Paneer Popcorn is a quick ,healthy lip-smacking snack made with fresh paneer ( indian cottage cheese), mixed with spices and herbs and tossed with breadcrumbs to give that extra punch to taste. This 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 first thing i wanted to try is potato finger chips and paneer popcorn since my kid loves these for evening snack.One of the big advantages of the 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.
Dont Have CrispLid Airfryer?
No worries you can still make this recipe by following the same steps and deep fry the paneer popcorn instead of airfrying.
For more recipes related to Paneer Checkout
Prepping the Paneer for Paneer Popcorn
Let’s start with gathering the ingredients.To make these crispy paneer popcorn, all you need is fresh homemade or store brought paneer (indian cottage cheese), ginger garlic paste ,red chilli 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 coarse powder, added some red chilli powder and salt.Combine well and keep aside.
Next take fresh paneer 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 in it and mix it well.
Now prepare corn starch batter with little water.Add salt and red chilli 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 atleast 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 using 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 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 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 its 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
How to make Air Fryer Paneer Popcorn?
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 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 etc.
If you eat eggs ,you can skip flour mixture and dip marinated paneer into the beaten egg mixture and then roll in to bread crumbs.
Cut the paneer into bite sizes.Equal sizes helps 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.
You can bread the paneer ahead of time and refrigerate.When you are ready to serve you can airfry or deep fry paneer popcorn.
You can also add a couple pinches cayenne pepper to the flour mixture for a little heat.
You can use use oats or corn flakes instead of breadcrumbs.In a blender take 1/2 cup of quick or rolled oats ,pulse few times to get coarsely grinded oats.
Paneer Popcorn Recipe Card
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Paneer Popcorn is a quick ,healthy lip-smacking snack made with fresh paneer ( indian cottage cheese), mixed with spices and herbs and tossed with breadcrumbs to give that extra punch to taste
- 1 cup paneer (cottage cheese) , cubed (1 inch size)
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
- 1/2 tsp mixed dried herbs
- 1/4 tsp pepper powder
- 1/4 cup corn flour or refined flour(maida)
- 2 tsp oil for spraying
- salt to taste
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 tsp red chilli powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
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Take a bowl and add ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, garam masala ,mixed herbs, pepper powder, salt . Then add paneer in it and mix it well.
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Take 1/4 cup corn flour and add water in it as much as required to make a paste of it.
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Mix breadcrumbs ,red chilli powder and salt and keep aside.
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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 atleast 15 minutes.
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Spray CrispLid fryer basket and paneer cubes with cooking spray and arrange bread coated paneer cubes in a single layer in fryer basket, working in batches as needed.
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Place trivet in the inner steel pot of pressure cooker and put fryer basket on the trivet.
Now set CrispLid on top of inner steel pot using the handle on the crisplid. Plug the crisplid and lower the handle. (Make sure the pressure cooker is unplugged)
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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 its not cooked completely then toss and cook for 2 more minutes.Repeat with remaining paneer popcorn.
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Remove the paneer popcorn into a serving plate and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
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Follow same steps and deep fry the prepared breaded paneer in medium heat oil until they turn brown and crispy.Serve Hot.
1.You can also add a couple pinches cayenne pepper to the flour mixture for a little heat.
2.You can also add other seasonings like kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) ,garlic powder or onion salt etc.
3.Cut the paneer into bite sizes.Equal sizes helps to cook evenly and well.
4.If you are vegan replace paneer with tofu.
5.You can either use homemade or panko bread crumbs from the store for this recipe.
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
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