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.

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 paneer soft and spongy? ›

How can I make paneer soft and spongy after frying? Simply soak fried paneer in a bowl of lightly salted warm water for 10-15 minutes. Once soft, press the paneer cubes to remove excess water and serve.

How do you make chilly paneer? ›

Heat the vegetable oil in a large non-stick pan over a medium heat. Combine the cornflour, plain flour, chilli powder, 1 tsp fine sea salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper and 2 tbsp water in a bowl until you have a smooth paste, adding a splash more water if it's too thick. Add the paneer cubes and toss to coat.

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.

Do you need to fry paneer before cooking? ›

Whether or not you need to fry paneer before cooking depends on the specific recipe you are following. Frying paneer can enhance its texture, add a crispy outer layer, and help it hold its shape during cooking. However, it is not always necessary, and some recipes may call for using paneer as is, without frying.

Should you soak paneer before cooking? ›

You can also soak your fresh paneer if it's tough after soaking in warm water. It makes a big difference,” he says. You can make a variety of dishes from paneer like palak paneer, matar paneer, kadhai paneer, paneer tikka, and the chef's favorite palak chole paneer chawal.

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 is the origin of chilli paneer? ›

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.

Which paneer masala is best? ›

Diamond Special Paneer Masala is the best for your paneer gravies and starters. Make perfect Shahi Paneer as well as Paneer Tikka, only with Diamond Special Paneer Masala.

Why is my paneer hard after cooking? ›

Heating dries up the moisture content in the paneer and it makes it hard and rubbery. Hence after frying paneer in oil or ghee, always soak it in warm water for five to ten minutes. Then add the soaked paneer to any gravy of your choice.

Why does paneer become hard after frying? ›

Paneer cooking mistakes: Over cooking paneer, that too in high temperature, may affect the fat molecules in paneer, resulting in its tough and chewy texture. Hence, it is always suggested to cook paneer on medium heat, until it holds the shape.

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.

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