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? ›

Around 15 grams of protein are present in one serving of paneer chilli, which is good for muscle growth and repair. - Additionally, paneer chilli may contain dietary fibre, particularly if bell peppers are added to the recipe. Fibre helps to maintain a healthy gut and is good for digestion.

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.

How to make Sakonis chilli paneer? ›

Make sure all the ingredients are pre-prepared on the worktop as this recipe requires you to work quickly. First, cut paneer into bite-size small cubes. In a mixing bowl, toss it some of the soy sauce and cornflour. Shallow fry coated paneer in a pan using some oil until golden brown and you achieve crispy paneer.

What is paneer called in English? ›

Although many Indians translate "paneer" into "cottage cheese", cottage cheese is made using rennet extracted from the stomach of ruminants, and cow's skim milk.

What does paneer taste like? ›

Paneer is milky, fresh, and very mild in taste. Paneer is firm in texture and is closer in taste to cottage cheese and Italian ricotta and is easily adapted to any recipe.

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 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.

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

No they are different. Paneer Tikka is served as an appetizer and has cubes of grilled paneer where for paneer tikka masala the grilled paneer is added to a creamy curry and served as a main dish.

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 do you soak paneer before cooking? ›

Softening the paneer prior to cooking prevents that unwanted chewy, rubbery texture. Soften it by following the cut, soak, steam, boil or pan-fry softening methods.

How to fry paneer and keep it soft? ›

Steps To Follow To Make Paneer Soft And Fluffy After Frying:

Shift the high flame to low flame and add paneer cubes. Keep stirring to avoid burning and sticking. Once the paneer cubes are fried until perfection, shift them into a bowlful of cold water. Keep the paneer cubes inside the bowl for about 7-8 minutes.

Do you soak paneer in hot or cold water? ›

Preparation. If using store bought paneer, soak it in a bowl of hot water for 20 mins. Drain the water and use.

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 meat is paneer? ›

Paneer is a type of fresh cheese made by curdling milk with an acidic substance like lemon juice or vinegar. It is commonly used in Indian cuisine and is a popular source of protein for vegetarians. It's rich in protein, calcium, and phosphorus, making it a valuable source of nutrients for vegetarians.

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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