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    Home » Paneer Recipes

    Best Paneer Recipe Ideas

    Published: Jan 1, 2023 by Kushi with 17 Comments . Article has 1547 words. About 8 minutes to read this article.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post is a collection of the best, easy, and most simple paneer recipes you can make for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner.

    best, simple, easy paneer recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks - butter masala, matar paneer

    Jump to:
    • What is paneer?
    • Popular paneer recipes
    • Some basic paneer dishes
    • Vegetarian Indian meal combo
    • Paneer curry and paneer gravy recipes
    • Paneer appetizers, Paneer dry recipes
    • Paneer main dishes
    • Paneer sweets and desserts
    • Vegan simple paneer recipes
    • Recipes in which you can use paneer as a substitute
    • FAQ
    • Recipe card
    • Simple Paneer Recipes
    • User Reviews

    What is paneer?

    Paneer or Ponir, or Indian cottage cheese, is a non-aged and non-melting soft cheese prepared by curdling milk with acidic ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar. Most vegetarians in India consume paneer as it is rich in protein and calcium. You can use homemade or store-bought paneer to make paneer dishes.

    If you are interested in making paneer at home from scratch, you can check my full-detailed recipe for homemade paneer here.

    Popular paneer recipes

    In India, if you visit any restaurant, a small hotel, or a dhaba, you will see paneer butter masala (paneer makhani), palak paneer, and paneer tikka masala on the menu. Paneer butter masala is an all-time crowd favorite, and palak paneer is especially loved or consumed during the winter when leafy greens are available in plenty.

    Apart from these gravies, you can use paneer to make dry snacks, appetizers, sweets, and desserts or even stuffed flatbreads such as parathas and kulchas for breakfast. The options are endless.

    The best part is you can use the same masala or curry base to prepare chicken dishes. Simply substitute paneer with grilled or roasted chicken.

    Some basic paneer dishes

    If you are a beginner when it comes to cooking paneer dishes, then try some simple dishes at first. For example, add paneer to your rice to prepare paneer pulao, or mix it with green peas to make a quick Matar paneer curry.

    If you love tikka or kebab prepared with chicken, then next time, substitute chicken with paneer to make paneer tikka and surprise your guests.

    You can mix grate paneer, some basic spices, sauteed onions, and salt and use it as a filling to prepare steaming hot paneer momos.

    Or dip paneer slices in chickpea-flour batter and deep fry them in oil to make paneer pakora (fritters).

    You can also pan-roast paneer slices with a dash of salt and toss them in your green salads instead of tofu.

    Mix grated paneer with sauteed onion, tomatoes, and green chilies to make paneer bhurji instead of egg bhurji.

    Vegetarian Indian meal combo

    You can serve any paneer gravy or curry with Indian flatbreads like naan, roti, chapati, ghee rice, or jeera rice to make a complete Indian meal.

    Paneer curry and paneer gravy recipes

    In this section, I have covered some of the simple and easy paneer curries and paneer gravies where onion-tomato masala is used as the base. Just like at restaurants and dhabas, these paneer dishes can be served with Indian flatbreads such as roti, naan, chapati, phulka, etc. You can even serve it with steamed rice, jeera rice, ghee rice, etc.

    Some of the popular and favorite paneer gravy and curry are

    • Paneer butter masala, also called paneer makhani or butter paneer
    • Matar paneer or green peas and paneer gravy
    • Jain-style palak paneer without onion and garlic, you can also try this during vrat, fasting, and upvas days.
    • Veg kadai or Kadai paneer - You can use only paneer or combine it with all veggies, just like we do.
    • Very basic paneer curry popular as vrat wale paneer curry using basic ingredients from your kitchen.
    • Healthy and nutritious hariyali paneer using green leafy vegetables of your choice
    • Traditional palak paneer recipe from scratch
    Paneer Butter Masala garnished with cilantro and a drizzle of cream and served in a white bowl.

    Paneer Butter Masala or Paneer Makhani

    Restaurant-style Paneer Butter Masala or Paneer Makhani is a very popular Indian dish that is rich, creamy and delicious, prepared using basic ingredients like butter, onion, tomatoes, paneer, cashews, and cream. This can be served with any flatbreads like naan, roti, chapati, pita, or along with steamed rice, jeera rice, ghee rice, or pulav.
    easy matar paneer masala recipe, mutter paneer dhabha, punjabi style, green peas and paneer curry

    Paneer Matar Masala (Paneer Green Peas Curry)

