Making paneer at home is very easy. Its definitely has better taste and freshness than the store bought ones. I always used to buy paneer from outside since I used to think that's the easy way. Well I do buy even now sometimes when I need them urgently, but the homemade soft malai paneer is the one I prefer over store bought With just two ingredients you get this soft fresh cheese which is made by curdling milk using am acidic food ingredient.
In brief - milk is boiled, then curdled with an acidic ingredient. This curdled milk solids are then drained onto a cheese cloth, and then pressed with a heavy object to set (this is optional)
Ingredients :
- Full fat milk - 4 cups or 1 liter
- Lemon juice - 3 tbsp approx.
Method:
- First add the milk in a sauce pan. Keep it on a medium low flame and bring it to boil.
- In the meantime , keep the colander lined with cheese cloth and the lemon juice ready.
- Once the milk starts to boil, turn off the heat & add lemon juice slowly.
- Stir till the milk curdles completely.
- Immediately pour into the prepared colander & pour some cold water to it
- Now squeeze out the water completely
- Gather all of the paneer and shape it a bit, cover with the cheese cloth
- Carefully place a plate on top of the paneer and something heavy on top of it (I have kept a stone mortar & pestle) This helps give the paneer a bit of shape
- Leave it aside for 3-4 hours
- Soft Paneer is ready. Cut into desired shape.
- Try this tasty Paneer Pulao with these soft creamy homemade paneer
Notes:
- Try and use whole/full fat milk to get soft paneer
- Add lemon juice slowly, 1 tbsp at a time and stir well. Once you see the clear water stop adding the lemon juice
- Make sure to add in cold water immediately, so as to stop the milk/paneer to curdle further. This will yield you soft paneer instead of rubbery ones
- Overcooking of cheese makes the paneer hard & chewy. So make sure to stop cooking as soon as the milk curdles and add cold water
- Don't tempt to cut the paneer immediately. Make sure to keep it aside atleast for 3 hours
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