Paneer Amritsari

Ingredients

• 250g (9 oz) paneer, cut into cubes 250g (9 oz) paneer, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup yogurt 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon carom seeds 1/2 teaspoon carom seeds
• Salt to taste Salt to taste
• 1/2 cup gram flour (besan) 1/2 cup gram flour (besan)
• 2 tablespoons rice flour 2 tablespoons rice flour
• Oil for deep frying Oil for deep frying

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat: 20g (12g saturated)
• Carbohydrates: 20g (2g sugars)
• Protein: 16g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 1g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a bowl, combine yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, carom seeds, and salt.
2. 2.
   Add paneer cubes to the marinade and gently toss until well coated. Allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
3. 3.
   In a separate bowl, mix gram flour and rice flour.
4. 4.
   Heat oil in a deep pan or kadai over medium heat.
5. 5.
   Take each marinated paneer cube and coat it evenly with the gram flour and rice flour mixture.
6. 6.
   Carefully drop the coated paneer cubes into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy.
7. 7.
   Remove the fried paneer cubes from the oil and place them on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
8. 8.
   Serve hot with mint chutney or tomato ketchup.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Paneer — Ensure that the paneer is firm and fresh for the best texture in the final dish. If the paneer is too soft, you can refrigerate it for a couple of hours before cutting it into cubes.
• Gram flour (besan) — Sift the gram flour before using it to ensure a smooth coating for the paneer cubes.

Tips & Tricks

• For an extra kick of flavor, add a pinch of chaat masala to the marinade.
• If you prefer a spicier version, increase the amount of red chili powder according to your taste.
• To make the dish healthier, you can shallow fry the paneer cubes instead of deep-frying them.
• Serve Paneer Amritsari with a squeeze of lemon juice for a tangy twist.
• If you don't have rice flour, you can substitute it with cornstarch for a similar crispy texture.

Serving advice

Paneer Amritsari can be served as an appetizer with mint chutney or tomato ketchup. It also pairs well with naan, roti, or steamed rice for a satisfying main course.

Presentation advice

Arrange the golden brown paneer cubes on a platter and garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve it alongside a vibrant green mint chutney to add a pop of color to the presentation.