When we think of Indo chinese starters , Chilli paneer is one of the first one that domes to mind. Many of us describe this dish "Chilli paneer" as one word..Yum!!! You may have it dry or enjoy it with gravy. It is delicious. Most of us have surely would have tasted from the roadside eatery in India .These suddenly had popped up on street food scene in the early 90s. I love making this street style stir fry when I want cottage cheese but do not want to eat a curry.
What is chilli paneer?
This starter is one of the best chinese starters, you can make at home. Indo chinese recipes came to the masses in Indian as a street food snack in cities in the early 2000s.Both vegetarians and meat lovers love it. You will definitely love making them especially when it is free from MSG. I love making chilli paneer recipes both dry or in sauce depending on my mood. Veg fried rice or hakka noodles are an excellent match along with some lemon soda.
Jump to:
- How to make Chili paneer in air fryer? (video recipe)
- Ingredients for chilli paneer
- Steps to prep the cottage cheese cubes
- Steps for recipe of chilli paneer in an oven
- Steps to prep the fried paneer (in an air fryer)
- How to make restaurant style chilli paneer gravy recipe?
- Related recipe
- Chilli paneer Recipe
What is Indo-Chinese cuisine?
- Indo-Chinese is a fusion cuisine which has best of both Indian spices and Chinese food. Due to this it suits Indian palate.
- You may make it as spicy as you like.
- May also remove MSG or ajinomoto.
- It is immensely popular across shacks and hotels across India.
- You will always find college kids and bachelors raving for it.
- This cuisine is an amalgamation of vegetarian/ non-vegetarian dishes.
- Adapted from Asian cuisine.
- Other dishes include fried rice, noodles, momo, dumplings and wontons.
- Veg crispy recipe like baby corn, mixed veg manchurian, chilli gobi or gobi 65.
How to make Chili paneer in air fryer? (video recipe)
Ingredients for chilli paneer
Paneer cubes
- Cottage cheese cubes
- Red chilly powder and salt
- Corn flour or corn starch /tapioca starch/arrow root powder
Sauce mix
- Soy sauce
- Tomato sauce
- Hot chilly sauce
- Sweet- sour sauce
vegetable mix
- Onion
- Red & green capsicums
- Green onions
- Ginger-garlic-chilly
- sesame oil
- salt and pepper
Refer to recipe card.
Equipment
You can make this appetizer via traditional method by frying or bake in an oven if not using an air fryer. For best results, use a wok to make the gravy. If you do not have a wok, a stainless steel pan will do. Wok tends to remain hot even after cooking is done so handle with care. Also, ensure the veggies are not over cooked.
Steps to prep the cottage cheese cubes
- Soak the cottage cheese cubes in water, this is an optional step required if you are using a store brought cheese, which is harder than fresh one.
2. Mix tapioca flour/corn starch with salt and red chili powder and little water(use same quantity as that of corn flour, if using ¼ cup corn flour, use ¼ cup water)
3. Add that on top of cottage cheese cubes.
4. Drain excess liquid
Steps for recipe of chilli paneer in an oven
1. Line them up on a grill rack ,not directly on a baking tray. Brush them with oil.
2. Bake into oven at 160deg C(fan forced) for 15-20 minutes
Steps to prep the fried paneer (in an air fryer)
1.Place the pieces in the air fryer basket. You may use the steamer sheets or baking sheets with holes. Spray/brush with oil.
2. Cook in preheated(5 minutes) air fryer at 180C/355F for 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove the baking sheet(if you were using one),brush/spray oil and cook for additional 5 minutes.(total cook time of 10-12 minutes)
How to make restaurant style chilli paneer gravy recipe?
- Chop the veggies, ginger and garlic
2. Heat oil in a wok. Add finely chopped ginger, garlic and chillies. Now, add onions, cook on medium flame for few minutes. Add the rest of veggies.
3.Add the paneer pieces to the mixed vegetables, toss it well.