    Paneer Matar Masala or Mutter Paneer is a popular & delicious, creamy & flavorful vegetarian North Indian Punjabi dish where paneer and green peas are cooked in an onion-tomato gravy.
    Paneer Matar Masala goes well with any bread, like NAAN, ROTI, CHAPATI, or rice items such as steamed rice, JEERA RICE or GHEE RICE. This is one of the popular vegetarian dishes served for lunch or dinner, at home, at large events, and in restaurants.
    how to make palak paneer without onion garlic, Navratri vrat, fasting, upvas recipes, karwa chauth

    Simple Palak Paneer (No onion No Garlic)

    No Onion No Garlic Palak Paneer Curry or Masala is a creamy and flavorful, healthy and delicious recipe that is one of the best options for your vegetarian, gluten-free lunch or dinner.
    How to make veg kadai, kadai paneer, mushroom kadai, vegetable kadai, indian dinner recipes #paneer

    Mix Veg Kadai or Kadai Paneer Recipe

    Veg Kadai or Kadai Vegetable is a popular, spicy, and aromatic Indian vegetarian recipe where mixed veggies like mushroom, baby corn, cauliflower, and capsicum (green bell peppers) are cooked along with paneer in freshly ground homemade kadai masala.
    Today I have served it with INSTANT WHEAT DOSA, but this can also be served with any Indian flatbread like NAAN,  CHAPATI,  ROTI,  KULCHA,  etc., or also with simple steamed rice or GHEE RICE.
    vrat wale paneer curry, no onion no garlic paneer masala, sabzi, navratri fasting, upvas, vrat khana

    Easy Vrat Wale Paneer Curry

    Vrat wale paneer curry or paneer masala is super easy to make yet delicious paneer recipe prepared using a handful of essential ingredients from your kitchen.
    Hariyali paneer recipe, Tofu Green Curry, #paneer #tofu Simple easy Paneer recipes, vegan tofu recipes for dinner, hariyali tikka, extra firm tofu, paneer curry, tikka masala, butter masala, restaurant style, dhaba style, instant pot paneer, Popular Indian food recipes, instant pot paneer, punjabi food, vegetarian meal, paneer paratha, pudina paneer

    Paneer Hariyali or Paneer Green Curry

    Hariyali Paneer or Tofu Green Curry is a simple and easy to make curry recipe packed with full of flavor and prepared using paneer (Indian cottage cheese) or tofu and few basic ingredients from your kitchen.
    Palak Paneer recipes / How to make palak paneer ? vegan palak paneer / instant pot palak paneer / saag paneer vs palak paneer / Indian cottage cheese / healthy tofu recipes

    Healthy and Traditional Palak Paneer

    Palak Paneer is a rich and popular Indian delicacy where the paneer or Indian cottage cheese is cooked in the spicy and aromatic, onion tomato spinach gravy.

    Paneer appetizers, Paneer dry recipes

    This is one of my favorite sections, as it contains some easy paneer dry recipes and appetizers that you can prepare in less than 20 minutes.

    • Paneer in Butter Garlic Cream Sauce
    • Paneer Pepper Dry
    • Peri Peri Paneer with addictive Cheese Sauce
    • Paneer Chilli or Manchurian - an easy method.
    paneer butter garlic cream sauce #Mushroom #steak #chicken #shrimp #salmon #appetizer #sidedish

    Popular Paneer in Butter Garlic Cream Sauce

    Paneer in Butter Garlic Cream Sauce is a rich and classic, garlicky, quick and easy-to-make recipe that can be prepared in less than 25 minutes.
    This paneer dish can be served as an appetizer or starter with bread slices, with a bowl of soup, or even toss it with pasta of your choice.
    aneer pepper dry, kadi patta homemade easy recipes for Indian vegetarian lunch, dinner #paneer

    Super Easy Paneer Pepper Dry

    Paneer Pepper Dry (Paneer Kadi Patta) is an easy-to-make, flavorful recipe that is crispy on the outside with chewy melt-in-mouth texture inside prepared mainly using curry leaves, peppercorns, and paneer (Indian cottage cheese).
    peri peri paneer with cheese sauce, easy recipes with paneer #paneer #periperifries #diwaliparty

    Peri Peri Paneer with Cheese Sauce

    This Diwali & Holiday season, try this chatpata, spicy peri peri paneer topped with creamy cheese sauce. It is an explosion of flavors in the mouth like a Diwali firecracker.
    You will surely go for the second and third servings. This piri piri paneer is going to be a total crowd-pleaser.
    How to make easy paneer chilli? spicy paneer appetizer, starter, side dish recipe #vegetarian #indian

    Easy and Simple Chilli Paneer recipe

    Paneer Chilli is a popular, spicy, and flavorful Indo-Chinese vegetarian starter or appetizer recipe where paneer cubes are tossed in a simple, easy, aromatic sauce.
    These are better than any restaurant-style paneer as they have fewer sauces, no MSG or fancy sauces, or any food color.

