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Home » Indo-chinese » Easy Chilli paneer recipe ( Air fryer / Oven)

Easy Chilli paneer recipe ( Air fryer / Oven)

Dec 26, 2021 · Leave a Comment

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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.

Chinese starters Veg - Paneer chilli
Chilli paneer Dry
Jump to:
  • What is chilli paneer?
  • Ingredients
  • Equipment
  • Steps to prep the cottage cheese cubes (in an oven)
  • Steps to prep the cottage cheese cubes (in an air fryer)
  • How to make restaurant style chilli paneer gravy recipe?
  • Related recipe
  • Chilli paneer Recipe
  • Variations
  • Substitutions
  • Storage
  • Need more air fryer recipes?
  • FAQs

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.

Homemade cottage cheese gets a stylish makeover as paneer tikka and paneer chilli. It wins the heart of all hungry patrons. Indian cottage cheese is a class in itself.It fits profile  of every foodie whether you love savory or sweet. Curry or bread, snack or dessert you can make anything and everything with this ingredient. We talk about this dish, maximum while leaving an office party. Give your dinners/luncheons a stylish twist. You ensure guests leave with a smile and a beautiful memory. Enjoy this dish as home just like we do. It is perfect companion of noodles and fried rice while rains lash down.

Life is beautiful and blissful because your tummy is full. Always be thankful for a roof on your head and food.

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.

Ingredients

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

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 (in an oven)

  1. 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.

Paneer paneer oven steps 1

2. Mix tapioca flour/corn starch with salt and red chili powder.

Paneer paneer oven steps 2

3. Roll the cubes into it.

Paneer paneer oven steps 3

4. Line them up on a grill rack ,not directly on a baking tray. Brush them with oil. 

Paneer paneer oven steps 4

5. Bake into oven at 160deg C(fan forced) for 15-20 minutes

Paneer paneer oven steps 5

Steps to prep the cottage cheese cubes (in an air fryer)

1.Make the batter of the tapioca, salt and red chilli powder by adding some water. Add that on top of cottage cheese cubes, drain excess liquid.

Paneer prep air fryer step 1

2.Place the pieces in the air fryer basket. You may use the steamer sheets or baking sheets with holes. Spray/brush with oil.

Paneer prep air fryer step 2

3. Cook in preheated(5 minutes) air fryer at 190C for 10-12 minutes.

Paneer prep air fryer step 3

How to make restaurant style chilli paneer gravy recipe?

  1. Chop the veggies, ginger and garlic

Chilli paneer gravy steps 1

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.

Chilli paneer gravy steps 2

3.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 and let it boil

Chilli paneer gravy steps 3

4.Add the cottage cheese cubes to the gravy. Toss them well.

Chilli paneer gravy steps 4

5. Adjust water and sauce as per taste,garnish with green onion, serve with fried rice or noodles.

indo chinese appetizers - Chilli Paneer
Chilli paneer gravy

Related recipe

If you are looking for more indo chinese starter names, below are a few

  • Veg Manchurian
  • Veg hakka noodles
  • Chilli cheese toast
  • Tofu manchurian (Air fry / bake)

Read the chilli paneer air fryer / oven recipe below:

dry chilli paneer
Print Recipe
4.84 from 6 votes

Chilli paneer Recipe

Chilli paneer is a great companion for hakka noodles or fried rice. Learn the easy recipe on how to make in air fryer oven or fried.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Indo-Chinese
Keyword: asian starter recipes, chilli paneer, chinese starters menu, chinese starters recipes, chinese veg starters, dry chilli paneer, easy chinese starters, indo chinese starter, indo-chinese, veg chinese starters
Servings: 4
Author: bhavana bhatia

Equipment

  • wok
  • air fryer or oven

Ingredients

Paneer cubes

  • 300 gms cottage cheese cubes
  • 2-3 tbsp. corn flour/tapioca starch/arrowroot
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. red chilly 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

  • 2-2 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 in Oven

  • 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 flour with salt and red chilli powder
  • Roll the cottage cheese cubes into it. Line them 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

Prep paneer pieces in Air fryer

  • Make slurry of the tapioca,salt and red chilli powder by adding some water. Add that on top of paneer cubes, drain excess liquid.
  • Place the cottage cheese 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 190C for 10-12 minutes.

Pre 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 sauces with salt and perpper,let it cook for few minutes.If you prefer a thin gravy , then this is the time to add 2 teaspoon cornflour/tapioca starch mixed with 1 cup water and let it boil.
  • Add the cottage cheese cubes to the gravy. Toss them well.
  • Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.

Notes

The spice is as per your taste, hence please adjust the chilli sauce,soy sauce accordingly.

Nutrition

Serving: 4g

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
chinese paneer starter recipes
  • This will give you dark brown colored paneer pieces
chinese starter recipes vegetarian

Substitutions

You can also make gobi manchurian ,veg manchurian and soy manchurian in a similar fashion. It also tastes great with some grilled tomato soup especially in winter or in rainy evenings.

Looking for more desi Chinese recipes?

  • Veg Hakka Noodles
  • Vegetable manchurian
  • Gobi Manchurian
  • Chilli tofu/Tofu manchurian (Air fry / bake)

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.

Need more air fryer recipes?

  • Keto Paneer tikka
  • Veg Manchurian
  • 25+ Indian vegetarian air fryer recipes

FAQs

How do I keep paneer soft after frying?

Do not over fry it .

What is left after making paneer?

Whey. It can be used to make dal,soups, rice and even roti dough.

Can you eat paneer raw?

Yes if you make fresh paneer at home.If you use the store bought paneer, sear/saute or steam that before you eat.

Finally to additional recipe videos click here.

« Paneer tikka masala recipe | Paneer tikka masala restaurant style
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I am Bhavana & this is my wonderland of recipes.I have been in IT for 15+ years have always loved writing.My husband Gaurav & I,love to cook, click & host people..Read more..

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