Paneer Pakora Recipe
Paneer Pakora is a popular Indian snack made with paneer, a type of soft cheese, coated in a spicy batter and deep-fried until crispy. It is a delicious, indulgent treat that is perfect for satisfying your cravings, and it's also very easy to make. The combination of tender, tangy paneer and crunchy, spicy batter is a true delight for the taste buds.
Ingredients
- 150 grams paneer / cottage cheese
- 1 cup Besan / Gram flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp Carom seeds / ajwain
- pinch Asafoetida / hing
- 1/8 tsp turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp Red Chilli Powder
- ¼ tsp garam masala
- ¾ cup water
- oil
- chaat masala
Instructions
Preparation
- Assemble all ingredients together to avoid last minute rush.
- Slice paneer into cubes or squares.
Cooking
- Add gram flour into a Mixing Bowl and add salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, asafoetida, carom seeds and garam masala. Mix very well.
- Now, add water little by little and whisk the batter to smooth thick flowing consistency.
- Add paneer cubes in it and let it rest for 15 minutes so that paneer marinate with the batter nicely.
- Heat oil for deep frying in a Kadai over medium to medium-high heat.
- When the oil becomes medium-hot, add the batter coated paneer cubes carefully in the medium-hot oil.
- When one side is lightly golden, gently flip the pakora with a Slotted Spoon. Continue to fry the paneer pakora until golden and crisp.
- Remove Paneer Pakora on kitchen towels to soak excess oil.
- Sprinkle some chaat masala and serve hot Paneer Pakora with green chutney or tomato sauce.
Equipment Used for This Recipe
Notes & Tips
- Batter consistency: Make a thick and flowing batter, not thin or runny batter for crispy pakoras.
- Frying tips: Try to fry in medium hot oil and not in warm oil which makes pakoras absorb more oil and turn soggy. Do not fry in a very hot oil, which will make pakoras quickly brown from outside and uncooked from outside.
- Slicing paneer: You can make decorative shapes like round, square, triangle or rectangle from a block of paneer if you plan to make a large batch for a party.
- Salt & Spices: Adjust as per your taste buds.
- Oil: Use any oil that has a high smoke point for deep frying. In India, mustard oil is generally used for frying pakoras.
- Air frying: You can also air fry pakoras in an Air Fryer at 180°C for 10-12 mins or until fried crispy and golden.
- Leavening ingredient: Feel free to add a pinch of baking soda or baking powder for a fluffy and crispy paneer pakora, if desired.
- Ingredients & Equipment: Find these Ingredients & Equipment at specialty food stores or online stores. For review of some stores, please refer to the Grocery Review Section on our Website.
Nutrition Information (Note: Approximate)
Nutrition Facts
Paneer Pakora Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
330
% Daily Value*
Fat
22
g
34
%
Saturated Fat
8
g
50
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
1
g
Cholesterol
28
mg
9
%
Sodium
439
mg
19
%
Potassium
259
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
20
g
7
%
Fiber
4
g
17
%
Sugar
3
g
3
%
Protein
13
g
26
%
Vitamin A
99
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
202
mg
20
%
Iron
15
mg
83
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.