3 Cheesy Starter Varieties With Paneer To Make For Your House Party

Paneer is an excellent ingredient for creating cheesy and delicious starters that are sure to be a hit at your house party.

Nikita Toppo

Updated Aug 21, 2024, 05:11 PM IST

Paneer, also known as cottage cheese, is a versatile ingredient that is staple in many households. It's rich in protein and paneer is extremely versatile. This dairy product is not just a favourite in main courses but also shines in appetisers, specially when paired with cheese. If you're hosting a house party and want to impress your guests with some delectable starters, here are three cheesy paneer varieties that will leave everyone asking for more.

Chilli Paneer

Prep time: 7 min, Cooking time: 20 min

Chilli paneer is a beloved Indo-Chinese dish that's perfect for a house party.

Ingredients:

Quantity	Ingredients
250 g	Paneer, cubed
1 cup	Mixed bell peppers, diced
1	Onion, diced
2-3	Green chillies, slit
1 tbsp	Ginger-garlic paste
1/2 cup	Cheese, grated
2 tbsp	Soy sauce
1 tbsp	Tomato ketchup
1 tbsp	Red chilli sauce
1 tbsp	Cornstarch
1/4 cup	Water
To taste	Salt
As needed	Oil

Method

Start by coating the paneer cubes with a mixture of cornstarch and salt. Shallow fry them in oil until they turn golden brown. Set aside on a paper towel to remove excess oil.

In a wok, heat some oil and sauté the onions, bell peppers, and green chilies until they are slightly tender but still crisp. Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook until the raw smell disappears.

Add soy sauce, tomato ketchup, and red chili sauce to the vegetables. Stir well to coat everything evenly. You can adjust the spice level according to your taste.

Add the fried paneer cubes to the wok and toss them in the sauce. Reduce the heat to low and sprinkle the grated cheese over the mixture. Cover the wok with a lid and let the cheese melt and mix with the paneer and vegetables.

Serve the cheesy Chilli Paneer hot as a starter. Garnish with some chopped spring onions or cilantro for an added touch of freshness.

Tandoori Paneer

Prep time: 10 min, Cooking time: 20 min

Tandoori paneer is a classic Indian appetiser that's been a crowd-pleaser for years.

Ingredients

Quantity	Ingredients
250 g	Paneer, cut into thick cubes
1/2 cup	Thick yoghurt
1 tbsp	Ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp	Tandoori masala
1 tsp	Red chilli powder
1/2 tsp	Turmeric powder
1 tbsp	Lemon juice
1/2 cup	Cheese, grated
1 tbsp	Gram flour
To taste	Salt

Method

In a bowl, mix yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, tandoori masala, red chili powder, turmeric powder, lemon juice, and salt. Whisk the mixture until smooth.

Mix the grated cheese and gram flour into the marinade. The gram flour helps the marinade adhere better to the paneer and gives it a slight nutty flavor.

Coat the paneer cubes in the cheesy yogurt marinade. Make sure each piece is well coated. Cover the bowl with cling film and refrigerate for at least an hour to let the flavors seep in.

Preheat your grill or oven. Thread the marinated paneer onto skewers and grill them until they develop a nice char and the cheese is melted and slightly browned.

Serve the Tandoori Paneer hot, garnished with lemon wedges and sliced onions.

Kurkure Paneer

Prep time: 15 min, Cooking time: 25 min

Kurkure paneer is a modern twist on the traditional paneer starter. The paneer cubes are coated in a cheesy, spiced batter, then rolled in crushed cornflakes for an extra crispy texture.

Ingredients:

Quantity	Ingredients
250 g	Paneer, cut into bite-sized cubes
1/2 cup	Cheese, grated
1/4 cup	Cornflour
1/4 cup	All-purpose flour
1 tsp	Red chilli powder
1 tsp	Garam masala
1/2 tsp	Chaat masala
To taste	Salt
1 cup	Cornflakes, crushed
As needed	Oil

Method:

In a mixing bowl, combine cornflour, all-purpose flour, red chili powder, garam masala, chaat masala, and salt. Add a little water to make a thick, smooth batter. Stir in the grated cheese.

Dip the paneer cubes into the batter, ensuring they are well coated. Then roll them in the crushed cornflakes, pressing gently to make sure the cornflakes stick to the paneer.

Heat oil in a deep-frying pan. Once the oil is hot, fry the coated paneer cubes until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels to get rid of excess oil.

Serve the Kurkure Paneer hot with a side of mint chutney or ketchup.

Cheesy Starter Varieties With Paneer

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cheese starters

cheese

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