Chilli Paneer is a popular Indo-Chinese dish where cubes of fried crispy paneer are tossed in a spicy sauce made with soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce! Goes well with rice or noodles!
waterto make a free flowing batter, little less than 1/2 cup
oilfor frying, I used canola oil
Sauce
2tablespoonssoy sauce30 ml, I used 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce and 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1tablespoonrice vinegar15 ml
3teaspoonsgreen chili sauce15 ml
2tablespoonstomato ketchup30 ml
1/2teaspoonsugar
Cornstarch slurry
3tablespoonswater
1tablespooncornstarch
Stir-Fry
1.5tablespoonssesame oil22 ml
1tablespoonavocado oil15 ml
1tablespoonchopped ginger
1tablespoonchopped garlic
1stalkceleryfinely chopped
1green chilisliced
1mediumred onionquartered and petals separated
1green peppercut into squares
3-4tablespoonswater
green onionschopped, for garnishing
Instructions
Cut paneer into cubes. To a large bowl, add 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 3 tablespoons flour along with salt, pepper.
Add water to make a free flowing batter, it should neither be thick nor thin. I added little less than 1/2 cup water here. Meanwhile heat oil in a wok/kadai on medium heat to deep fry the paneer.
Dip each paneer cube into the batter. And then add them into the hot oil.
Fry until the paneer pieces get golden brown and crispy from both sides. Drain the fried paneer on paper towel.
Meanwhile, in a measuring jar or bowl, add soy sauce (I use regular and dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon each), rice vinegar, green chili sauce, tomato ketchup and sugar. Mix until all is well combined and set aside.Also mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water until cornstarch dissolves completely and set aside.
Heat sesame oil and avocado oil in wok on high heat. Once oil is hot, add the ginger, garlic, celery and green chili. Saute for 1 minute.
Then add the quartered onion and peppers. Cook for 2 minutes. Veggies should remain crunchy and you should cook on high heat.
Add in the prepared sauce and mix and lower heat to medium.
Then add in the prepared cornstarch slurry. Mix well, sauce will begin to thicken. Add additional 3 to 4 tablespoons water.
Stir in the fried paneer cubes. Toss to combine the paneer with the sauce.Turn off heat and garnish with green onions.
Serve Chilli Paneer with noodles or rice!
Notes
You may pan fry the paneer cubes as well. Heat few tablespoons of oil in a pan and pan fry paneer until golden-brown from both sides.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use rice flour in place of all purpose flour. Also use tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) in place of regular soy sauce.