4.Add the sauces with salt and black pepper powder or crushed black pepper. Let it cook for few minutes. If you prefer a thin gravy , then this is the time to add 2 teaspoons corn flour/tapioca starch mixed with 1 cup water or if you prefer a dry manchurian gravy then add 1 teaspoon corn flour with ½ cup water
5. Adjust water and sauce as per taste,garnish with green onion, serve with fried rice or noodles.
Related recipe
If you are looking for more indo chinese starter names, below are a few
Chilli paneer Recipe
Equipment
- wok
- air fryer or oven
Ingredients
Paneer cubes
- 300 gms cottage cheese cubes
- ¼ cup corn flour/tapioca starch/arrowroot use same quantity of water
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. red chilli powder
Sauce mix
- 2-3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot chilli sauce
- 1 tablespoon sweet & sour sauce optional
vegetable mix
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil or any vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp. sliced ginger
- 1 tbsp. sliced garlic
- 1 tbsp. green chilly chopped
- 1 Onion chopped or 1 cup
- 1 Green capsicum chopped or 1 cup
- ½ Red capsicum chopped or ½ cup
- 3-4 Green onions chopped or ½ cup
- Salt as per taste Adjust as per salt in Soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon pepper crushed
Garnish
- ½ teaspoon Sesame seeds
- ¼ cup green onions chopped
Instructions
Prep paneer pieces
- Soak the cottage cheese cubes in water, if you are using a store brought paneer that is hard. This is an optional step.
- Mix tapioca flour/corn starch with salt and red chili powder and little water(use same quantity as that of corn flour, if using ¼ cup corn flour, use ¼ cup water)
- Add that on top of cottage cheese cubes,drain excess water.
Make crispy paneer in oven
- Line the paneer pieces up on a grill rack ,not directly on a baking tray. Brush them with oil
- Bake into oven at 160 deg C (fan forced) for 15-20 minutes
Make paneer crispy in Air fryer
- Place the pieces in the air fryer basket. You may use the steamer sheets or baking sheets with holes. Spray/brush with oil
- Cook in preheated(5 minutes) air fryer at 180C/355F for 5-7 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet(if you were using one),brush/spray oil and cook for additional 5 minutes.(total cook time of 10-12 minutes)
Prep paneer pieces in deep fryer
- You may fry the paneer pieces, for this, dip them in the batter and allow the excess batter to drip through.
- Add them for medium hot oil, fry for few minutes and take them out on a tissue paper.
Steps for Paneer chilli gravy
- Chop the veggies with ginger and garlic
- Heat oil in a wok,add ginger,garlic and chillies. Add onion,cook on medium flame for few minutes.Add rest of veggies
- Add the cottage cheese cubes to the gravy. Toss them well.
- Add the sauces with salt and black pepper powder or crushed black pepper. Let it cook for few minutes. If you prefer a thin gravy , then this is the time to add 2 teaspoons corn flour/tapioca starch mixed with 1 cup water or if you prefer a dry manchurian gravy then add 1 teaspoon corn flour with ½ cup water
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Variations
- You may fry the paneer pieces, for this, dip them in the batter and allow the excess batter to drip through.
- You may chop your veggies small or big as per your liking.
- If you want to make your Chilli paneer dry or gravy, adjust the water and sauces accordingly.
- Increase the heat and sauces according to your taste. If you like it super spicy, add extra tablespoons of green chilli sauce or red chilli sauce to it. Add a tablespoon soya sauce if required.
- You may add soya sauce to the marinate the paneer. This will make it darker in color.
Storage
Keep the fried cottage cheese cubes ready and store in an air-tight jar in refrigerator. Make a fresh sauce mix and serve as soon as guests arrive.
FAQs
Do not over fry it .
Whey. It can be used to make dal,soups, rice and even roti dough.
Yes if you make fresh paneer at home.If you use the store bought paneer, sear/saute or steam that before you eat.
Conclusion: Air fryer chili paneer is the delish side which can be served with mint chutney and some noodles or fried rice.
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