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Home » Recipes » Appetizer & Snacks

Paneer Popcorn Air Fryer Recipe

Nov 13, 2022. by Bhavana Patil. No Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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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. 

paneer popcorn in a plate with tomato ketchup

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 easier to make when you cook them under the CrispLid Airfryer. I recently saw a 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.

Jump to:
  • Don't have Crisplid Airfryer?
  • How to Make Paneer Popcorn
  • Tips & Variations to make Best Paneer Popcorn
  • More Paneer Recipes
  • More Air Fryer Recipes
  • Paneer Popcorn Recipe

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.

How to Make Paneer Popcorn

Preparing the Paneer

Let’s start with gathering the ingredients. To make this crispy paneer popcorn, all you need is fresh homemade or store-bought 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. Next, I used whole wheat bread, which was made into pieces, blended into a coarse powder, and 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. Add ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, garam masala, mixed herbs, pepper powder, and salt to a bowl. 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, drain excess batter, and then roll them completely in the 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.

paneer covered with bread crumbs and spices and kept on plate

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 the trivet in the inner steel pot of the pressure cooker and put the 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 to a serving plate and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

coated paneer on crisplid airfryer collage

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 to 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.
  • You can also use oats or cornflakes instead of breadcrumbs. In a blender, take ½ cup of quick or rolled oats, and pulse a few times to get coarsely ground oats.
crispy paneer served on a plate with ketchup on the side
paneer popcorn airfryer

More Paneer Recipes

  • Matar Paneer
  • Paneer Tikka
  • Paneer Jalfrezi
  • Paneer Butter Masala
  • Paneer Biryani
  • Paneer Bhurji Sandwich

More Air Fryer Recipes

  • Gobi Manchurian
  • Tandoori Gobi
  • Onion Pakoda
  • Sabudana Vada
  • Tandoori Broccoli
  • Roasted Potatoes
Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to give a ★ rating below
paneer popcorn served in a black plate with tomato ketchup on side

Paneer Popcorn Recipe

Bhavana Patil
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
4.57 from 16 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 3
Calories : 290
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Vegetarian
Prep Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time : 15 minutes
Total Time : 25 minutes

Ingredients
  

Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml

  • 1 cup paneer (cottage cheese) cubed (1 inch size)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
  • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
  • ½ teaspoon mixed dried herbs
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper powder
  • ¼ cup corn flour or refined flour(maida)
  • 2 teaspoon oil for spraying
  • salt to taste

For the Crust

  • ½ cup bread crumbs
  • ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

Mealthy CrispLid Airfryer:

  • 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. 
  • Take ¼ cup corn flour and add water in it as much as required to make a paste of it.
  • Mix breadcrumbs ,red chili powder, and salt and keep aside.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Deep frying:

  • Follow same steps and deep fry the prepared breaded paneer in medium heat oil until they turn brown and crispy.Serve Hot.

Notes

  1. You can also add a couple of pinches of 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 12gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 126mgPotassium: 36mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 29.7mgCalcium: 362mgIron: 1.4mg
Keyword airfryer recipes, crisplid recipes, healthy, indian cottage cheese, paneer recipes, recipes for kids, snack recipes
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Hi There! Welcome to my blog! I’m Bhavana. Here you’ll find easy recipes for your Instant Pot, Kids Lunch Box ideas, Keto/LowCarb, Air-fryer recipes plus more wholesome, easy Vegetarian/Vegan Indian recipes that your family will love. More about me →

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