A Guide on How to Make Paneer at Home Plus Delicious Paneer Recipes to Try Out in 2020

A Guide on How to Make Paneer at Home Plus Delicious Paneer Recipes to Try Out in 2020

Paneer is nothing but an extract of sour milk. Although Paneer is available in stores, you can easily make it at home. Here, at BP Guide, we present a simple recipe to make Cottage Cheese at home. You will need no fancy ingredients, utensils, and tools to prepare this amazing Homemade Paneer recipes.

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Paneer and Its Benefits

Paneer does not need an introduction for a diehard Indian. It is loved by all be it a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian. People like to eat paneer for its subtle, creamy taste and for the health benefits it yields. Here are a number of things which can prove why you should eat paneer at least once a week.

Paneer is high in protein depending on the kind of milk used in making it. Essential minerals like calcium and magnesium are found in paneer in abundance. You get 18 grams of protein in 100 grams of paneer which is great for people who are into bodybuilding and are vegetarians. You also find a huge amount of calcium in it which helps in building strong teeth and muscles and the low levels of lactose in it prevent tooth cavities. It has the tendency to keep you full for a long time therefore it is good for weight watchers as well.

If you are suffering from heart disease or want to prevent heart complications you can safely indulge in paneer as the MUFAs and PUFAs in it promotes good heart health. It is loaded with oleic acid and omega -3 as well which keeps your vital body organs healthy. Paneer also has a good amount of phosphorus in it which is great of digestion and the magnesium present in it works as a laxative which soothes your stomach well. Paneer is good for kids because vitamin B in paneer helps in developing cartilages as well as improves concentration and memory in children and the elderly. Paneer also has zinc in it with is great when it comes to the proper development of sperms and last but not least the selenium and other vitamins in paneer keep your skin glowing and make you look younger. In simpler terms, you can call paneer a powerhouse of protein.

Tips/Tricks on Making Soft Paneer at Home

So, now that we know the benefits of eating paneer it is time to learn how to make it at home. People are extra cautious these days of buying things from the market due to the spread of Covid-19 and are trying to make things at home more. If you are a paneer lover and afraid of buying it then don't fret.

Making paneer is very easy and it only takes an hour to get a perfect block of paneer. Before you start making paneer at home you need to learn a few simple tricks to get the best paneer out of milk. Here are a few pointers which will help you in doing so.

  • Always use fresh and good quality milk. Try avoiding low fat milk for making paneer at home. Full cream milk gets your excellent soft and creamy paneer.
  • Remember there are different ways of curdling the milk for paneer. You can use lemon juice, curd, buttermilk, citric acid or vinegar to separate milk from whey easily.
  • Don't forget to stir the milk while boiling it to avoid a layer of cream forming on top of it but if it does don't worry. Don't remove the layer as it will make you paneer softer (it that is what you want) .
  • While curdling the milk add whichever acid you like put remember to let the milk curdle completely to get perfect paneer. You should be able to see a white or greenish liquid separated from the milk.
  • Remove the milk immediately after it curdles as over boiling it will give you hard paneer.
  • Always wash your block of paneer once you have strained it to remove the taste of vinegar or lemon in it.
  • Try to use a thin cloth to strain paneer to get most water of it.
  • You can either hang the paneer or keep it under a heavy object to drain out the excess water .
  • Don't forget to store the leftover paneer in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge until next use.

Follow the table to see which acid you would like to use and how much to make paneer at home in 1 liter milk.

  • Lemon juice---3 to 4 tsp for soft and firm paneer
  • Vinegar---------2 to 3 tsp for soft and firm paneer
  • Curd-------------3 to 4 tbsp for extra soft paneer for dishes like bhurji or desserts
  • Buttermilk------4 to 5 tbsp for soft and firm paneer

Don't forget the use the leftover whey. Pour it in a bottle and keep in the fridge. You can use it to knead your dough, add it in your stews and curries or simply add it in your smoothies to get the most benefit from it.

