5 Flavourful And Easy Paneer Recipes To Impress Your Guests

There are numerous lip-smacking and authentic paneer recipes that are worth the effort. So, like the title suggests, we are here to give you a paneer recipe list that you should definitely try before finalising the menu of your next home party. Keep scrolling to take a look at these easy paneer recipes that are guaranteed to win you over.

Starters

All the foodies in the house, don't you agree that starters should be as fast as The Flash! After all, as the name suggests, parties and feasts start with starters. So, whip up these quick paneer recipes as starters the next time you have people coming over:

1. Baked paneer disc

This quick paneer recipe can be a real crowd-pleaser at your party! This simple yet stylish fare can be prepared in no time! Here’s what you need and how you can prepare Mala Thiagarajan’s dish.

Ingredients: 

1 loaf white bread

Olive Oil to spray

Grated cheese as required, to top

1 cup home-made paneer, crumbled

1/2 cup finely-chopped onions,

1/cup cup finely-chopped red and green bell peppers

1/2 cup corn kernels, semi-cooked

1/4 cup tomato ketchup 

2 tsp Italian mixed herbs

Salt to taste

For the spread:

1/2 cup hung curd

1 tsp Sriracha/Red chilli sauce

1 tsp dry basil

3 tsp chopped fresh mint leaves

Salt to taste

Method:

Spread:

1. In a bowl, take curd, dry basil, chopped mint, sriracha sauce, and salt to taste. Mix it thoroughly.
2. In a bowl, add the crumbled paneer, chopped onions and bell peppers, and cooked corn. Add salt to taste, red chilli flakes, tomato ketchup, Italian seasonings, and mix well.
3. Take a bread slice. With a cookie cutter, cut a circle out, and keep the disc aside. 
4. Spread the curd on the circle. Keep the disc on top, fill the centre with the vegetable topping, garnish with some grated cheese, and nicely grease olive oil over it.
5. Pre-heat the oven at 200 degrees celsius for 10 minutes.
6. Line a baking tray with foil, grease olive oil over it.
7. Arrange the discs over the foil and bake for 10 minutes or till the cheese melts.
8. Serve this unique paneer starter with tomato ketchup.

PS: You can also serve it with Schezwan chutney if you are a spicy food lover!

2. Paneer puff

Although this is not one of the easy paneer recipes, it is a delight for paneer lovers. Here is this paneer recipe that you can try at home. 

Ingredients:

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp fennel seeds

2 large onions, finely chopped

1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

1 medium tomato, finely chopped

Salt as per taste

1 tsp red chilli powder 

1 tsp coriander powder

1 1/2 garam masala powder

1/2 tsp jeera powder

200 gms paneer 

A pinch of kasuri methi

6 puff pastry sheets

Olive oil for brushing

Procedure:

Paneer Masala:

1. First, allow your puff pastry to come to room temperature for about 30-45 minutes. 
2. Cut the paneer into 1/4-inch small cubes and soak it in warm water for about 10 minutes.
3. Now, heat a pan with oil, add the fennel seeds. Once they starts changing colour, add the onion and sauté for a minute or two.
4. Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté until the onion turns dark brown. 
5. Add finely chopped tomatoes, salt, and sauté until the tomatoes turn mushy. Add the listed powders (i.e. red chilli, garam masala, coriander, and jeera), and give a quick stir. 
6. Add about 1/2 cup of water, stir occasionally on low-medium. Cook until the water evaporates completely.
7. Drain the paneer from water and add it to the pan and sauté for 2 minutes. 
8. Take a pinch of kasuri methi, crush it, and add to the paneer masala. Stir for a while and turn off the flame.
9. Keep the prepared paneer masala aside to come to room temperature.

Puff Recipe:

1. Pre-heat the oven at 375. Take a baking sheet and grease butter/oil on it. 
2. Place the puff pastry over baking sheet.Wet the edges with water.
3. Take a spoon full of prepared paneer masala and place it at the centre. Fold the pastry to form a triangle shape. 
4. Seal the edges by pressing with your thumb. 
5. Repeat the same process with the rest of the pastries. 
6. Brush the top with melted butter or olive oil. 
7. Bake them in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes and check at regular intervals. Once the puff changes to a golden brown, take it out from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes.
8. Serve puffed paneer with ketchup. 

3. Sweet corn paneer balls

Well, this simple paneer recipe by chef Nisha Madhulika can be a little tricky, but it will be quick—we promise! Follow this step-by-step guide to prepare this easy paneer recipe in less than 60 minutes. 

