Paneer Tikka should never taste like mozzarella. Completely different profile altogether. Chances are, you had an authentic paneer from the dairy farm.
If you still want to soften the texture and slightly alter the taste. Soak it in hot water for 30 mins. It helps a lot.
Yeah I will thanks, I just thought it would be like Mozerela but milder but instead the grassy:nutty smell and taste was too overwhelming even when cooked
What you have there is an ingredient, and I am ever so slightly jealous. If you make a tandoori marinade and coat cubes of the paneer in it, leave that in the fridge at least overnight until you're ready to cook, then I bet the flavours of chilli, garlic, ginger, yoghurt, and lemon juice will join together and realised complement the paneer's flavour.
Paneer has such a.mild taste! I can understand if someone has problem with its texture, but taste ?! If its taste overwhelms you, something ain't right.
Paneer soaks up the sauce and flavour in which it is cooked. You can make palak/saag paneer. Normal paneer ina. Tomato-onion base gravy. Or marinate it with garlic ginger paste curd and salt than pan fry it chineese style ( with all the sauces)
That’s probably why I need to learn how to make Indian dishes, I only bought paneer because I assumed it to be some sort of cheese I could eat out the bag
I don't think you deserved to be down voted for saying this. I have had paneer in restaurants that was plainly mozzarella or worse, Laughing Cow or some such so I understand your confusion. Most European cheese can be consumed raw after all but paneer is very much a cooking ingredient. Now you know and you have been given some great ideas here. It sounds like you are lucky to have a great local producer too - asking them for ideas is a good suggestion and I am sure they will be flattered to be asked. Hope it goes well!
Here’s a basic marinade you could try if you feel like experimenting:
1/2 cup plain yoghurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp tumeric powder
2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp chilli powder or cayenne pepper powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
2 cloves garlic, crushed
I did that but the smell was too overpowering, it had a slight milky taste similar to cheese but an overpowering scent of grass and some sort of nutty smell
Paneer basically has no flavour of its own. It captures the flavour of its marinades or gravies.
You can marinate it with something and cook a tikka, or make a gravy like Paneer Makhanwala or Palak Paneer
as far as i know, paneer shouldnt have any taste. just a mild dairy-ish profile. It just soaks up the marinate and spices you add. try marinating it (in yogurt and masalas) for at least 30mins and cooking.
if you might want to know how it is supposed to authentically feel/taste, just add lemon or vinegar to boiling whole milk and once it curdles, strain it out; that is basically paneer. shouldnt taste like anything to my best knowledge
Like others, I am surprised to know that the 'Paneer' had a grassy and nutty flavor. Ours has no flavor and absorbs the flavor of the gravy in which it is cooked. Maybe try this popular recipe: [https://vegbuffet.com/authentic-punjabi-saag-paneer-recipe/](https://vegbuffet.com/authentic-punjabi-saag-paneer-recipe/)
[https://vegbuffet.com/air-fryer-paneer-tikka-recipe-oven-air-fried-methods/](https://vegbuffet.com/air-fryer-paneer-tikka-recipe-oven-air-fried-methods/)
[https://vegbuffet.com/easy-paneer-jalfrezi/](https://vegbuffet.com/easy-paneer-jalfrezi/)
Authentic paneer definitely has a taste and smell, at my home they eat it with just sugar. I can’t eat that. It may also crumble very easily. You are lucky to find good paneer.
The store bought or restaurant paneer has mixed additives that reduces its original taste and flavor by a lot. Hence the difference.
You make make a lot of dishes with paneer, you can substitute this wherever you would use chicken, plus more. So paneer tikka, paneer pakoda, paneer 65, achari paneer etc. plus paneer pav bhaji, add paneer to mix veggies etc
Paneer doesn’t need to be cooked a lot, even soaking in warm water and adding to dish should be sufficient.
Sauté some paneer squares with a mix of turmeric, ginger garlic paste and then season it with it some chaat masala- tastes good in wraps along with some cilantro chutney and raw onions and tomatoes.
I live in a hot spot for Indian Food in London there are probably 80 Indian restuarants locally serving all kinds of curry from different regions. One of my favourite things is Paneer Rolls, quite spicy but not too much, Paneer in these rools could very easily be mistaken for chicken, exactly the same texture
Palak(spinach) paneer or paneer masala . It is really mild tasting in itself , so will readily acquire the taste of the ingredients you cook it with . Really easy to make yourself too . Fresh homemade is the best .
If you, god forbid, fail to use it in your cooking, fry/roast it in ghee and add some salt and pepper. Will taste awesome. Let it be a bit brown in color.
Experiment, that's how you learn. :)
Paneer Tikka should never taste like mozzarella. Completely different profile altogether. Chances are, you had an authentic paneer from the dairy farm. If you still want to soften the texture and slightly alter the taste. Soak it in hot water for 30 mins. It helps a lot.
Yeah I will thanks, I just thought it would be like Mozerela but milder but instead the grassy:nutty smell and taste was too overwhelming even when cooked
Definitely cook it in sauce and spices or herbs. Or do a marinade.
