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Let's be honest, paneer or cottage cheese has a loyal fan base in India. With a huge vegetarian population that enjoys its creamy, cheesy texture, paneer has given us a variety of dishes in the Indian cuisine to vouch for. And not just the main course, its versatility surpasses breakfast, party snacks and even desserts (read kheer, barfi and sondesh). One can include paneer in almost every course of an Indian meal. Now you know why almost every restaurant in the country has a plethora of paneer dishes on the menu. And to top it all, paneer is also a healthy vegetarian source of protein.
While you can do a lot with cottage cheese, Indian paneer snacks are quite a rage around the world. From classic tikkas, kebabs and pakodas, to bhurji, tikkis and cutlets, paneer can take over a platter of snacks in countless ways. Picture soft and succulent paneer chunks, grilled, roasted, sautéed or fried with spices – aren’t you craving for some already? Fret not. To satiate your cravings we’ve got 5 of the best Indian paneer snacks that you can try at home for everything from a small evening gathering with family, to a dinner party or just when you are craving for something quick and delicious.
1. Paneer Cutlet
A perfect amalgamation of aromatic spices with grated paneer and mashed potatoes, these paneer cutlets will surely make your evening tea or your mid-day snacking all the more delicious.
2. Paneer Lollipops
Here is one of the most delicious fusions of Indian and Chinese cuisine. A spin on the classic paneer pakoda, these lollipops with a baby corn coating right before deep-frying, sizzle with the spices. The recipe is super quick and easy to make when you have unexpected guests at home.
3. Aloo Paneer Tikki
Haven’t we all slurped at the mere mention of crispy and piping hot tikkis? Here’s your classic aloo tikki with a twist of paneer in between, making it a must-try! Sandwich it between slices of bread or relish it with oodles of coriander and tamarind chutney atop.
4. Grilled Paneer
Made with simple ingredients that you can find in your kitchen cabinet; this grilled paneer recipe doesn’t even require any fancy equipment except just a pan. All you need to do is toss cumin powder, chili powder and tomato ketchup with paneer chunks, brush up with some oil and cook over the pan until charred and grilled to perfection.
5. Keema Paneer Kebabs
Love minced mutton kebabs? Give it a touch of paneer too with this stellar recipe. Crushed paneer along with spices such as ginger, garlic, nutmeg, pepper and chilli mixed with minced mutton make this a mouth-watering treat that you won’t be able to resist.
So which of these paneer snacks are you trying next?
