Perfect Paneer
Cottage cheese is known the world over. It is among the most basic of American foods and an ordinary component of a meal in France or Greece. But the Indian version, known as paneer, is just a little bit different. Similar to ricotta, it adds not just dairy but a delightful hint of tang to any dish.
Basic recipe for paneer
Making your own paneer can be a challenge, but a fun one at that.
Ingredients
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Procedure
- In a saucepan, pour in the milk. Bring the mixture slowly to a boil, taking care not to brown the liquid. To avoid that, stir continuously.
- Remove from heat and add the vinegar. Stir well. Lemon juice can be used instead of vinegar for a slightly different flavor. Cover for a few minutes. The milk should begin to curdle into chunks. Then, drain the soupy mass through a muslin cloth over the sink. Then gather the edges and hold the ball over cold running water for a minute. Squeeze out the excess water.
- Place the muslin sack on a clean carving board. Pressure completes the process and that can be applied in any of a number of ways. One good way is to use a flexible plastic bowl placed on top of the sack, pressed down by a heavy brick. For those who wish to have one around, a cheese press can be purchased. Pressure should be applied for 2-3 hours at room temperature.
- Dice into chunks.
Paneer dishes
The important thing, of course, is how you use paneer to liven up your Indian-style meals. One simple way to do that is by preparing Palak Paneer, a type of spinach curry. For a great barbecue idea, try some paneer kebabs.
Palak paneer recipe
Palak makes for the perfect vegetarian meal, or an equally great side dish for meat eaters. Serve warm with some naan.
Ingredients
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Procedure
- Heat a tablespoon (15 ml) of ghee in a skillet and add the spinach, cooking until it becomes a paste, about 5 minutes. Then add the tomato and sour cream, continuing to cook for another five minutes. Add in the paneer and complete by cooking for an additional 10 minutes over medium heat. Stir occasionally.
Paneer kebabs
You can use chicken or lamb, or just stab some vegetable, suggested in this recipe, and get ready for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
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Procedure
- Marinate the vegetables in the yogurt with the garlic and peppercorns, liquefied by the lemon juice. Allow to soak for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Alternate each vegetable with a chunk of paneer on the kebab sticks. Now heat the whole delightful assembly on the barbecue grill for about three minutes, or until the edges of the onions are brown.
Recipe type
All seasons, light meal, main meal, appetizer, side dish.
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