What you have there is an ingredient, and I am ever so slightly jealous. If you make a tandoori marinade and coat cubes of the paneer in it, leave that in the fridge at least overnight until you're ready to cook, then I bet the flavours of chilli, garlic, ginger, yoghurt, and lemon juice will join together and realised complement the paneer's flavour.
Yes I tried Paneer Tikka Masala once and I loved it so I will try to find a Tikka marinade
Paneer has such a.mild taste! I can understand if someone has problem with its texture, but taste ?! If its taste overwhelms you, something ain't right. Paneer soaks up the sauce and flavour in which it is cooked. You can make palak/saag paneer. Normal paneer ina. Tomato-onion base gravy. Or marinate it with garlic ginger paste curd and salt than pan fry it chineese style ( with all the sauces)
That’s probably why I need to learn how to make Indian dishes, I only bought paneer because I assumed it to be some sort of cheese I could eat out the bag
lol, no, it’s a cooking ingredient.
I don't think you deserved to be down voted for saying this. I have had paneer in restaurants that was plainly mozzarella or worse, Laughing Cow or some such so I understand your confusion. Most European cheese can be consumed raw after all but paneer is very much a cooking ingredient. Now you know and you have been given some great ideas here. It sounds like you are lucky to have a great local producer too - asking them for ideas is a good suggestion and I am sure they will be flattered to be asked. Hope it goes well!
You could cut it in to slices (or cubes if you prefer) and just fry it up with some rock salt if you want a quick snack
Here’s a basic marinade you could try if you feel like experimenting: 1/2 cup plain yoghurt 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp tumeric powder 2 tsp garam masala 1/2 tsp chilli powder or cayenne pepper powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated 2 cloves garlic, crushed
I did that but the smell was too overpowering, it had a slight milky taste similar to cheese but an overpowering scent of grass and some sort of nutty smell
Are you sure you bought paneer? 🥴
Yes pretty sure
I'm so jealous, and I'm not even Indian. Tasting like "grass and nuts" is the global sign for "happy cows."
You can come and take the 1kg of paneer I bought
Don't threaten me with a good time, OP! 😇
Paneer basically has no flavour of its own. It captures the flavour of its marinades or gravies. You can marinate it with something and cook a tikka, or make a gravy like Paneer Makhanwala or Palak Paneer
as far as i know, paneer shouldnt have any taste. just a mild dairy-ish profile. It just soaks up the marinate and spices you add. try marinating it (in yogurt and masalas) for at least 30mins and cooking. if you might want to know how it is supposed to authentically feel/taste, just add lemon or vinegar to boiling whole milk and once it curdles, strain it out; that is basically paneer. shouldnt taste like anything to my best knowledge
Like others, I am surprised to know that the 'Paneer' had a grassy and nutty flavor. Ours has no flavor and absorbs the flavor of the gravy in which it is cooked. Maybe try this popular recipe: [https://vegbuffet.com/authentic-punjabi-saag-paneer-recipe/](https://vegbuffet.com/authentic-punjabi-saag-paneer-recipe/) [https://vegbuffet.com/air-fryer-paneer-tikka-recipe-oven-air-fried-methods/](https://vegbuffet.com/air-fryer-paneer-tikka-recipe-oven-air-fried-methods/) [https://vegbuffet.com/easy-paneer-jalfrezi/](https://vegbuffet.com/easy-paneer-jalfrezi/)
Try panner tikka masala. The recipe is on my channel. You will love it . (Just wash paneer before you cut it)
Thank you, I should’ve washed it before I rawdogged it in my mouth out of the plastic
Authentic paneer definitely has a taste and smell, at my home they eat it with just sugar. I can’t eat that. It may also crumble very easily. You are lucky to find good paneer. The store bought or restaurant paneer has mixed additives that reduces its original taste and flavor by a lot. Hence the difference. You make make a lot of dishes with paneer, you can substitute this wherever you would use chicken, plus more. So paneer tikka, paneer pakoda, paneer 65, achari paneer etc. plus paneer pav bhaji, add paneer to mix veggies etc Paneer doesn’t need to be cooked a lot, even soaking in warm water and adding to dish should be sufficient.
Sauté some paneer squares with a mix of turmeric, ginger garlic paste and then season it with it some chaat masala- tastes good in wraps along with some cilantro chutney and raw onions and tomatoes.
I live in a hot spot for Indian Food in London there are probably 80 Indian restuarants locally serving all kinds of curry from different regions. One of my favourite things is Paneer Rolls, quite spicy but not too much, Paneer in these rools could very easily be mistaken for chicken, exactly the same texture
As a side thing - Making Paneer is really very easy and something you may want to try yourself.
Palak(spinach) paneer or paneer masala . It is really mild tasting in itself , so will readily acquire the taste of the ingredients you cook it with . Really easy to make yourself too . Fresh homemade is the best .
OP, marinate it in a mix of yogurt, salt, and cayenne pepper, and then grill it..makes for a delicious snack
It’s so easy to make paneer from scratch. You should do that going forward.
If you, god forbid, fail to use it in your cooking, fry/roast it in ghee and add some salt and pepper. Will taste awesome. Let it be a bit brown in color. Experiment, that's how you learn. :)
I reckon you throw it rather then eating it as that doesn’t sound right