Spicy Paneer Bites

5 from 3 votes

Prepare to bite into these flavorful spicy paneer bites that are crunchy and crispy on the outside, moist and tender inside. These bite-sized appetizers happen to be the easiest & most delicious snack that you can make at home without any fuss.

Prep: 20

Cook: 15

Total: 35

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Indian

Servings:

Calories: 252kcal

Author: Ruchi

Ingredients

PANEER

14 oz Paneer
1 teaspoon Garlic powder
¼ teaspoon White pepper powder
1 teaspoon Oil
- - Salt to taste

COATING

¾ cup Gluten-free Breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons Rice flour
2 tablespoons Cornstarch
2 tablespoons Wheat flour
1 teaspoon Paprika adjust to taste
½ teaspoon Onion Powder
½ teaspoon Garlic powder
1 teaspoon Dried Mint

FLOUR MIX

2 tablespoons Rice flour
2 tablespoons Cornstarch
2 tablespoons Wheat flour

BUTTERMILK SLURRY

½ cup Milk
1 tablespoon Vinegar
1 tablespoon Soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chili Garlic sauce
- - Oil for frying

GARNISHES

- - Cilantro leaves
- - Lemon wedge

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cut paneer into cubes. Transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add white pepper and salt to the paneer cubes.
Pour in oil and mix to combine. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine breadcrumbs, rice flour, cornstarch, wheat flour, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried mint. Mix to combine. Set aside.
On a separate plate, combine rice flour, cornstarch, and wheat flour. Mix well. Set it aside.
Combine milk + vinegar in a bowl. Let it rest for 2-3 minutes until the milk curdles.
Pour soy sauce and chili garlic sauce to the curdled milk. Mix to combine.
Pick a piece of paneer, dip it into the flour mix thoroughly.
Dip paneer into the buttermilk mixture.
Finally, roll the paneer cube in the breadcrumb mix and set it on a plate.
Repeat the process with the rest of the paneer cubes until all the pieces are evenly coated.
Heat oil in a pan. To check if your oil has reached the frying temperature, put the end of a wooden spoon in the oil. If the oil starts bubbling around the spoon, then the oil is ready. Add paneer bites to the hot oil.
Work in batches. Do not overcrowd the pan. Depending on the pan size fry 5-7 bites at a time. Fry until the paneer nuggets are deep golden in color, turning them halfway through the cooking.
Once cooked, transfer the paneer nuggets to a paper towel-lined plate to soak up excess oil.
Repeat this step until all the spicy paneer bites are cooked. Serve hot with sriracha mayonnaise.

Video

Notes

Variations to make the Best Spicy Paneer Bites

» For an extra layer of crunchy texture, add 2 tablespoons of shredded parmesan cheese to the bread mixture. The cheese will become crisp when cooked.

» Substitute homemade breadcrumbs for panko breadcrumbs. Panko breadcrumbs lend a lighter and airier texture to these bites.

» Like it spicy, try experimenting with sriracha sauce. You can even add spicy hot sauce or BBQ spicy sauce to these bites.

» Leftovers last in the fridge for about 3 days.

» Rice flour can be subbed for almond flour.

» Likewise, cornstarch can be swapped with arrowroot or tapioca starch.

Faq's

Can you bake these spicy bites? Of course, you can! To bake paneer nuggets in the oven –

Preheat oven to 375˚F. Grab a baking tray and spray it with cooking spray.
Transfer paneer bites/nuggets to the greased baking sheet. To keep them moist during baking, lightly spray these paneer nuggets with cooking spray.
Bake at 375˚F for 15 min until golden brown, turning them halfway through baking.
Remove from the oven and let the paneer bites rest a few minutes before serving.

PROTIP –

Don’t over-bake your bites because paneer will lose its moisture and feel dry.
If the paneer bites feel dry, you can spray your nuggets with cooking oil one more time in the middle of the baking time.

Can you freeze these paneer bites? You sure can! Freeze the bites once they are breaded.

Spread the breaded bites on a plate and freeze initially for an hour.
After that, transfer the bites to a ziploc bags and store for up to 2 months.
When ready to bake them again, remove from freezer and allow the bite to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Fry or bake the frozen paneer bites as directed in the recipe.

Can you cook the paneer bites in an Airfryer? Absolutely!

To prepare these spicy paneer bites in the air fryer, arrange the bites in a single layer in the air-fryer insert.
To keep them moist during baking, lightly spray these paneer nuggets with cooking spray.
Set the temperature to 375 degrees F and bake for 15 min, turning them halfway through baking.

Nutrition