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Achari Paneer

Achari Paneer is flavorful, healthy and high in protein.  Paneer is an Indian cheese, also known as chenna.  Achari paneer is very versatile and can be served as an appetizer or as an accompaniment to a main course.

This recipe will serve 8.

Achari PaneerIngredients

  • 14oz paneer cut in ½ inch cubes (paneer you can find in Indian grocery store)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
  • 1/4 cup yogurt (dahi)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 whole red chilies Sabut lal mirch)
  • Pinch of asafetida (hing)
  • 1/4 teaspoon nigella (onion seeds or kalonji)
  • 1 teaspoons coriander seeds (dhania)
  • 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (mathi)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds (saunf)
  • 1 ½ cup baby spinach leaves (palak)

Method

  1. Mix paneer, yogurt, turmeric and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a frying pan over medium heat, dry roast nigella, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, and black pepper for 1-2 minutes. Seeds will become darker in color and give off a beautiful aroma.
  3. Crush the roasted seeds using a mortar or rolling pin.  Set aside.
  4. Add oil to the same pan, at low-medium heat.  Roast red chilies till they turn a darker color.  Remove from pan and break each one into 2-3 pieces.
  5. Increase to medium heat; add asafetida, followed by paneer mixture.   Stir fry for 3-4 minutes until most of the moisture has evaporated.  Do not overcook the paneer as it will become dry.The yogurt should coat the paneer nicely so it remains moist. Turn off the heat.
  6. Add all the dry spices and mix well.
  7. Serve warm achari paneer over a bed of spinach leaves.

Tips

Achari paneer can be made in advance and refrigerated up to a week.   However, it tastes best when served warm.

Originally posted 2010-10-20 22:04:37.


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57 thoughts on “Achari Paneer

  1. Hi,

    With the recipes, could you also add the calorie count ?

    I am watching my weight, but sometimes, I do like to indulge , but would rather not overdo calories.

    Sonal

  2. I made this today for the first time for a get-together in our apartment and it turned out very tasty and it was so easy and quick to make. Thanks a lot for sharing 🙂

  3. Love your recipes maam! For this dish can I simply use “Panchforan”…the only extra bit panchforan mixture is cumin seeds.? Roasted Zeera will only add to the dish.

    regards,

    1. Hi Dona,
      This type of panner is called Cottage paneer. You can get this from any supermarket. Halumi cheese is the next matching cheese here.
      The one you are mentioning is I guess called Ricotta cheese.
      I hope this will help.
      Cheers

    2. Hey Dona,

      If you can’t find paneer in any superstore. Get the grilling cheese. Halumi cheese is the next option after grilling cheese for the paneer (cottage cheese) as Hamumi is too salty in taste. Paneer and grilling cheese are almost same in taste apart of paneer is bit softer and sweeter in taste than grilling cheese.

      Good luck.

  4. I do not eat dairy. But this dish looks interesting with unique spices from your vegetable recipes. May I make this with cubes of tofu instead of paneer? Thank you!

    1. Hello, first he must stop eating chillies, any hot spices will irritate his stomach. Has he not been prescribed with Omeprazol? – it’s an excellent medication that will help to heal the ulcers. Manjula’s recipes are great because they don’t have onions which can irritate the stomach, just don’t put chilli, cayenne or paprika in his food (Manjula’s food tastes great without it). I can’t eat hot spices because of my stomach and I am enjoying her recipes just as much. Good luck to your father and I trust he will make a rapid recovery.

  5. hi manju! thanks for such great recipes. I am a westerner i want to know if Fennel seeds are anis seeds? Or what is its english and finish languages name then? thanks regards from Finland

    1. Fennel and anise seeds are very similar in that they both have a licorice type of taste. You could probably use anise seeds in place of fennel if that’s what is available to you. If you use anise, make sure it’s the anise seeds and not “star anise” which actually looks like a star. The seeds and the star anise are not the same.

      Fennel and Anise are the English words.

      “Saunf” is the Hindi word for fennel.

  6. Hello Aunty..
    Thanks for all the wonderful recipes…
    i love cooking n thanks to u do a pretty good job.
    I would however love to make different types of pickles. i tried few times but dint come out that well. can u please post some of them.
    thanks again

  7. Bhabhi,

    I tried the paneer but the masala was not tasty do you use different masala for different curries or just the same masala for all your curries please show me how to mix all the masala’s looking forwars to your reply

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