Chilli Paneer Recipe (Spicy Indo Chinese Style)

Here’s a recipe for Chilli Paneer, a popular spicy Indo-Chinese dish:

Ingredients:
– 250 grams paneer (Indian cottage cheese), cut into cubes
– 1 onion, finely chopped
– 1 capsicum (bell pepper), cut into cubes
– 2-3 green chilies, finely chopped
– 4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
– 2 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)
– 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (maida)
– 1 tablespoon soy sauce
– 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
– 1 tablespoon chili sauce
– 1 teaspoon vinegar
– 1/2 teaspoon sugar
– Salt to taste
– Black pepper powder to taste
– Vegetable oil for frying
– Chopped spring onions for garnish

For the batter:
– 3 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)
– 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (maida)
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder
– Water as needed

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the batter: cornflour, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper powder, and enough water to make a thick batter. Mix well until there are no lumps. Add the paneer cubes to the batter and toss them until evenly coated.

2. Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or kadai for deep frying. Once the oil is hot, carefully drop the coated paneer cubes into the hot oil and fry until they turn golden brown and crisp. Remove the fried paneer cubes from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

3. In a separate pan, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for a minute until the raw aroma disappears.

4. Add finely chopped onions and green chilies to the pan. Cook until the onions turn translucent.

5. Add the chopped capsicum (bell pepper) and sauté for a few minutes until it becomes slightly tender.

6. In a small bowl, mix together cornflour, soy sauce, tomato ketchup, chili sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper powder. Add this mixture to the pan and cook for a minute until the sauce thickens and coats the vegetables evenly.

7. Now, add the fried paneer cubes to the pan and toss them gently with the sauce until they are well coated. Cook for another minute or two, stirring continuously to ensure the paneer is heated through.

8. Garnish with chopped spring onions and turn off the heat.

9. Serve hot as an appetizer or as a main course dish with fried rice or noodles.

Enjoy the delicious and spicy Chilli Paneer!