Restaurant-Style Ultimate Chilli Paneer Recipe

Chilli paneer is a popular Indo-Chinese dish featuring soft paneer cubes in a spicy, flavorful gravy. It's a crowd-pleaser, perfect for appetizers or main courses. Here's a detailed recipe to share on your blog:

Ingredients:

For the Paneer:

400 gms paneer, cut into 1-inch cubes

3 tbsp cornstarch

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp ginger paste

1/2 tsp garlic paste

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

1/4 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder

Salt to taste

Water (as required)

Oil for deep frying

For the Gravy:

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp avocado oil

1 tbsp ginger, finely chopped

2 tbsp garlic, finely chopped

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced (optional)

1 green chili, slit or sliced (adjust for spice level)

1 medium onion, quartered

1 green bell pepper, sliced

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tbsp chilli sauce

1/2 tsp black pepper powder

1/2 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder or sweet paprika

1/2 to 1 tsp sugar (adjust to taste)

Salt to taste

1/2 to 2/3 cup water (adjust for gravy consistency)

1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water to make a slurry

Spring onions, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

Marinate the Paneer: In a bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, ginger paste, garlic paste, black pepper, red chilli powder, and salt. Add water gradually to make a smooth, medium-consistency batter. Coat the paneer cubes in the batter and set aside.

Fry the Paneer: Heat oil in a wok or kadai for deep frying. Once hot, carefully add the paneer cubes and fry until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.

Make the Gravy: Heat sesame and avocado oil in the same wok. Add ginger, garlic, celery (if using), and green chili. Saute for a minute.

Add the onions and bell peppers. Cook for 2 minutes, keeping them slightly crunchy.

In a separate bowl, combine soy sauce, chilli sauce, black pepper powder, red chilli powder, sugar, and salt. Add this mixture to the wok and stir well.

Add the water and simmer for a minute. Then, gradually add the cornstarch slurry while stirring to thicken the gravy.

Finally, add the fried paneer cubes and gently toss to coat them in the gravy.

Garnish with chopped spring onions and serve hot with rice or noodles.

Tips:

For a richer flavor, marinate the paneer in yogurt and spices for 30 minutes before coating it in batter.

Adjust the amount of green chili and chilli sauce depending on your preferred spice level.

You can add other vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or mushrooms to the gravy.

If you don't have sesame oil, use any other neutral oil.

You can use dry red chilies instead of Kashmiri red chilli powder for a more vibrant color.

Serve this dish with a side of lemon wedges for an extra zing.

Additional Information:

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 2-3 people

Course: Main course, appetizer

Cuisine: Indo-Chinese