from Persia and significantly, the term “paneer” is derived from the word “peynir” or “cheese in Turkish and Persian languages. Still, another theory argues that paneer was introduced in India by Iranian and Afghan travellers.

Is paneer a cheese or milk? ›

Paneer is an Indian cheese that's made from curdled milk and some sort of fruit or vegetable acid like lemon juice. There are some distinct traits that make Paneer the cheese that it is: It's an unaged cheese. It's a soft cheese.

Where is paneer made from? ›

Paneer, is another acid/heat-coagulated cheese, is popular in India and the Middle East. It is made from cows' or buffalo's milk that is heated to 85–90 °C, cooled slightly (e.g., to 72 °C) and lemon juice, citric acid or sour whey added to coagulate the milk (which usually takes only a few minutes).

What does paneer contain? ›

Every 100 grams of paneer contains 265 calories, 20.8 grams of fat, 1.2 grams of total carbohydrate. 18.3 grams of protein and 208 mg of calcium. People who undergo weight training in the gym need to consume large amounts of protein.

What does paneer taste like in curry? ›

It's also vegetarian, which suits the meat-free diet of many in India, and makes paneer a very popular ingredient for curries, particularly in the north. Paneer has a mild, milky flavour and a dense crumbly texture that goes beautifully well with strong spicy flavours used in many classic Indian dishes.

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