16/02/2020
Paneer is a fresh cheese common in the Indian subcontinent. It is an unaged, non-melting soft cheese made by curdling milk with an acid, such as lemon juice pr vinegar. Palek paneer is one of most favourite dish in Indian restaurant. You can make paneer at home to try to make any recipe you want.
Paneer or cottage cheese
Ingredients:
1lit milk (full fat )
2-3 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice
If you want to make more creamy then
1lit milk ( full fat milk)
500g yogurt
4 tablespoon spoon white vinegar or lemon juice
Let's cook:
1. Take a clean heavy saucepan or a cooking pot. Then add milk.
2. Switch on the burner and begin to heat milk on a medium flame. Stir occasionally so the skin doesn't form on the surface and so that the milk does not get burnt from the bottom.
Let the milk come to a boil and it should start foaming and rising, (Add yogurt if you are using ).
3. Now add the lemon juice or vinegar. ( The amount of acid to be added will depend on the quality of milk)
4. After adding the lemon juice, stir and the milk will begin to curdle.
5. Important::: ** ** The milk has to curdle completely. Stir the milk when it is curdling so that it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
6. Meanwhile take a bowl, place a strainer on the pan or line the strainer with clean muslin or cheesecloth or kitchen towel, You can also line the colander or any plastic basket with holes you have directly with the cheese cloth , only thing your cheesecloth or kitchen towel has to be wet so cheese won't stick to clothing.
7. After the milk has curdled completely and you see the greenish whey, switch off the flame , pour the mixture in the strainer or on the colander lined with the cheesecloth.
8. Run some clean fresh water on the cheese to wash off the taste of vinegar or lemon.
Carefully gather the edges of the cloth , whilst doing more of the whey will be strained.
Secure the edges of the muslin tightly and place it on a kitchen board or a flat surface.
9. Now fill the pot with water and place it on top of it for 1- 2 hours. Or more if you want more firm cheese.
10. After 2 hours paneer will be ready , open the cheesecloth , paneer will be set.
From 1 kg milk you will get approximately 250g paneer. Depending on the quality of milk.
10.You can see beautiful block of cottage in pictures,you can cut in any shape or size and can be used in any recipe , my favourite is palek with paneer in picture.
Happy cooking 🙏👩🍳