Chili Paneer

Materials

For the Paneer:

Full-fat milk

Lemon juice or white vinegar

Muslin cloth

For the Batter:

Cornstarch

Water

Salt

For the Chili Paneer:

Paneer (homemade or store-bought)

Onion, finely chopped

Green bell pepper, finely chopped

Garlic, minced

Ginger, minced

Soy sauce

Vinegar

Red chili sauce

Sugar

Salt

Cornstarch

Water

Oil for frying

Production Steps

Preparing the Paneer:

1. Heat the milk:In a large pot, heat the milk on medium heat until it comes to a gentle boil.

2. Curdle the milk:Remove the pot from the heat and slowly add lemon juice or vinegar, stirring continuously. The milk will curdle and separate into whey (liquid) and paneer (solids).

3. Drain the whey:Line a large bowl with muslin cloth. Pour the curdled milk into the cloth and tie it up. Let it drain in the sink for about 30 minutes.

4. Press the paneer:To remove excess water, place a heavy weight on the cloth-wrapped paneer for about 15 minutes.

5. Shape the paneer:Once drained, unwrap the paneer and cut it into cubes.

Preparing the Paneer for Frying:

1. Make the batter:In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch, water, and a pinch of salt to form a smooth batter.

2. Coat the paneer:Dip each paneer cube into the batter to coat evenly.

Making the Chili Paneer Sauce:

1. Prepare the vegetables:In a bowl, combine chopped onion, green bell pepper, minced garlic, and ginger.

2. Make the sauce:In a separate bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, red chili sauce, sugar, salt, cornstarch, and a little water to form a smooth sauce.

3. Fry the paneer:Heat oil in a wok or deep fryer. Fry the battered paneer cubes until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Combining and Finishing:

1. Sauté the vegetables:In the same wok, heat some oil and sauté the onion, green bell pepper, garlic, and ginger until softened.

2. Add the sauce:Pour the prepared sauce into the wok and stir-fry until it thickens and becomes glossy.

3. Combine with paneer:Add the fried paneer cubes to the sauce and toss well to coat evenly.

4. Serve:Garnish with spring onions (optional) and serve hot with fried rice or noodles.

Tips:

For extra flavor, marinate the paneer cubes in a mixture of soy sauce, ginger, and garlic before battering.

Adjust the amount of red chili sauce to your desired level of spiciness.

For a thicker sauce, use more cornstarch.

To reduce oil consumption, you can air fry or bake the paneer cubes instead of deep-frying.

By following these steps, you can create delicious and authentic chili paneer at home. Enjoy!