Paneer Popcorn is a crispy, golden, and addictive bite-sized paneer (cottage cheese) packed with flavor. These vegetarian nuggets are perfect for kids, as a party appetizer, or as an evening snack with tea.
Also, check out our new crispy corn cheese balls recipe.
Paneer bites
If you're a fan of bite-sized, crispy snacks or appetizers, this crunchy paneer popcorn recipe is perfect for you. Small cubes of paneer are coated in batter, breaded, and fried to golden perfection. Whether you are hosting Diwali, Christmas, Game Night, a birthday, or a weekend party, or craving something crispy and crunchy for your evening chai or coffee, these paneer bites are perfect for you.
Today I have paired these paneer popcorn (nuggets) with spicy lemon soda (kulukki sarbath) - a combination worth trying for your next party.
Also, check out our Diwali snacks ideas and game day party food ideas.
Ingredients
Paneer: Form paneer into bite-sized pieces. You can even make these vegetarian nuggets with tofu or potatoes.
Corn starch, or all-purpose flour, maida, or rice flour. This helps the masala stick to the paneer.
Spices for flavor: ginger garlic paste, chile powder, tandoori masala, black pepper powder.
Herb: cilantro or coriander leaves.
For the crunchy exterior: use bread crumbs and spices of your choice.
Check out the recipe card for the full list of ingredients.
Prepare the batter
- In a mixing bowl, combine corn flour, ginger garlic paste, chile powder, tandoori masala, black pepper powder, salt, and coriander leaves. Mix well.
- Now add water in tablespoon increments and mix well to form a medium-thick batter.
- Add the paneer cubes. Toss and marinate for 15 minutes.
Coat the paneer
- In a bowl, add bread crumbs, chile powder, tandoori masala, salt, black pepper powder, and mix well.
- Roll each paneer in these bread crumbs.
Deep fry nuggets
- Heat oil in a pan on medium flame. Add paneer cubes and fry until golden brown.
- Best served with lemon lime soda, cocktails, or mocktails as finger food or an appetizer, or as a snack with evening tea or coffee.
Tips
- Make ahead: You can make the batter, bread the paneer, and freeze it. Just fry when you are ready to serve.
- Adjust the spices to taste.
- Instead of corn starch, all-purpose flour(maida), rice flour, and besan can be used. Flavor will vary accordingly.
More paneer recipes
Recipe card
Paneer Popcorn | Vegetarian Nuggets | Paneer Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Corn flour corn starch, or all-purpose flour or rice flour
- 1 tablespoon Ginger garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon Chile powder
- 1 teaspoon Tandoori masala garam masala
- ¾ teaspoon Black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Coriander leaves cilantro
- 200 g Paneer Indian cottage cheese, cubed.
- Oil for frying
For crispy coating
- ½ cup Bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon Red chile powder
- ½ teaspoon Tandoori masala
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper powder
Instructions
Prepare the batter
- In a mixing bowl, combine corn flour, ginger garlic paste, chile powder, tandoori masala, black pepper powder, salt, and coriander leaves. Mix well. Now add water in tablespoon increments and mix well to form a medium-thick batter.⅓ cup Corn flour, 1 tablespoon Ginger garlic paste, 1 teaspoon Chile powder, 1 teaspoon Tandoori masala, ¾ teaspoon Black pepper powder, 1 teaspoon Salt, 1 tablespoon Coriander leaves
- Add the paneer cubes. Toss and marinate for 15 minutes.200 g Paneer
Coat the paneer
- In a bowl, add bread crumbs, chile powder, tandoori masala, salt, black pepper powder, and mix well.½ cup Bread crumbs, ½ teaspoon Red chile powder, ½ teaspoon Tandoori masala, ¼ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black pepper powder
- Roll each paneer in these bread crumbs.
Deep fry nuggets
- Heat oil in a pan on medium flame. Add paneer cubes and fry until golden brown.Oil for frying
- Best served with lemon lime soda, cocktails, or mocktails as finger food or an appetizer, or as a snack with evening tea or coffee.
Video
Notes
- Make ahead: You can make the batter, bread the paneer, and freeze it. Just fry when you are ready to serve.
- Adjust the spices to taste.
- Instead of corn starch, all-purpose flour(maida), rice flour, and besan can be used. Flavor will vary accordingly.
Nutrition
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