Ever Wondered How to Make Paneer at Home? Here is the Complete Guide to Take Out Soft and Creamy Paneer from Milk at Home (2021)

Ever Wondered How to Make Paneer at Home? Here is the Complete Guide to Take Out Soft and Creamy Paneer from Milk at Home (2021)

Who can avoid the smooth, chewy texture of the paneer? No one! Everyone loves paneer as much as chicken and meat dishes. In fact, whenever someone visits a restaurant, they always order a paneer dish. So, much love for this Indian cheese. Also, paneer is a very healthy food, with all the benefit of milk. If you want to make fresh paneer at home, then follow this step by step guide to making homemade paneer that is way better than any store-bought.

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The Only Guide You Need on How to Make Paneer at Home

Paneer or Indian cottage cheese is a usual protein source for vegetarians or non-meat eaters. And, it is an integral part of north Indian curries or Punjabi cuisine. Prepared by curdling the milk, it is used in various popular dishes like Kadai paneer, palak paneer, matar paneer, etc. You can purchase it from a nearby grocery store or prepare it at home with simple steps and ingredients, including lemon juice, vinegar, or yoghurt.

To prepare paneer at home, you should use full cream milk instead of skim or lite variant. Make sure to wash the curdled milk thoroughly to remove the lemon juice or acidic traces. Else your cheese may taste sour. Making paneer at home isn’t a difficult task. Instead, it’s simple as well as fast and takes approximately two hours from beginning to end.

Acids Used in Making Paneer

Most of the Paneer sold in the market uses citric acid for preparation. For homemade paneer, you can go for lemon juice, vinegar, or yoghurt. The flavour, texture, and taste of the paneer depend upon the type of ingredient. However, yoghurt is the best option to prepare soft paneer, but vinegar and lemon juice are good options.

Yoghurt

For this, you need to rinse the chenna (curdled solids). However, you can avoid this step by draining it well to squeeze out the extra whey. Then, please leave it to set. Also, using many curds to curdle the milk could make the paneer get a mild flavour.

Lemon Juice

If you want to make the paneer grainy, add a lot of lemon juice. Besides, this juice will also impart a lemony flavour to the solids if they are well-rinsed.

Vinegar

It is the most used acid to prepare cheese at home because vinegar curdles the milk rapidly compared to lemon juice or yoghurt. Like the other two options, vinegar also alters the cheese flavour if added in high quantity.

How to Make Paneer Using Yoghurt?

Homemade paneer comes out juicy and soft if you make it using curd. This method allows for quick and easy paneer that you can use to prepare curry, pizza, pasta, sandwich, etc. Follow these steps to make paneer at home using yoghurt:

  • First of all, take a pan, add milk to it and boil.
  • Then whisk the yoghurt in a bowl to make it smooth.
  • When milk is boiling, add yoghurt to it and stir.
  • After some time, when milk gets curdled, separate the greenish water from it. And strain the curdled milk in a bowl. You can place a soft cloth in the strainer for straining.
  • Also, collect the greenish water in a bowl. This water is whey, and you can use it to make kneading dough, dal, kadhi, or buttermilk.
  • After collecting the curdling mixture, place the strainer in a bowl.
  • Use a cloth to cover it and keep aside for at least 30 minutes to remove the extra water.
  • Finally, remove the cheese from the strainer and cut it with a knife into pieces as required.
  • You can use this paneer within 3 to 5 days.

How to Make Paneer Using Vinegar or Lemon Juice?

Quality paneer is the crucial component of a recipe for a refreshing salad, soft milky dessert, and flavourful sabzi. To make such tasty cheese at home using lemon juice or vinegar, you need to follow these steps.

  • Add milk in a large pan over medium heat to boil and stir it occasionally. Make sure the milk does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • When it begins boiling, turn off the flame and wait for at least one minute.
  • Add lemon juice or vinegar, stir it gently and then wait for two minutes.
  • When the milk curdles, you will watch the whey separate. Do not add the curdling agent at that point and wait for at least five minutes for the milk to curdle fully. Then, drain this milk into a muslin cloth.
  • Rinse the cheese with cold water so the paneer does not get a vinegar taste. And, bring the muslin cloth ends together to squeeze as much water as you can.
  • Flatten the wrapped paneer into the muslin cloth and put it on a flat surface. Then, put a heavy thing on the top to make the paneer get set and leave it aside for a minimum of one to two hours.
  • When the paneer is set, please remove it from the muslin cloth and cut it into pieces.
  • Now your paneer is ready, and you can add to your favourite recipe.

Make Your Homemade Paneer Last Longer with These Basic Tips

Tips for Making and Storing Paneer

  • Always prefer using full-fat milk to make the paneer. That’s because it’s the fat content that helps make better cheese. Besides, if you use skimmed milk, it can lead to dry cheese as a result.
  • While adding vinegar or lemon juice to the milk, you have to stir the mixture in the same direction. Doing this helps make large curds pieces that will stick together during the process of making paneer after some time.
  • You will get some liquid as a by-product when draining the paneer. Don’t throw that away. It is the whey, which is a good protein source, and you can use it in several methods.

Tip for Storing Paneer

  • Store the paneer in the refrigerator after wrapping it in a wet muslin cloth.
  • To ensure the paneer stays good for a long time, you must moisten the muslin cloth after every 4 to 5 hours. That’s essential because the fridge tends to steal away the moisture.
  • At times, you might not have a muslin cloth available. In such a case, submerge the cheese block in a water bowl and close its lid.
  • Place this bowl in the refrigerator, and it will keep the cheese soft and moistened.
  • Remember, don’t put paneer into the fridge for more than 2 or 3 days.

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Make the Most Versatile and Most Loved Food to Your Kitchen and Enjoy!

Paneer is the most loved ingredient of many Indian dishes. No party and festival can be planned without paneer. Paneer is used in various starters, main courses and desserts as well. Paneer is a healthy source of nutrition, carbohydrate, and calcium. If you live outside India, you can easily find Paneer in Indian stores in most of the countries but nothing can beat homemade. Follow the step by step guided recipe carefully to make smooth and spongy paneer at home. If you want some delicious paneer recipes to make at home, do visit our food categorise to get easier and luscious paneer recipe ideas.