    Paneer main dishes

    You can add paneer as the main ingredient while making rice dishes like biryani or pulao. You can also grate it and add it as stuffing for your naan, kulcha, or paratha. Use it even as toppings for dosa and pizza. Some of my favorites are

    • Paneer Paratha
    • Thai-style Vegetable Fried Rice
    • Breadless Sandwich or Eggless Omelette - Protein-packed weight loss recipe
    How to make punjabi dhaba style paneer paratha recipe at home #paneerparatha #paneerrecipes

    Paneer Paratha

    Paneer Paratha is delicious and easy to make protein-packed Indian flatbread prepared using whole wheat flour (atta), paneer (Indian cottage cheese), and a few herbs and spices.
    Paneer Parathas can be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. These parathas are so tasty that they can be served alone or with few other accompaniments like a dollop of butter, pickle, chutney, yogurt, CHOLE (CHANA MASALA), HARIYALI PANEER, etc.
    Thai Mango Fried Rice, Vegetable, veg or veggie fried rice, leftover rice recipe, how to cook fried rice on instant pot, Pineapple fried rice, basil fried rice, quick and easy vegetarian, vegan meals, #friedrice #pineapplefriedrice #thaistyle #thaifood #veganmeals #vegetarianmeals #dinnerrecipes

    Thai Vegetable Fried Rice or Mango Fried Rice

    Thai Mango Fried Rice | Veg Fried Rice is a super easy-to-make, healthy, and delicious rice recipe that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. One of the best recipes to try for a busy day, weeknight dinner, or weekend lunch.
    This rice recipe is vegan and gluten-free
    healthy breadless sandwich, veg eggless omelette #sandwiches

    Breadless Sandwich, Protein Packed Recipe

    Breadless Sandwich | Eggless Omelette or Omelet is a delicious and high protein-packed sandwich recipe that is sure to be your NEW favorite family recipe. This sandwich is one of the best vegetarian gluten free recipe you can serve for breakfast, lunch or dinner specially on meatless Mondays and also the best option if you are on weight loss program. With few tweaks in the sandwich filling, this breadless sandwich can be made vegan too. 

    Paneer sweets and desserts

    Paneer is also used to make some of the famous Indian sweets and desserts like jalebi, rasgulla, halwa, burfi, sondesh, kheer, kalakand, etc.
    Some of the best desserts with paneer include

    • Instant Paneer Jalebi
    • Rasgulla and Rasmalai from scratch
    • Indian Cheesecake or Milk Cake called Kalakand
    How to make instant paneer jalebi or chhena jalebi. jilapi, jilipi, #jilebi #jalebi #indiansweets

    Instant Jalebi or Paneer Jalebi

    Paneer Jalebi or Chhena Jalebi is easy to make and popular Indian sweet or mithai that is crispy on the outside, juicy with a melt in mouth texture inside. This is one of the best sweet or dessert recipes that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes.
    If you are looking for a quick and easy sweet or dessert to make this Diwali or during any other festivals like Christmas, Eid, Holi, Raksha Bandhan, or for special occasions, you should definitely try this out.
    kalakand sweet recipe, quick and easy kalakand recipe with paneer, ricotta cheese, condensed milk

    Kalakand or Indian Cheesecake

    Kalakand is creamy and delicious mouth watering milk cake or Indian cheesecake with a soft and grainy texture that is a perfect treat for any special occasion. This is one of the easiest Indian sweet recipes to prepare and requires only two main ingredients everything else is optional and can be varied as per your liking.
    Rasmalai - Popular Bengali sweets from India, Rasgulla, Paneer sweets recipe, ricotta cheese, sweets, mithai, desserts for Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, thanksgiving, Milk Based sweets #indiansweets #rasmalai #rasgulla #homemade #softrasgulla #rabri #rabdi

    Rasmalai and Rasgullas

    Rasmalai is a super delicious, flavorful, and melt-in-mouth dessert where soft and spongy cheese balls are soaked in saffron-flavored sweetened milk.
    This is one of the popular Indian sweet recipes from Bengal, along with GULAB JAMUN, BARFI, LADOO, KHEER, etc.

    Vegan simple paneer recipes

    For all those who are on a vegan diet and still want to try these paneer recipes, substitute paneer with tofu (extra firm variety) and follow the recipe instructions. You can also check out the below recipes prepared using vegan paneer (tofu).

    • Noodle Soup
    • Fried Tofu or Paneer with Thai Special Sauce 
    • Honey Sriracha Tofu 
    • Spicy Basil Tofu
    • Tofu Bhurji

    Recipes in which you can use paneer as a substitute

    All recipes which use chicken or potatoes as main ingredients can be substituted with paneer. Below are some dishes where you can easily substitute chicken or potatoes with paneer. Like chicken kathi rolls, paneer kati rolls are a very popular street food where you use paneer as the main ingredient. You can add paneer to methi pulao and make methi paneer pulao, add marinated paneer instead of chicken to make the delicious paneer biryani, or grate and add it in samosa filling to make paneer samosa, and so on.

