Description
Paneer Pakora is a beloved Indian snack with a golden, crispy gram flour coating and soft, creamy paneer inside. Perfect for tea-time, monsoons, or festive occasions like Diwali and Holi, these pakoras are comforting, cheesy, and endlessly customizable.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pakoras:
- 250g paneer (cut into cubes or rectangles)
- Oil for deep frying
For the Batter:
- 1 cup besan (gram flour)
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
- 1 pinch hing (asafoetida)
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed to make a smooth, flowing batter
- Optional: pinch of baking soda (for extra crispness)
Instructions
- Prepare Paneer: Cut paneer into cubes or rectangles. If firm, soak briefly in warm water, then pat dry thoroughly.
- Make Batter: In a bowl, whisk besan, turmeric, chili, ajwain, hing, and salt. Gradually add water to form a smooth, slightly thick batter. Optional: add baking soda before frying for puffiness.
- Heat Oil: Heat oil in a kadhai over medium heat. Test with a drop of batter — it should rise with bubbles.
- Coat & Fry: Dip paneer pieces in batter, coat well, and slide gently into hot oil. Fry in batches, turning until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve: Enjoy hot with green chutney, tamarind chutney, or ketchup. Pair with masala chai for a perfect snack.
Notes
- Pat paneer dry before dipping — ensures batter sticks.
- Batter should be thick enough to coat without dripping excessively.
- Fry on medium heat for crisp, evenly cooked pakoras.
- Add rice flour or cornflour to batter for extra crunch.
- Sprinkle with chaat masala or black salt right after frying for more flavor.
- Variations: Stuff with chutney or cheese, marinate paneer in spices, or add herbs like kasuri methi to batter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Deep-Fried
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 pakoras
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 330mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: paneer pakora, paneer snacks, paneer recipes indian, cheese pakoda, indian festival snacks, tea time pakora