Paneer - The organic Indian cheese for you

Paneer is an Indian cottage cheese that has a soft, firm, and non-melting texture even after being cooked on high heat. It is widely used in Indian cooking, especially in North India, as snacks and in curries. You can also make a variety of recipes by marinating it into different spices or have it fresh with flavorings. If you’re curious about the taste and making procedures of paneer, we’ve got the answers for you. 

How does it taste? 

It has a creamy, milky, and crumbly flavor that tastes like other varieties of cheeses in the US markets like cottage and ricotta. Being an unsalted cheese, it doesn’t excite most people as they consider it a little mild in taste. Its taste might vary depending on the milk it is made from. Buffalo milk gives it a rich and more creamy texture while cow milk paneer is a little softer and less rich due to less fat content. 

Dishes that use paneer?

Paneer is eaten in many ways in Indian cuisine. You can cut the paneer into any shape and size to make delish Indian curries like Saag-paneer, Shahi paneer, Paneer Tikka, Paneer Pakoda, and so on. You can also visit India Garden to try these Indian paneer recipes. It can also be crushed or grated over salads and eaten fresh with little seasonings on it. The creamy flavor of the paneer makes it appropriate to eat it fresh without any flavorings. Whether cooked or raw, it is always a delight to eat.

Method of making paneer

You can buy it from a store if you don’t want to make it on your own but we’d recommend trying it at home for cooking a range of Indian dishes from scratch. 

• Take about 1 gallon of milk into a large pot and put it on the stovetop to a boil.

• When the milk starts boiling, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into it while stirring it and turn the heat off in about half a minute. 

• After pouring in the lemon juice, you’ll see the milk start to curdle right away and water separates from the milk content. 

• Let it rest for 10 minutes and cool down. Now line a pot with a clean cloth, and shift the curdled milk onto the cloth rinsing it with cold water. 

• Holding the cloth from the edges, squeeze it out firmly to remove the liquid completely. 

• You’ll get fresh and firm paneer which you can shift into a tray and refrigerate for a few hours.

Health benefits 

Paneer is one of the fresh, soft, and healthy cheeses around the world. It has a high nutritional value including protein, calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients due to its fresh production and consumption cycle. It is an essential source of protein along with other health benefits for the vegetarian crowd in India. You can add this popular Indian dairy product to your diet for a rich flavor and healthy lifestyle. 

                              Don't Miss >> The top 5 Indian dishes to try at India Garden