A cheese made from curdled milk and fruit or vegetable acid might not sound like a tasty meal ingredient. But trust us, paneer is an amazing cheese to experiment with in your cooking.

Contents show

It can be added to all sorts of sweet and savory dishes, and goes particularly well in curries. But that is not all, and we are going to show you the 30 best paneer recipes.

Rasmalai

An Indian desert favorite, rasmalai is sweet in taste and has soft balls of paneer which dissolve in your mouth. The paneer balls are dunked in a thick, sweetened milk to absorb all of the amazing flavors that the milk is blended with. These include cardamom, saffron, and a nut garnish.

Paneer Kulcha

Kulcha, popular in the northern regions of India, but loved by all those who try them. It has a crispy layer of dough that can be filled with any ingredients you like.

Stuff it with paneer, ginger, onions, chilis, as well as a blend of other spices, and it is ready to eat!

Paneer Paratha

Another popular Indian flatbread, paratha, is wholemeal, and once again a versatile bread that can be put alongside anything. To make a delicious paneer paratha, fill it with crumbly paneer, and some spices for a light snack, or a filling meal.

Simple, quick, and tasty. You cannot go wrong.

Paneer Pulao

Pulao is a scrumptious dish made with rice and other typical Indian ingredients. Throw in some paneer, and you add a tasty cheese element to the meal with some chewy texture.

This is a really easy dish to put together, so great for beginner Asian cuisine chefs.

Pot Veggie Paneer Biryani

Fill yourself up with this loaded biryani dish, and box the test up for tomorrow’s dinner. It is a whole meal packed with veggies, protein, and loads of grains. And long grain basmati rice cooked to soft tenderness completes it all.

A really hearty Indian dish, you will want to eat for the next few days.

Matar Paneer Curry

A creamy, warm, and tasty curry always goes down a treat, and with paneer thrown into the mix, goes down even better.

The creamy galore makes this plate even more delightful. And for the taste that you get , it is not even too much hard work.

Tuck in, and enjoy with naan bread.

Peshawari Paneer Choli

Chickpea and paneer join forces in this tasty Indian dish to create mouth-watering sensations. Despite the combination of ingredients, this meal still holds on to the authentic peshawari flavors, which only adds to the enjoyment.

Peshawar recipes also find the balance between spices, so this is a perfectly crafted flavor pallet.

Paneer Lababdar Dhaba

We are sticking around the north of India with this next dish, and you will be glad that we did. Lababdar dhaba is popular in this region, and you are going to find out why.

A creamy dish cooked with juicy paneer in an onion gravy with tomato hints. perfect with a side of naan bread.

Ghee Roast

Prepare the taste buds, we are getting fiery with this plate. Paneer ghee roast is a tasty curry that rocks plenty of spice, and will leave you with a kick to remember.

Serve it up with neer dosa, dosa, or lachha paratha, and enjoy with friends.

Malai Kofta

Malai kofta is as smooth as Indian cuisine comes, kind of like the silk of this style of cooking. It is a simple dish, and has potato balls served alongside paneer, in a creamy and delicious boldly flavored sauce.

You will be wanting more of this one, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Methi Malai Matar

Indian cuisine is best known for being jam packed with exotic flavors, and being a go-to for when you are not counting calories. Methi malai matar does not hold back on the flavor, but its ingredients make it a little more refreshing.

Fenugreek leaves, green peas, and soft paneer are the main ingredients, and they make a delicious vegetarian meal.

Dhaba Style Paneer Masala

A tasty curry made with aromatic roasted spices and paneer cheese.

Dhaba is the name of those little street food restaurants that you find on the side of the roads in India. But no need to jump on a plane to experience this dish. This recipe is quick to make, and from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Achari Paneer

Put this meal together in no time at all, and enjoy a delicious and flavorful Indian dish to die for. It has yogurt and an Indian achari pickle mix masala, and can be served up with rice and/or a bread of choice.

Truly delicious, achari paneer is a must-try from this list.

Paneer Korma

Korma is one of the world-famous Indian recipes, and with paneer it just gets better and better. This Mughlai style korma has paneer chunks cooked in a tasty onion gravy, and pairs well with naan bread.

Enjoy it as a snack or meal, you will love dipping your bread into paneer korma.

Tikka Masala

For a paneer tikka masala, we need to fry our paneer until it is golden brown. Then it gets added to a punchy tomato sauce, and you are all set.

Add some steamed rice for a full on meal, or go curry-solo for a creamy snack. Either way, paneer tikka masala will have you coming back.

Tawa Paneer

You will want a glass of water with this one as it has a semi dry texture, but that takes nothing away from tawa paneer’s flavor. Tawa is actually the griddle on which this dish is made, and honestly, it looks like the perfect pancake flying pan.

Anyway, back to paneers, this dish is simple and can be spiced in so many ways!

Shahi Paneer

Get ready to be treated like royalty with this shahi paneer dish. ‘Shahi’ translates to ‘royal’ in English, and this meal is fit for a king. Submerge chunky cubes of juicy paneer in an aromatic, creamy sauce, and enjoy the rich flavors created.

