Best 4 Best Homemade Paneer Recipes
Paneer, a staple in Indian cuisine, is a fresh, unsalted cheese made from cow or buffalo milk. It has a soft, spongy texture and a mild, milky flavor. It's a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from curries and salads to desserts. This article provides three easy-to-follow recipes for making homemade paneer: a basic recipe, a recipe using lemon juice, and a recipe using vinegar. Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure success. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, this article will guide you through the process of making delicious, fresh paneer at home.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
BEST HOMEMADE PANEER
It's easy to make your very own paneer to use in your favorite Indian recipes. For homemade paneer, all you need is milk, lemon juice, salt, and a thermometer!
Provided by ChefJackie
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Indian
Time 2h30m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Line a colander with a damp piece of muslin or cheesecloth and set in the sink or over a bowl.
- Pour milk into a large saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat to 200 degrees F (93 degrees C). Stir well and add salt. Pour in lemon juice gradually, 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir until curds separate.
- Ladle curds into the muslin-lined colander. Fold muslin over curds and place a weight on top (such as a bowl filled with water). Press lightly and let drain for 2 to 3 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 148.3 calories, Carbohydrate 11.7 g, Cholesterol 24.4 mg, Fat 7.9 g, Protein 7.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 152.7 mg, Sugar 11.2 g
PANEER: HOMEMADE INDIAN CHEESE
Provided by Aarti Sequeira
Time 45m
Yield Makes 12 ounces of cheese
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Line a large colander with a large double layer of cheesecloth, and set it in your sink.
- In a large wide pot, bring the milk to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to avoid burning the bottom (a nonstick pot works really well for this purpose). This will take a little while so be patient!
- Add the lemon juice and turn the heat down to low. Stirring gently, you should almost immediately see the curds (white milk solids) and whey (the greenish liquid) separate. Don't fret, this is perfect!
- Remove the pot from the heat and carefully pour the contents into the cheesecloth-lined colander. Gently rinse with cool water to get rid of the lemon flavor. At this point, you could squeeze out some of the liquid, and serve with some honey and some nuts, almost like a fresh ricotta!
- Grab the ends of the cheesecloth and twist the ball of cheese to squeeze out the excess whey. Tie the cheesecloth to your kitchen faucet and allow the cheese to drain for about 5 minutes.
- Twisting the ball to compact the cheese into a block, place it on a plate with the twisted part of the cheesecloth on the side (this will ensure your block of cheese is nice and smooth!) and set another plate on top. Weigh the second plate down with cans of beans or a heavy pot. Move to the refrigerator and let it sit about 20 minutes.
- Unwrap your beautiful disc of homemade cheese! You did it! You can now use this in any number of traditional Indian dishes, like saag paneer.
PANEER (HOME MADE)
Paneer is an essential ingrediant in Indian cooking. Often people substitue riccotta or some other kind of cheese. But they never taste the same and paneer is so easy to make. With this simple recipe, you'll give true Indian authenticity to all your dishes.
Provided by DOSTANDEN
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Indian
Time 2h20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine the milk, yogurt, salt and sugar in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a whisk. As the milk is just about to boil (it will bubble at the edges), stir in the lemon juice.
- Remove from the heat and pour into a sieve lined with cheesecloth. Lift the cheesecloth by the four corners and tie them together. Hang the cheese in the cloth over the sink to drain. It will take 30 minutes to 1 hour. Once drained, place the cheese, still in the cloth, into a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
- If later you want to cut the paneer into firm fingers, use a spoon to press the paneer into the shape of the bowl before refrigerating.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 125.4 calories, Carbohydrate 12 g, Cholesterol 19.8 mg, Fat 4.9 g, Protein 8.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 684.1 mg, Sugar 11.8 g
SAAG PANEER
Saag refers to an Indian vegetable dish in which spinach or other dark greens are stewed with ginger, garlic, fresh chiles and spices until meltingly soft. As the name suggests, saag paneer includes paneer, a mild Indian cheese that is firm enough to cook without melting. The heat of the serrano chiles balances the creamy richness, but for a milder dish, remove the seeds before mincing the chiles. The fresh greens are finely chopped before cooking, to help them break down faster into a silky gravy. Thawed chopped frozen spinach can be used to save time, but make sure to drain well and squeeze out the excess liquid first. Finish the dish with a little heavy cream (or plain yogurt) to lend body and richness.
Provided by Kay Chun
Categories dinner, one pot, vegetables, main course
Time 35m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a food processor, working in batches, pulse spinach until minced but not puréed. Do not pack the spinach too tightly or it won't get evenly chopped. You should have about 3 packed cups of minced spinach.
- Heat 1 tablespoon ghee over medium in a large nonstick skillet. When it shimmers, add paneer and cook, turning occasionally, until golden all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Using tongs or a fish spatula, transfer cheese to a plate, leaving as much ghee as possible in the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, add the remaining 1 tablespoon ghee and the onion, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add ginger, garlic and chile, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and well incorporated, 1 minute. Stir in coriander and cumin until well blended.
- Add minced spinach and 1/2 cup water, and increase the heat to medium. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach is completely soft and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and paneer until well incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl.
- Divide rice and flatbread among 4 shallow bowls or plates. Pass the saag paneer to spoon on top.
Tips:
- Use fresh, full-fat milk for the best results.
- Bring the milk to a boil slowly over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
- When the milk has boiled, remove it from the heat and stir in the lemon juice or vinegar.
- Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes, or until the milk has curdled and separated into curds and whey.
- Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined colander or fine-mesh sieve.
- Rinse the paneer with cold water to remove any residual acidity.
- Press the paneer to remove excess moisture. You can use a heavy object, such as a plate or a pot, to press the paneer.
- Store the paneer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Conclusion:
Making paneer at home is a simple and rewarding process. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create fresh, delicious paneer that can be used in a variety of dishes. Whether you're using it in a curry, a stir-fry, or a dessert, homemade paneer is sure to impress. So next time you're looking for a healthy and versatile ingredient, give homemade paneer a try!
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