Indian Cottage Cheese (Paneer) Appetizer

This tasty Indian Paneer Appetizer is easy to make, spicy, and delicious! This soft and cheesy vegetarian starter can be served as a starter, snack, or as a side dish for lunch or dinner too.

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Did you visit an Indian restaurant and wonder what that Indian fried cheese is? It’s paneer, the Indian cottage cheese. It’s so soft and tasty if made right, and a bit al dente if made wrong! But it always is so yummy!

Did you know that you can eat paneer raw too! This calcium-rich food is good for bones and weight loss, or so they say. I have not experienced these benefits yet. But I love tasting a few pieces of paneer while chopping them. Just to quality check, you know. Wink wink!

You can also just sprinkle your paneer with a bit of salt and pepper for taste and you’re good to go. Or add spices and fry it as a delicious starter. If you do it on a grill, even better!

I had always assumed that paneer was of Indian origin, but apparently not. Paneer was brought to India by the Turks and the Persians way back in the 16th century. And the word paneer comes from the Turkish word ‘peynir’ or Persian word ‘panir’ which means cheese.

Anyways, back to making my mom’s easy paneer appetizer, this time with my sis Sarah’s choice-ingredients. It is really easy to season and fry paneer to make some quick Indian snacks or other savory paneer dishes. You can make many delicious cottage cheese and fruit dishes too!

A bit like the famous paneer tikka, this Indian cottage cheese starter is a go-to dish if you’re craving a quick snack or healthy appetizer.

What Ingredients do you need to make The Indian Cottage Cheese Starters?

All you need to make this easy paneer appetizer is just a handful of ingredients; namely paneer, oil, salt, oregano, chili powder, and honey.

How to Cook Paneer as an Appetizer?

Cut the paneer into square cubes or rectangular pieces or fine slices. Really, whatever you prefer is fine.

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the paneer slices to this. Sprinkle with salt, chili powder, oregano, and a little honey.

After about 5 minutes once one side is cooked, turn it over and fry the other side as well. A total of around 10 minutes and your paneer appetizer is ready. Doesn’t it look delicious?

Serve with some dipping sauces or just plain! With the spices and herbs already added, we prefer to snack on it plain!

If you don’t want it gone so fast, you can add it to a wrap or sandwich. Just spread some chutney or homemade mustard sauce on a chapati or chitap, add fried purple cabbage or fried green cabbage, and throw the paneer pieces on top. Roll into a wrap and have a drool-worthy snack! You can always have a ginger wine mint soda to complement it!

Cooking Tips & Tricks

• Do not store the paneer in the freezer as it changes the texture and makes it crumbly when cooked. It’s best stored it in the refrigerator or the chiller section of the fridge.
• You can replace the oregano with other herbs. We often use like basil or rosemary too.
• Or skip the herbs altogether and just use the chili powder and salt. 
• You can also try pepper powder instead of chili powder. Literally, any combination of spices and herbs tastes amazing with paneer!
• If you don’t want them sweetish, skip the honey.
• Use olive oil or avocado oil for frying if you want a healthier snack. 
• You can also try this easy paneer stir fry.

Answering your Paneer Questions

What Is Paneer?

Paneer or Indian Cottage cheese is an Indian cheese is made out of curdled milk and lemon juice. It’s really easy to make at home, and is actually made in homes across India daily.

Who Created Paneer?

Paneer can be traced back to the Afghan and Persian rulers who introduced it mostly in Northern India in the 16th century, where it was made using either goat or sheep rennet. The word ‘paneer’ comes from the word Turkish and Persian word ‘peynir,’ which means cheese.

How Long Can I Store Paneer?

• Homemade fresh paneer can be stored in a plastic wrap or airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days before cooking.
• Store-bought raw paneer can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week or two before cooking.
• Cooked paneer can be kept in an air-tight container for about 1 month in the refrigerator.
• It’s best not to store paneer in the freezer since it changes the texture, although we actually do that quite often.

How Do I Know If Paneer Has Gone Bad?

If you get a sour taste or a bad smell from the paneer and it has a slightly yellowish color, that means it has gone bad. Or if the paneer gets slimy, throw it out.

Can Paneer Be Eaten Raw?

Yes, paneer can be eaten raw because it is a cottage cheese. It has a dense and milky flavor when eaten raw.

Can I Make Paneer At Home?

Yes, you can make paneer at home using this recipe and use the paneer in stir fry or as paneer starters and other dishes.

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