Share this recipe with your family so that everyone can get in on it!

Kadai Paneers

Kadai paneer is the splendid result of a concoction of spices thrown together for our enjoyment. Like many of the other dishes on our list, it hails from northern India, so we will thank those guys for the umpteenth time.

It is a spicy gravy with kadai masala, and to put it simply, tastes great!

Matar Paneer

Northern India knows how to put together a great selection of vegetarian dishes as well as meat ones. Matar paneer is a spicy onion-tomato gravy filled with matar (green pes) and paneer chunks.

Make it a complete meal with a portion of rice, and serve it up with a side of naan.

Buttery Paneer Masala

Otherwise known as paneer makhani, this paneer favorite is tasty through and through, and you are going to fall in love with it. Think, juicy pieces of paneer cheese are simmered in a tasty and smooth gravy, intertwining their aromas and flavors.

It is restaurant quality food hipped up in your own kitchen.

Paneer Bhurji

scramble a few chunks of succulent paneer, and you have got yourself paneer bhurji. It is that simple. Well, you will also need some bell peppers and a tomato-onion sauce. But that hardly makes this a complicated dish.

For the side, you can go with a classic naan or a paratha. Now you are set, so tuck in.

Saag Paneer

Paneer is not the centerpiece of this dish, but it tops things off with its juicy and chewy texture, not to mention ability to fill you up!

Palak paneer is the local term for spinach and cottage cheese, and it is made with plenty of garlic. A popular dish loved by all, saag paneer is one of the most eaten vegetarian meals in Northern India.

Paneer Jalfrezi

we are going hot hot hot on this dish. Jalfrezi takes us up the spice scale, but not so high that you can no longer taste the wonderful flours.

It is a vegetarian dream, being soo simple and loaded with greens. And the main ingredients are bell peppers, spices, and of course, paneer!

lovelllyyyy.

Tandoori Samosa

Samosa here, samosa there. You do not need to have been to India to have tried these tasty triangles. They are made all over the world, but are most authentic when prepared from a classic Indian recipe.

These samosas are packed with a paneer filling, which is only one of the delicious ingredients.

Aloo Paneer Tikki

Mexico has nachos, the US has chicken dippers, And India has paneer tikki. These crispy and tasty dippers are a potato based covering filled with paneer stuffing.

Serve them with some tamarind and green chutney, and they make perfect party dipping food.

Paneer Pakora

A go-to snack for many Indians, these paneer pakoras make great munchies, and are best shared with your closest buds.

A chickpea flour batter coats the paneer, and some spices flavor it all up!

Oven Baked Paneer Tikka

Make this dish fast and easy in your kitchen, and fool your family by its restaurant quality. Skewers of paneer marinated in yogurt, and slices of bell peppers and tomatoes baked combine for a kebab style meal. The oven does all of the work as well!

Chili Paneers

India is so close to China, so it is only natural that the two nations swap recipes and create hybrids. Paneer chili fits this description, and is a tasty treat for all.

Crispy paneer fried and tossed with a spicy sauce melt in your mouth. And the delicious sauce has soy, vinegar, and chili. Stick the paneer with some rice or noodles, and voila.

Paneer Kathi Roll

A popular street food delight, kathi roll is similar to a burrito, but paratha wraps everything up, and not tortilla. The filling is juicy paneer and fresh veggie. A lovely snack anytime of day.

Homemade Paneer

We will finish off this list by showing you how to make your own paneer at home!

It takes as little as 15 minutes of your time, and will add so much to your meals. Enjoy making this, and make it for the whole family.

That wraps up our list of the 30 best paneer recipes. This is not an ingredient that many people outside of its native culture think about cooking with. So hopefully these recipes have opened our mind to the culinary possibilities with paneer, and that you can enjoy a few of them!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Paneer And Haloumi Similar?

Paneer and halloumi cheese are not the same, Although, they can be used in similar dishes thanks to their similar taste and texture. The main difference is that paneer has high acid content and halloumi has almost no acid content at all.

What Does Paneer Taste Like?

Paneer has a mild and milky taste. It is similar to other types of fresh cheeses, like Italian ricotta, or the common cottage cheese that you find in US supermarkets. It is usually unsalted, and because of this some people consider it to be quite bland if eaten alone.

Is Tofu Better Than Paneer?

If reducing calories is your goal, then tofu is definitely a much healthier alternative. But if you want to add taste and texture to your dish, then paneer is the better option. In terms of nutrients, tofu is the healthier choice as it has a lower fat content than paneer.

The 30 Best Paneer Recipes

Similar to cottage cheese, paneer is a favorite ingredient in many Indian dishes. Why not add it to your cooking with these 30 best paneer recipes?

Ingredients

Directions

Pick a recipe from the list above
Click the recipe name and visit the website
Collect the ingredients and cook the food
Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

Author
Recent Posts

Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!