Homemade Paneer
Homemade Paneer is very softer and creamy with all-natural ingredients. Paneer is a very popular fresh cheese also called Cottage Cheese used in many dishes of Indian Cuisine.
Homemade Paneer is made using cows or buffalo’s milk. Full fat milk is boiled and citric acid is added to curdle the milk such as lime juice or vinegar. The curdles are called Chenna. The curds are now strained into a cheese or muslin cloth and the excess water is pressed out putting a heavy weight on top of it for 2-3 hrs. and then cut into pieces .
There is a lot of difference in the texture between a homemade one and a store bought one. We usually never check the ingredients on a pack of paneer until my husband started keto diet. He is very particular about the list of ingredients that goes into it. That’s where we came to know that there is potato starch in some brands of paneer. Then we started to make paneer at home. Its super easy if you know the right technique.
Taking full cream milk is the mostly important thing to a creamier and soft paneer. Turn of the stove once the milk boils. Add lime juice or vinegar diluted with water to separate the curds and the water. once separated add the ice cubes to stop the cooking process. Strain the curds into a cheese cloth and press it lightly to drain the water/whey which is very notorious and can be used to make breads or rotis
Home made Paneer
Ingredients
- 2.5 Gallons Whole cream milk
- 3 pcs Limes/ Vinegar Juice
- 1 bowl Ice cubes
Instructions
- Take 2.5 gallons of milk in a heavy bottomed pan and boil the milk.
- Squeeze the lime juice into a bowl and add some water to dilute the juice
- Once the milk starts to boil , turn off the stove
- Add the lime juice water mixture to the boiled milk in batches. Mix slowly until the curds seperate and the water looks greenish.
- Add the ice cubes to stop the cooking process.
- Take a big bowl and place the colander into the bowl. Place a chesse cloth on top of the colander and strain the curds seperating the whey (water). Donot through the water , as it is nutrious and can be used for making rotis or breads etc.
- Add a cup of water on top of paneer to remove the extra lime juice.
- Now hold the cheese cloth from 4 sides and press gently to remove any excess water. do not press hard.
- Now place the paneer in a colander or a plain surface( where the excess water can drain ) folding the cheese cloth forming a square.
- Place a flat plate on top of the paneer and put some weight on it to remove the excess water for atleast 3 hours.
- Remove the paneer from the cheese cloth and put it on a plain surface. Cut the paneer into desired shape and enjoy in your favourite dishes.
- Soft and smooth paneer is ready.
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