Paneer Popcorn Airfryer Recipe

Paneer Popcorn, also known as paneer nuggets is a quick, easy, healthy lip-smacking air fryer snack recipe made with fresh paneer (Indian cottage cheese), mixed with spices and herbs, and tossed with breadcrumbs to give that extra punch to taste. 

This paneer nuggets recipe is an ideal snack or party starters recipe which is also kids friendly recipe. This will be your crowd-pleasing appetizer that is ready in 30 minutes. Best served with ketchup.

This recipe is even more easy to make when you cook them under the CrispLid Airfryer. I recently saw few reviews about this product, brought it and the first thing I wanted to try is potato finger chips and paneer popcorn since my kid loves these for an evening snack. One of the big advantages of CrispLid is that I can see the food being cooked.

Wondering what is CrispLid? Mealthy's newest and most innovative product converts any electric pressure cooker into an air fryer.

Broil, crisp, and air fry directly in the steel pot of your electric pressure cooker. Compatible with both 6 and 8-quart electric pressure cookers.

Don't have Crisplid Airfryer?

No worries, you can still make this recipe by following the same steps and deep fry the paneer popcorn instead of air frying.

Checkout more Paneer recipes Paneer Fingers, Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala, Paneer Bhurji, Paneer Biryani, Paneer Bhurji Sandwich

Preparing the Paneer

Let’s start with gathering the ingredients. To make this crispy paneer popcorn, all you need is fresh homemade or store brought paneer (Indian cottage cheese), ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, garam masala or any all spice powder, mixed dried herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, corn starch, and bread crumbs.

The first thing is I used homemade bread crumbs. I simply used whole wheat bread, made into pieces and blended into a coarse powder, added some red chili powder and salt. Combine well and keep aside.

Next, take fresh paneer to cut it into 1-inch cubes equal-sized. In a bowl and add ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, garam masala, mixed herbs, pepper powder, salt. Then add paneer to it and mix it well.

Now prepare corn starch batter with little water. Add salt and red chili powder if u like and prepare semi-liquid batter consistency.

**Note: It should not be too thick like bhajji mixture.

Then dip paneer cubes in that paste and drain excess batter, then roll them completely in bread crumbs mixture coating all the sides. 

Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. That said, if you don’t have enough time, you can skip this refrigerating.

**Note: Refrigerating helps to hold crumbs well.

How to Make Paneer Popcorn

Mealthy Crisplid using Pressure Cooker

Spray CrispLid fryer basket and paneer cubes with cooking spray and arrange bread-coated paneer cubes in a single layer in the fryer basket, working in batches as needed.

Place trivet in the inner steel pot of pressure cooker and put fryer basket on the trivet.

Now set CrispLid on top of the inner steel pot using the handle on the CrispLid. Plug the CrispLid and lower the handle. Make sure the pressure cooker is unplugged.

Set to 375°F (190°C) and cook paneer popcorn for 6 minutes. Flip paneer and continue cooking until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes more. If you think it's not cooked completely then toss and cook for 2 more minutes. Repeat with remaining paneer popcorn.

Remove the paneer popcorn into a serving plate and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce

Regular Airfryer

• Preheat Air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 375°F (190°C).
• Place the seasoned paneer popcorn in the fryer and fry for 5 minutes. Take out the fryer. Brush some oil on the paneer nuggets and again air fry for 4 minutes.

Tips & Variations to make Best Paneer Popcorn

• You can also add other seasonings like kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves), garlic powder, or onion salt into the paneer nuggets recipe
• If you eat eggs, you can skip the flour mixture and dip marinated paneer into the beaten egg mixture and then roll it into bread crumbs.
• Cut the paneer into bite sizes. Equal sizes help to cook evenly and well.
• If you are vegan replace paneer with tofu.
• You can either use homemade or panko bread crumbs from the store for this recipe.
• Bread the paneer ahead of time and refrigerate. When you are ready to serve you can air fry or deep fry paneer popcorn.
• You can also add a couple of pinches of cayenne pepper to the flour mixture for a little heat.
• Can also use oats or corn flakes instead of breadcrumbs. In a blender take ½ cup of quick or rolled oats, pulse a few times to get coarsely ground oats.

More Airfryer Recipes

• Beetroot Tikki/Cutlet
• Barbeque Nation Cajun Potatoes
• Sweet Corn Pakoda
• Sabudana Vada

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