Making Paneer at Home

Fresh or frozen paneer or cottage cheese can be easily bought from stores these days but making paneer at home gives you soft and creamy paneer that can be used for weeks. Paneer is a popular vegetarian dish among the people who do not eat meat. It is loaded with proteins and tastes delicious. You can make end numbers of tasty dishes from it or simply eat it plain with some salt and black pepper. If you are thinking of making paneer at home then this article will help you understand the process of making it at home and will get you the best paneer you can have.

Things you need to make paneer at home

  • 2 liters of full fat milk
  • 2 large lemon juice/vinegar/curd
  • Muslin cloth
  • One large pot to boil milk

Method:

  • Take a large pot and rinse it with water
  • Pour in 2 liters of full fat milk in it
  • Boil milk once and remove it from the stove
  • Add lemon juice/vinegar or curd (use the chart given above for the amount of acid needed in 2 liters)
  • Stir the milk in one direction (if you find that the milk is not curdling or the whey has not separated you can add some more lemon juice to it)
  • When the milk has separated from the whey pour it through a thin muslin cloth (collect the whey in a bowl)
  • Squeeze out the whey from the paneer gently (you can now hang the cloth with the paneer for a couple of hours to get softer paneer or place a heavy object on it for 40 minutes to get a little firmer block of paneer)
  • Simply remove the paneer from the cloth and use it in your dish
  • If you wish to use it for later you can place the paneer in an airtight container and put in the fridge and use it after a couple of days.
  • You can even freeze it and use if after 2 months.

3 Tutorials on Making Paneer at Home

If you are one of those people who like to watch and learn then you can search YouTube for some great tutorials on making paneer at home.  Here are three which teach you making paneer in detail.  Watch and learn and get ready to cook something delicious today with what you make.

Ruchi Bharani teaches you how to make homemade paneer perfectly in her video.  This is one of the best videos on making paneer easily at home.  She guides you step by step on how to make it and get soft paneer right at home. You will also find the steps in the description of the video which makes it easier to follow.  Watch the video on youtube.

If you have unannounced guests at home and don't have enough time to buy paneer or make paneer the usual way for dinner you can make instant paneer in the microwave. Jyoti teaches making paneer in the microwave in her channel food species. She has shown it using very clear instructions on making paneer using vinegar and adding a little refined flour to it. You can read the steps in the description as well and get the perfect paneer for dinner in an instant. You can watch the video on youtube.

You might find milk getting spoiled while boiling especially during summers. Usually, we throw it away not knowing what to do with it. This video from Just Superb teaches you on how to make perfect paneer from spoiled milk. So next time don't throw it away instead make paneer from it. You can use this paneer in any of the dishes you want or make stuffed parathas from it. It tastes like any other paneer and is super healthy. Watch and learn through the video below.

3 Easy Recipes You Can Make with Paneer

Making paneer dishes at home is a great way to have a feast. Here are 3 really easy and delicious recipes you can make at home with your homemade paneer tonight and impress your family.

Paneer Jalfrezi 10 Minutes Recipe

Some common paneer dishes are butter paneer, paneer tikka and matar paneer but if you want to try something new tonight you can try making this crazy tasty and easy Paneer Jalfrezi. It is a simple way of turning paneer into something creative. This recipe takes only 10 minutes to make and most of the ingredients used in it are easily available at home. This colourful recipe will have your family drooling.

