Home-made Paneer

Home-made paneer is fresh and definitely tasty! I had to make some paneer for my Paneer & Mixed-Veg Paratha at home. Paneer is one of the simplest & easiest recipes to be made at home and works out really cheap. Also, fresh paneer lends great flavor to all the recipes in which it is used!

I just made about 1/2 cup of paneer with 2 cups of milk. I wanted paneer to be soft & crumbly and so, I let it set for just 30 mins. I was all happy & done in an hour's time. Paneer blended so well with the stuffing and was very delicious too!

Note to self: Make fresh paneer for paneer parathas someday! Oh.. what a relish it would be to enjoy!!

Basic Info

Complexity - Simple
Prep time - NA
Cook time - 1 hr
Serves - 1/2 cup (crumbled paneer)

Ingredients
Full cream milk - 2 cups
Lime juice - from 1 medium sized juicy lime
Strainer

Method

In a thick bottomed vessel, bring milk to a boil. After a boil, remove from heat and add lime juice. Keep stirring until all the curd separates from whey.

Strain the curd using a strainer and wash it really well. Wash it 4 to 5 times under running water, so that the paneer doesn't taste sour from lime juice.

Use a cheese cloth and press out all the excess water. Place the cheese cloth (tightly covering the paneer) on a wide plate, place another plate on top of the cheese cloth and then, a heavy object (of about 2-4 pounds) on top to balance. Leave this arrangement undisturbed for atleast couple of hours to get thick paneer. Tips: If you leave it for shorter time (about 20-30 mins), paneer will be soft & crumbly.

This helps paneer to press out till the last drop of water and also helps to set as a block. Cut the block of paneer into small pieces of 1 inch each.

Refrigerate until use.

Tips

- When boiling milk, stir in between so that the milk doesn't stick to the bottom and burn.

- Boil milk on low to medium heat.

- Use up all the paneer within 5 days, as paneer has a very short shelf-life.
- The qualtity & quanity of paneer depends on how creamy the milk is.

Recipe Ideas using Paneer
- Capsicum Paneer Paratha
- Matar Paneer Gravy
- Paneer Pakoda
- Paneer Tikka Masala
- Veggie & Paneer Jalfrezi
- Tandoori Paneer Tikka Pizza
- Tandoori Paneer Tikka
- Paneer & Mixed-Veg Paratha
- Paneer paratha