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 does chilli paneer contain? ›

Chilli Paneer is an Indo-Chinese appetizer where crisp batter fried paneer is tossed in slightly sweet, spicy, hot and tangy chilli sauce. While Garlic and green chilies bring in hot & pungent aroma, various sauces like chilli sauce, soya sauce and vinegar are used to impart some Chinese flavors.

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.

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.

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.

How to make paneer taste better? ›

and can make paneer of any fresh fruits. Add enough tomatoes for a good taste and thick and creamy texture. Towards the end you can add a light splash of milk cream or milk to tone down the spices and addcreamy texture. Add garam masala and kasuri methi in the End for more favour.

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? ›

Restaurants fry the paneer for structure and color, then will add it to warm water and let it soak so it won't get hard. This is not needed in home cooking. I soak the store-bought in hot water for 10 minutes to soften it. I enjoy the fried taste but don't like hard paneer so I just fry one side so it doesn't toughen.

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.

Which paneer masala is best? ›

₹70.00. ₹45.00. Diamond Special Paneer Masala is the best for your paneer gravies and starters.

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 does paneer mean in Indian? ›

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.

Why do Indians eat paneer? ›

It is a good substitute for meat, many north indians being Vegetarian, relish Paneer dishes like no other dishes. Paneer can be easily made and widely available. You can make innumerable dishes like Paneer Tikka, Palak Paneer, Kadai Paneer, Mutter Paneer, Paneer Masala, Paneer Bhurji, Paneer Pakora and list goes on.

Do they eat paneer in India? ›

Paneer is a part lot of Indian main courses, snacks, and a lot of sweet dishes such as Shahi Paneer, Pulao, and more. Paneer is a whole meal and Is a good source of health for everyone, and can be included in every step of our diet. Paneer is highly popular and regularly eaten by Indians in almost every meal.

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 is paneer high in? ›

Paneer is of great value in diet, especially in the Indian vegetarian context, because it contains a fairly high level of fat and proteins as well as some minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus. It is also a good source of fat soluble vitamins A and D.

What does paneer taste like in curry? ›

Paneer has a mild, creamy flavor and a dense, crumbly texture that makes it ideal for use in dishes like curries, tikka masala, and paneer butter masala.

Is paneer healthier than other cheese? ›

Even though cheese is very healthy, it has high amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol making it bad for your heart. A 100g serving of cheese has a whooping 18g of saturated fat and 100mg of cholesterol. Compare this to paneer where the same amount has just 1.7g of saturated fat and 17mg of cholesterol.

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