You've got everything you need to make an impressive display of Indian cuisine, except for paneer. There are so many dishes that incorporate the fresh cheese, that leaving it out can make the result of your cooking efforts seem unfulfilling.
If you're ready to cook but simply can't source any paneer nearby, it might be a great opportunity to explore potential paneer substitutes. While there are many dairy kinds of cheese and non-dairy options, and each can work as an alternative, nothing will match the original.
What Is Paneer?
Paneer is a fresh cheese prevalent in Indian culture, made from curdled milk combined with an acid, such as vegetable acid or acid sourced from fruits.
The consensus is that paneer was introduced to the world by Persian and Afghani rulers for the first time. Since then it has become the main ingredient in countless Indian dishes, as well as one of the most popular and common Indian street food favorites.
What Makes Paneer So Great?
Paneer is known for having some unique characteristics that set it apart from many other types of cheese.
First of all, it is vegetarian friendly, since it doesn't contain any rennet. Rennet is a type of enzyme obtained from the stomach of animals like goats or calves. When rennet is added, cheese grows firmer, which paneer accomplishes with the addition of acid.
Next, because it uses acid instead of rennet, it does not have to be aged, meaning it is a fresh and unaged cheese. Once it has been made, it can safely be eaten without cooking, immediately. This also means it's very easy to make at home with simple ingredients like lemon juice.
One of the cooler things about paneer is that it doesn't melt. Even though it is a very soft cheese, with a deep and rich flavor, it will never melt. This means it gives your recipes a whole new dimension in taste and texture. It can be sliced and used to top a sandwich, or the curds can be breaded and pan-fried or deep-fried, for a fried dish that makes great appetizers or walking snacks.
Lastly, paneer cheese is incredibly cheap and affordable to make. So if you were wondering if your growing love for the Indian cheese will cause you budgetary issues, don't worry, if store-bought becomes too burdensome you can make it cheaply in your own home.
Where Can I Get Paneer?
Paneer is incredibly common, and in all likelihood, you've passed right by it in a variety of different grocery stores and markets.
You can often find it in larger retail supermarkets, like Walmart, as well as in specialty ethnic food stores. Other stores like Whole Foods will often have it, and it can be ordered online through many different sources, even Amazon.
If you're unsure of where to get some, you can even try searching on the shopping delivery app Instacart. You can search by item, based on where you are, and find local stores that carry paneer and have it in stock.
Even if you don't want to order through the app, the search function will tell you which store has it before you go driving all over town.
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8 Paneer Substitutes
There are a ton of different cheeses you can use as a paneer substitute, and while each of them will have its own unique taste and texture that will be different from paneer, they will get you incredibly close.
For some recipes, working with a substitute for paneer will need some tweaking or adjustment. The taste of many paneer alternatives is close, but even the best ones won't be an exact match.
Halloumi cheese is a unique type of cheese made from a mix of sheep's milk & goat's milk, though sometimes will be made from just one or the other. As an excellent paneer substitute, it contains many of the same proteins and vitamins that the paneer does, as well as a substantial fat content.
Even though halloumi cheese is a white, layered cheese like mozzarella, it has a similar ability to paneer to resist melting even when grilled or fried. Instead of melting it simply becomes crisp, and deeply savory.
Those with dietary restrictions should be aware that not all halloumi is vegetarian friendly, since some varieties use rennet sourced from animals instead of vegetables. It is a great paneer substitute for dishes that require it to be pan-fried or sliced and added as salad toppings, though when eaten raw and by itself, it will have a strong salty taste.
Panela cheese is also known as and may be packaged as, queso panela or queso canasta. Panela cheese is a cheese from Mexico that was given its traditional shape and appearance by being molded in a basket. This led to its nickname "basket cheese".
Panela cheese is a great substitute for paneer since this cheese absorbs neighboring flavors, sometimes being sold covered in a savory and spicy pepper paste. Another reason panela is one of the top substitutes for paneer is because of its resistance to melting. It will not melt, but unlike paneer, it will soften to some extent.
If your recipe calls for the paneer to be baked or pan-fried, panela might be the paneer substitute for you.
Ricotta is another Italian cheese that is used in an enormous variety of recipes from bulking up desserts, to mingling with vegetables for a filling used to stuff pasta.