Ingredients: 

1 cup sweetcorn (100 grams)

200 gm paneer

2 cups breadcrumbs

3-4 tbsp corn flour

2-3 tbsp coriander (finely chopped)

1 tsp ginger (grated)

2-3 green chillies (finely chopped)

Salt as per taste

1/4 tsp black pepper

Oil for frying

Method:

1. Boil sweetcorn in water for 5 minutes. 
2. Let cool and grind the boiled sweetcorn coarsely.
3. Grate paneer and mix it with the ground sweetcorn in a bowl.
4. Add 2 tsp cornflour, green chillies, ginger paste, salt, black pepper, and green coriander.
5. Mix it well and start making small balls with your hands
6. In a separate bowl, mix the rest of the cornflour, salt, black pepper with some water. Stir well to ensure you dissolve lumps if there are any. 
7. Dip a ball in the cornflour water and coat it with breadcrumbs.
8. Fry them, one by one, in hot oil until they gets golden brown on a medium flame. 
9. Serve these tempting sweetcorn paneer balls with a spicy-tangy chutney.

Recipe courtesy: Nisha Madhulika

Paneer recipes with gravy

When it comes to easy paneer recipes with gravy, you must have heard about palak paneer, paneer butter masala, or matar paneer—and why not? They are amongst the most famous Indian paneer dishes.

However, there are only a few who have given a shot to paneer recipes that deviate from the usual. One such is chef Nisha Madhulika’s Methi Palak Paneer Sabzi. Allow us to tell you the method of preparing this recipe, which happens to be one of the best paneer dishes.

4. Methi Palak Paneer

Ingredients: 

250 gm spinach (finely chopped)

250 gm fenugreek leaves (finely chopped) 

250 gm paneer

2 to 3 tbsp oil 

A pinch of asafoetida

1/2 tsp cumin seeds 

1/4 tsp turmeric powder 

1 tsp coriander powder 

1 tomato (finely chopped)

1/4 tsp red chilli powder

2 green chillies (finely chopped) 

Salt as per taste

1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

Method:

1. Cut paneer into 1-inch square chunks.
2. Add 2 tbsp oil to a pan and heat it sufficiently.
3. Place the paneer chunks into it and fry until they turn slightly brown on both sides. Take out fried paneer chunks on a plate. 
4. Add 1 tbsp more oil to a pan.
5. Add cumin seeds and saute them for a few seconds. 
6. Add chopped green chilies, turmeric powder, coriander powder, finely chopped tomatoes, and saute them for a while. 
7. Add chopped fenugreek leaves, chopped spinach, salt, red chilli powder, and sugar. 
8. Mix everything well and cover the pan. Allow everything to cook on a medium flame for 5 minutes.
9. Add paneer chunks into the mixture and combine gently. 
10. Cover it again and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes on a low flame. 
11. Jam it up with rotis, naan, or parathas.

5. Palak paneer 

Palak paneer, a North Indian dish, is often served with phulkas. During winters, this recipe is a must try. And, that is why we have chef Ajay Chopra’s recipe of palak paneer. Scroll down to read about its ingredients and preparation method.

Ingredients: 

For roasted palak:

1 tsp cumin seeds

2 - 3 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder

1/2 cup garlic (chopped) 

1 cup spinach (chopped) 

1 bowl spinach Puree

1 tsp kasuri methi

A pinch of garam masala

For onion-tomato masala

1 tbsp oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 to 2 tbsp garlic paste

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp chilli powder

Salt as per taste

1 cup tomatoes

1 cup tomato puree

Method: 

1. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, dried red chilies, and chopped garlic.
2. Add the fresh chopped palak and let it cook.
3. Now, add the palak puree and cover the pan with the lid. 
4. Meanwhile, in another pan, heat oil and add chopped onions, cook until brown, and then add ginger garlic paste.
5. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt, and chopped tomatoes followed by the tomato puree.
6. Add the onion-tomato masala to the palak mixture.
7. Add a spoon of butter and sufficient cream.
8. Sprinkle some kasuri methi powder into the pan and cook.
9. Finally, add the fried pieces of paneer and cook it for a while with occasional stirring. 
10. Before serving this delicacy, sprinkle some garam masala on top.

Takeaway: All the listed recipes can be added to the menu for a wholesome meal. How many of the above-listed paneer recipes have you tried?