Paneer is one of those things which taste pretty good raw as well – just slice some and eat. It is ,after all, cottage ‘cheese’ 🙂
One of those times of nibbling on paneer, while it was being prepped for a meal, I added a little masala to it to boost the flavour. Was so yum! That made me think that this could be made even better with a little pan time. A little crispiness maybe? The chatpata paneer was thus born 🙂
This snack comes together in literally 15 minutes. I kid you not. From chopping the paneer to sitting down to inhale the glorious bite. That easy.
Chop. Spice. Lightly Fry. Eat.
Look at the spices giving it that lovely colour and the spots of caramelization and crispness. YUMMM! In order to avoid burning or sticking to the pan, keep turning the paneer every 30 seconds. Get every side in contact with the pan.
The result is this gorgeous bite where the outside is spicy, tangy and slightly crispy while the inside is mellow and soft. Such a great mouthful! It is a riot of flavours and textures in your mouth. And so utterly simple to achieve!
Great for when you suddenly have friends over. Or when you want a quick, healthy snack. Or when you just want to treat yourself. You can have it as is or with some green chutney on the side.
Try this and I promise it will become one of your staples! I am salivating just writing about this!
Chatpata Paneer
Ingredients
400g paneer (cottage cheese) – chopped into 1 inch cubes
1 tsp cumin (jeera) powder
1.5 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
3/4 tsp chaat masala
1/4 tsp black salt
1/4 tsp turmeric (haldi) powder
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp lemon juice
salt to taste
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves – chopped
Directions
- Place the chopped paneer in a bowl. Add all the ingredients, except salt, and mix well.
- Add salt to taste and mix.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add the paneer pieces, with a large side facing down
- Flip sides after every 30 seconds to ensure the paneer doesn’t stick to the pan.
- Once all sides are a little golden brown and crispy, remove and transfer to a bowl.
- Garnish with fresh coriander and serve
My Tuck Box 
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