Ricotta is a cheese that is made from other types of cheese and is the heated leftover cheese byproducts. It has a softer texture than many others, while it has a crumbly and almost grainy texture quality.
There are times when ricotta may be a good paneer substitute, and there are situations when it will not be. It can be used in recipes in which paneer cheese is the primary feature, but it should not be used in any curry dishes or soups that would call for paneer.
Feta cheese has been a staple of Greek dishes for thousands of years, making it one of the oldest surviving cheese varieties in the world. It also is unique to Greece, and no cheese can be called feta without originating from the country.
Traditional feta is an aged cheese made from sheep's milk, that has only aged for about 5 weeks. This makes it a very sharp cheese, and its resistance to melting makes it an excellent paneer alternative for some recipes.
Feta is a cheese that has both a crumbly texture and a creamy texture at once, as well as being saltier than most other cheeses you may consider as a substitute for paneer. This saltiness and crumbly texture should be taken into account when using feta as substitute paneer.
The most compact and densest form of tofu is extra-firm tofu. It has a chewy texture, and since it is non-dairy and soy-based, it will not melt. This makes it one of the best paneer substitutes for those who need a non-dairy or vegan-friendly alternative.
For those looking for a vegan paneer substitute in things like soups or curries, where other substitutes for paneer may not be applicable, organic tofu can be a great alternative, even if it doesn't have the paneer taste. This gap can be closed by seasoning the tofu before addition to the recipe. If you want a great Chinese recipe, check out this salt and pepper tofu.
A great paneer substitute is the use of cottage cheese. With the low-fat content and relatively high protein content, cottage cheese is one of the few healthy dairy products that can be used in Indian cuisine.
Cottage cheese can even be made at home, and homemade cottage cheese made from fresh milk will frequently have a very creamy, rich texture and bold flavor.
One thing that makes cottage cheese an ideal paneer substitute is that it can be found in several varieties to coincide with dietary restrictions like non-fat and low-fat types, sodium-free, and even lactose-free. This means that even though regular cottage cheese does have salt, it can be found in a variety closer to paneer cheese.
Mexican queso Blanco is one of the best paneer substitutes since not only do they have a similar firm and crumbly texture but they can also be made with pasteurized cow's milk combined with an acidic component like lemon juice. Some commercial or traditional varieties are made from cow milk and goat's milk.
Mexican queso Blanco is generally vegetarian-friendly, while queso fresco isn't. Since Mexican queso Blanco has such a unique texture, you can crumble queso Blanco into your recipe quite easily.
Queso Blanco is one of the best paneer substitutes since they are made the exact same way, and can be made at home with the same recipe. Since it is a mild cheese with a milky taste, the soft texture can be enjoyed by itself or in any recipe that requires paneer alternatives.
Italian cow's milk mozzarella cheese is another soft cheese that can be made and then eaten immediately, requiring no time to age or culture. The flavor profile is optimal when it's fresh, and declining as it ages.
If you are looking for one of the healthiest cheeses that can be used as a paneer substitute, mozzarella is near the top of the list. Not only is it a low-fat cheese, but it also has a much lower salt content than many others that are used as substitutes for paneer.
Mozzarella melts, unlike paneer, and has a very mild flavor. The mild and milky flavor, as well as the low fat and sodium often lead mozzarella to be eaten raw when used as a substitute for paneer, such as being a sliceable curd cheese for sandwiches that benefit from thin slices.
Recipes To Use Paneer
If you think you're ready to try some of these great substitutes for paneer, but you aren't sure where to start, here are some recipes to look up and add to your collection.
- Paneer Korma
- Paneer Tikka
- Malai Paneer
- Tawa Paneer Tikka
- Paneer Butter Masala: For a simple paneer recipe, the creamy texture and spices this curry blends with the chunks of sliced cheese is a great place to start. It can be served with either bread rolls, naan, or rice.
- Kadai Paneer Gravy: This is another simple dish that uses a spice mix called Kadai masala as well as some sweet bell peppers. Served over sliced or chunked paneer.
- Malai Kofta Curry: If you want to experiment with fried paneer, this curry has a delicious malai gravy to compliment it.
- Palak Paneer: Not only is palak paneer an amazing gravy dish, but it's a great way to incorporate spinach while eating paneer. It also adds a great splash of color to the meal aesthetics.
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