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For a vegetarian, the most popular alternative to meat on an Indian menu is paneer, or cottage cheese. From snacks (such as paneer tikka and paneer pakoda) to main course items (like shahi paneer), paneer is a mainstay in Indian cuisine. A favourite ingredient in a variety of curries, side dishes, snacks, and desserts, paneer is versatile and easy to cook. It all depends on how elaborate or simple you want your dish to be.
That said, the texture and quality of the paneer has a strong role to play in the final outcome. Soft and supple paneer will always lead to a delicious dish. Whether you buy it from the market or make it at home, the paneer needs to be refrigerated so that it doesn’t get spoiled. However, refrigerating it for a long time can sometimes result in a hard and rubbery texture. Fret not, you can soften it with a few simple tricks. Here’re those:
1. Keep it covered inside the fridge
This is one of the most important steps to follow. Never leave your paneer open in the fridge. Always ensure that your paneer is covered and stored in an airtight container to keep it soft. Leaving it open inside the refrigerator might rip off all the moisture from your paneer.
2. Bring it to room temperature before cooking
Never use paneer immediately after taking it out from the fridge. Let it rest outside for at least 25-20 minutes prior to cooking. This allows the paneer to come to room temperature, and soften up by itself.
3. Ensure that you steam it
Steaming is another great way to soften refrigerated paneer. Boil some water in a bowl. Once it comes to a boil, put a strainer over it and spread out the paneer cubes, so that they absorb the steam. Put a lid on top so that the steam cannot escape. You’ll have super soft and spongy paneer cubes after about 10-15 minutes.
4. Immerse it in warm water
This can be your saviour when running short of time. Simply cut the paneer slab into cubes and dip them in a bowl of warm water. The water should just be enough to cover the paneer, and make sure not to keep it soaked for more than 5 minutes, as this would make the paneer brittle. This will help soften your paneer.
5. Add it only in the end
If you want to ensure that your paneer remains soft while cooking, never add it to your dish in the beginning. Even if you’ve softened it by following the above steps, adding it in the beginning itself will overcook the paneer and make it rubbery.