Ingredients

  • 350 grams Paneer cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 large Green Bell Peppers/Capsicum cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 large Red Onion cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 large Tomato, firm cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/2 tsp Ginger Garlic paste
  • 1 small Green Chili chopped fine
  • 1/2 Tbsp + 1/2 Tbsp + 1 tsp Cooking Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Coriander powder
  • 1/2 Tsp Red Chili powder
  • 1 Tsp Kasuri Methi crushed
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 Tbsp Ketchup, this is the secret ingredient
  • 1/4 Cup Water

Method:

  • Take 1.2 tbsp oil and put it in a non stick pan
  • Put chopped onions and bell pepper in it
  • Saute it for about 3 minutes on high flame
  • Keep stirring and remove from the pan
  • Again take 1/2 tbsp oil in the same pan
  • Put in paneer cubes and cook on high flame for 3 minutes again, take them out of the pan
  • Heat 1 tsp oil on medium heat in the same pan again
  • Put in green chilli, ginger and garlic paste, coriander powder, red chilli powder, garam masala and salt
  • Saute it for a few seconds and add ketchup and water in it
  • Cook for 1 minute on low heat
  • Add in the paneer, bell pepper and onion and saute for 1 minute
  • Add in tomato and stir well
  • Cook for 2 to 3 minutes and turn off the flame
  • Serve it with hot parathas

Serving Suggestion - Serve with Naan, Roti, Parantha of your choice.

Palak Paneer

One very famous paneer dish is the palak paneer. It tastes great and is loaded with proteins and iron. The smooth gravy of palak paneer is to die for. It may look like a lot of work making it but it is quite simple to make it and goes great with chapatis, puri or even with rice. Here is how you can make it.

Ingredient

  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root
  • 2 peppers dried red chili peppers
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ¾ cup sour cream
  • 3 pounds fresh spinach, torn
  • 1 large tomato, quartered
  • 4 sprigs fresh cilantro leaves
  • 8 ounces ricotta cheese
  • Coarse sea salt to taste

Method

  • Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan
  • Add garlic, 1/2 tbsp ginger, red chilli and onion, saute till it turns nice and brown.
  • Add cumin, coriander, turmeric and sour cream in it and stir well.
  • Add spinach and cook well for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Remove it from heat and let it cool.
  • Take the spinach mixture, tomato, 1/2 tbs ginger and cilantro and run in a blender for 30 seconds or so.
  • Put the blended mixture back in the saucepan and keep it warm on low heat.
  • Take another pan and heat 3 tbs olive oil in it.
  • Add chopped cheese cubes in it and fry till it is brown.
  • Add the paneer in with the spinach mixture and cook for 10 minutes on low heat.
  • Add salt and serve hot.

Paneer Kheer

A meal without a sweet dish is incomplete and there is nothing sweeter and tastier than creamy kheer. There are end number of ways through which you can make delicious kheer but since you have learnt how to make paneer at home, let us try making paneer kheer for a change.

Ingredients: For Kheer:

  • Milk 1 cup
  • Sugar 1/2 cup
  • Condensed milk 2 tbsp (optional)
  • Cardamom powder 1/4 tsp
  • Saffron 4-5 strands, soaked in a tbsp of warm milk
  • Raisins fistful
  • Cashew nuts 6-7, break into small pieces
  • Almonds 4-5, make slivers
  • Pistachios 6-7, lightly crushed
  • Ghee 1 tbsp

Method

  • Take a steel pot and boil milk in it
  • Bring the flame to low and let the milk cook till it is half the quantity, keep stirring in between
  • Put in soaked saffron and cardamom powder to it and cook for another minute
  • Now put in sugar and cook for another 10 minutes on low heat
  • Take crumbled paneer, nuts and raisins of your choice and add in the milk, stir for 2 minutes.
  • Add condensed milk in it if you like for a thicker texture.
  • Remove from heat and let it cool and put it in the fridge for it to chill.
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Writer
Sarita Tiwari
Sarita worked in the development sector for 20 years but found her passion in writing. She is a blogger, a content writer and a ghost writer for various industries. When not writing, you will find her spending time with her family, cooking and traveling. She is an introvert and feels that writing gives a voice to her thoughts.
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Use of Cheese Paper:

If you have bought paneer or made at home, it is important to use either the cheese paper or parchment paper. These papers help paneer to breathe and eject the fumes that it produces. Plastic wrap does not allow the panner to breathe and hence paneer gets rotten easily.  Every time you take the paneer out to use, it is important to change the paper that you are using.