    • Chicken Kathi Rolls 
    • Methi Rice (Pulao) 
    • Chicken Biryani
    • Crispy Honey Chilli Potatoes
    • Mini Veg Puffs 
    • Samosa
    • Chicken Tikka
    • Cajun Potatoes

    FAQ

    What is paneer called in the USA and other parts of the world?

    Paneer is called Indian cottage cheese and differs from cottage cheese sold in American grocery stores. Paneer is available in the refrigerator section of most Asian or Indian grocery stores.

    Can paneer be eaten raw or uncooked?

    Yes, like most cheeses, paneer can be eaten raw. Paneer is prepared by curdling cow or buffalo's milk with acid like vinegar or lemon juice. Optionally, you can flavor the paneer curds with different herbs, spices, and salt before they are shaped into blocks. Being a non-melting cheese, you can cook paneer further to prepare your favorite paneer dishes.

    Is paneer healthy or fattening food?

    If you are on weight loss and a vegetarian, your dietician will most likely recommend you to eat paneer as it is one of the best sources of calcium and protein and packed with healthy fats.

    What is a paneer substitute for a vegan diet?

    If you are vegan, use tofu instead of paneer in all recipes.

    Where to buy Paneer?

    Paneer is available in the refrigerator aisle of most Indian or Asian Grocery stores.

    Recipe card

    best, simple, easy paneer recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks - butter masala, matar paneer

    Simple Paneer Recipes

    Kushi
    This post is a collection of the best, easy, and most simple paneer recipes you can make for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner.
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Resting Time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 25 mins
    Course Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, snacks
    Cuisine Indian, north indian, South Indian
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 192 kcal

    Equipment

    • Muslin cloth or Cheesecloth
    • Large vessel or pot

    Ingredients
      

    Ingredients to make Paneer Cheese

    • 1 Gallon Whole milk ( 4 liters)
    • ½ cup Lemon juice or vinegar (you may have to adjust the amount here)
    • Salt, to taste (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Keep milk on medium heat and bring it to a slow boil. Once the milk boils, switch off the flame.
      1 Gallon Whole milk ( 4 liters)
    • Add lemon juice or vinegar little by little and stir slowly untill the milk curdles. Do not add everything at once because the amount you require may vary.
      ½ cup Lemon juice or vinegar (you may have to adjust the amount here)
    • If the milk does not curdle or separate, then add an additional 1 to 2 tablespoon lemon juice. Let this stand for about 2 to 4 minutes.
    • Place a cheesecloth in a colander and strain the paneer-whey mixture through the cheesecloth. You can now rinse with cold water to remove the lemon flavor.
    • Tie the cheesecloth with a knot and then hang it to your kitchen faucet for about 15 minutes to let all the whey drain through it.
    • Open the knot, and season the paneer with salt and knead it till it's soft and smooth. It should not be crumblier. To prepare dishes like bhurji, you may use paneer at this stage.
      Salt, to taste (optional)
    • Tie the cheesecloth and then place a heavy weight on top of it and refrigerate for a couple of hours. I keep it overnight. If you are preparing a sweet dish like rasgulla or rasmalai do not refrigerate. Just keep it outside for 1 hour.
    • Cut them into cubes and use them in your favorite dishes as needed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 10gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 120mgPotassium: 484mgFiber: 0.03gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 512IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 389mgIron: 0.01mg
    Keyword butter masala paneer, easy paneer recipes, naan accompaniment, Paneer, paneer for kids, paneer recipes dry, paneer recipes for roti, paneer recipes list, paneer snacks
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    best, simple, easy paneer recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks - butter masala, matar paneer

    More Paneer Recipes

    • Paneer Matar Masala | How to make Mutter Paneer Masala
    • Peri Peri Paneer With Cheese Sauce | Easy Paneer Recipe
    • No Onion No Garlic Palak Paneer For Fasting, Vrat
    • Vrat Wale Paneer Curry | Simple No onion No Garlic Paneer Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katie Jacques

      January 05, 2023 at 8:47 am

      These paneer recipes are fantastic!

      Reply
    2. Jenna

      January 07, 2023 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my….I must try some of these recipes! They all sound amazing. Paneer in Butter Garlic Cream Sauce sounds like the perfect, easy, to-go appetizer idea. Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
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    Hi, I'm Sridevi! I am a Software Engineer by qualification, a full-time Food Blogger by passion, a self-published Author, and a happy person two kids (monsters) ago.

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