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Paneer fry is a simple, quick and very easy starter recipe made with paneer cubes (Indian cottage cheese) that is tossed in basic spices and then shallow fried.
This is a vegetarian, gluten-free, beginner-friendly, high-protein snack recipe.
These paneer bites are great starter/appetizer that gets ready in 15-20 minutes. This is a no-onion-garlic recipe.
At home, we serve this as a snack or as a side dish with meals. Making paneer fry does not need lots of pre-preparation. We only need to marinate the paneer pieces in spices for about approximately 10 minutes.
If you love paneer and haven’t had this type of snack, you need to try it ASAP. Let me tell you, these spicy paneer bites are super addictive and you are not going to stop munching over them.
To make these simple spicy buttery paneer fry we will marinate the paneer cubes in basic masala and shallow fry them on a non-stick pan.
Paneer (cottage cheese) does not have a flavour of its own hence coating them with a spice mix gives them a delicious taste.
I have used store-bought paneer here, but you can also use homemade paneer cubes. At home, we like to have it with only basic spices like red chilli powder and turmeric powder, but feel free to add masalas like garam masala, chaat masala or coriander & cumin powder to enhance the taste.
To make these crispy delicious paneer bites, I shallow fry them in butter till their edges are nicely crisp and golden.
These make a perfect snack with a hot cup of tea and coffee.
Kids love this protein-packed snack along with tomato ketchup.
Frequently asked questions
How to fry paneer without sticking to the pan?
Always try to use a non-stick pan while frying paneer. If you do not want to fry paneer in a non-stick pan then use a little more of butter or oil instead.
Can we add these paneer bites to gravies?
Yes, you can add this spicy buttery fried paneer in panner tikka curry, and butter panner masala which will enhance the taste of these curries.
What to serve these paneer bites with?
These are flavourful and can be easy as it is, but you can always serve them with tomato ketchup, green coriander chutney or along with mayonnaise.
Other variations
You can sprinkle chaat masala on these paneer bites to make them more chatpata (tangy).
You can add curd while marinating the paneer cubes. This type of fried paneer is best to add to curries.
Feel free to add spices like garam masala, chaat masala or coriander powder to the marination.
Vegan option
You can use tofu instead of paneer and fry them in oil instead of butter.
You can use pre-cooked soya nuggets instead and fry them in oil instead of butter.
lngredients used in making Buttery Paneer Bites
Paneer: I have used 200 grams of storebought paneer which I cut into cubes.
Spices: We will use only red chilli powder and turmeric powder. (but feel free to add other spices as per your preference).
Seasoning: I seasoned this with salt.
Butter: I used Amul butter here, which gives a nice taste to these paneer bites.
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Food FAQs
Step-by-step recipe of how to make paneer bites.
- Cut paneer into small bite-size cubes
- Add spices, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt.
- Gently toss the paneer cubes and let them marinate in the spices for about 10-15 minutes.
- Heat butter in a pan, and place the paneer cubes.
- Fry these paneer cubes on a medium flame for about 4-5 minutes till they are golden brown in colour.
- Fry paneer from all sides and do not overcook it as they tend to become stiff and chewy.
- Our delicious crispy spicy paneer bites are ready. Serve hot.
Note:
Do not overcook paneer (cottage cheese) as it gets chewy and does not taste good.
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Recipe Card
Paneer Fry – Spicy Paneer Bites
Ingredients
- 200 grams Paneer
- 1 tablespoon Red Chilli Powder
- 1 tablespoon Turmeric Powder
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut paneer into small bite-size cubes
- Add spices, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt.
- Gently toss the paneer cubes and let them marinate in the spices for about 10-15 minutes.
- Heat butter in a pan, and place the paneer cubes.
- Fry these paneer cubes on a medium flame for about 4-5 minutes till they are golden brown in colour.
- Fry paneer from all sides and do not overcook it as they tend to become stiff and chewy.
- Our delicious crispy spicy paneer bites are ready. Serve hot.
Notes
If you like this recipe or make this recipe do leave a comment and share the picture. I would love to see your creation.
Use the hashtag #thespicycafemumbai or #thespicycafeofficial to feature on Instagram and Facebook.
Happy Cooking!
best vegetarian version,
absolutely Scrumptious