Indian Fried Paneer Cheese Pakora

Name: Paneer Pakora
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 cup paneer; 1 cup gram flour; 1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida; 1/2 teaspoon of chaat masala; 1 cup of cold water; 1 1/2 cup of olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala; 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric; 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon of salt

This Homemade Paneer Pakora Recipe is an Indian snack made with paneer cheese, gram flour and spices!

Indian Cuisine

May 1, 2022

Difficulty Easy

Servings 4 people

Preparation 5 mins

Cooking 20 mins

Total 25 mins

Recipe Contents

Ingredients Directions Nutrition Equipments Tips

Ingredients

1 cup of cold water
1 1/2 cup of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of garam masala
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup paneer
1 cup gram flour
1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida
1/2 teaspoon of chaat masala

Directions

Take the paneer cheese out of its packaging and make sure it drains well; wet paneer never browns well. Then slice the paneer into cubes or squares.
Add chickpea flour to a large mixing bowl. Then, add seasoning to the flour. Add turmeric powder, paprika powder, garam masala, asafoetida, carom seeds, and salt. Mix all the ingredients well so that the mixture looks like speckled flour.
Pour the water into the bowl and mix well. Be very careful how much water you add to get a thick, runny dough with no lumps in it. Begin with 2/3 of a glass and gradually add more until you achieve the desired consistency.Use a whisk to mix the dough.
Heat the oil in a deep, high-sided skillet. Choose a heavy-bottomed pan for this. Heat the mustard oil over medium or medium-high heat.
Add a few drops of water to the pan to check if the oil is at the right temperature. If the droplets rise to the surface too quickly, it means they are cooking quickly. Therefore, the oil is ready to fry the pakora!
Drop the paneer cubes into the dough using a slotted spoon to remove them after they are well coated with the dough mixture. Add a few at a time to the medium-hot oil.
When the pakoras are slightly golden on one side, turn them over with a slotted spoon. Continue frying until the pakoras are golden and crispy on all sides.
With a slotted spoon, remove each of the pakoras from the hot oil. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Let it cool for a few minutes. This resting process will remove excess oil, resulting in a crispier pakora.
Sprinkle the paneer pakora with some chaat masala and serve hot with green chutney or mint chutney. You can also serve it with any of your favorite dips.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Paneer Pakora

Serves 4

Amount Per Serving

Calories554

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 54 g69.2%

Cholesterol 6 mg2%

Sodium 436 mg19%

Protein 6.2 g12.4%

Potassium 209 mg4.4%

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Tips

You can use any paneer for this recipe, though the best option would be to use homemade or store-bought fresh paneer. If you’re choosing to use frozen paneer, make sure to defrost it before cooking, as adding a frozen item to hot oil will surely be disastrous.
Like other types of cottage cheese-style cheese, paneer isn't too difficult to make at home; it's just made from milk and an acid—typically lemon juice or white vinegar. Try it; homemade and fresh food is always the best!
You can cut paneer cheese into cubes or slices.
Use cold water for a light and fluffy dough. Slowly add cold water and whisk. The consistency of the dough is important for preparing crispy paneer pakora.
Make sure you measure the ingredients correctly.
Make sure the dough is not too thick or too thin.
Deep fry the pakoras. Do not add too many pakoras to the pan.
Making a wonderful paneer pakora is to make sure that your oil is truly hot before you add any of your individual pakoras to it. Oil that is too cool will soak into your pakoras, leading to soggy, oily snacks that aren’t quite perfect for that crispy satisfaction. Always ensure that you check the temperature of your oil!
Double fry to add crunch to your paneer pakoras. Add rice flour or cornmeal to the dough mixture for a crispier crust.
You can use ajwain or carom seeds instead of chili peppers.

Rate This Recipe

Paneer Pakora or Paneer Pakoda is paneer cheese that is deep fried. It is a popular snack in Indian cuisine. This gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan recipe is easy to make at home. It pairs perfectly with chutney or mint chutney.

Coated with flour and deep-fried, paneer cheese slices or pieces are delicious and spicy snacks. Try this Homemade Fried Paneer Cheese Pakora recipe. Feel the Indian flavors in every bite.

Equipment for this recipe

Measuring Cup

Mixing Bowls

Frying Pan

Cutting Board

Chef Knife

Whisker

What Is Paneer Pakora?

Paneer Pakora is a wonderful snack food from India. Essentially, you can think of them as a type of cheese deep fried within a flavored batter coating. Paneer is a fairly light flavored cheese, often likened to cottage cheese, and the batter in this dish is well spiced and flavored. The end result is a delightfully tasty dish!

What To Serve with Paneer Pakora?

Your favorite sauces are the best options for serving with Paneer Pakora! The best choices of the bunch, of course, would be pickled mangoes, pickled cilantro, or raita. In addition, pickled lemon is also compatible with this dish.

Here are our delicious recipes that you can serve with Paneer Pakora: