Introduction:
A perfect, easy-to-make recipe for making soft homemade paneer . Enjoy the process and taste the fresh, creamy taste that beats store-made versions any day!There is nothing satisfactory as making cheese in your own kitchen. With just two simple ingredients, you can make a soft, fresh cheese that is also suitable as curry, salads or snacks. Also, homemade cheese is free from preservatives and allows you to control the composition of your choice.
Ingredients:
- 1 liter whole milk.
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar
Equipment:
- Saucepan
- Muslin cloth or cheesecloth
- Fine mesh Strainer
- A flat plate or tray
- Weight
Instructions:
- Heat the milk :
- Take a heavy base saucepan and pour the whole milk into it and bring it to a gentle boil on medium heat.
- Stir occasionally to prevent burning. It is time to add vinegar when the milk starts to foam around the edge
- Add acid :
- Now, slowly add lemon juice (or vinegar) and stir the milk.
- The milk will begin to curdle into yogurt and translucent, slightly separated in fluid.
- Rest and Separate :
- Allow the mixture to rest for about 5 minutes. This extra time helps the yogurt to settle a little. After that, line the strainer with muslin or cheesecloth and carefully pour the mixture into the strainer.
- Collect the edges of the cloth and tie them together so you can hang the bundle for the buttermilk to completely drain.
- Rinse the yogurt :
- Rinse the yogurt under cold water slowly. This step stops the cooking process and washes any residual acid, which helps keep the cheese soft.
- Alternatively, adding a couple of ice cubes during this rinse can make your paneer soften.
- Press the paneer:
- Remove as much water as possible from yogurt. Place the bundle on a flat plate and set the weight on the top - for example, a heavy pan.
- Press for at least 1-2 hours. For soft cheese, avoid pressing too hard; You want to remove the extra fluid that maintains a light, moist texture.
- Unwrap and store:
- After the above step, remove the paneer gently from the cloth.
- Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week.
Tips for Ultra Soft paneer:
- Use whole milk as a result, less creamy textures can result.
- Avoid overheating to control milk. Gentle simmer is the key.
- Light pressing is ideal. Overpressing can lead to a hard paneer.
- For customization herb twist, try adding finely chopped coriander or red chilli flakes before adding acid.
- An alternative to taste, a pinch of salt, and for a few ice cubes for extra softness when rinsing.
Homemade paneer is versatile - try it in classic recipes in paneer butter masala , palak paneer or modern paneer taco. It is not only proud of the incredible taste, but its composition is perfectly suited for absorbing spices and sauces, making each bite pleasure.
