Chilli paneer recipe – A restaurant style paneer chilli dry & gravy recipe with step by step photos. Chilli paneer is a popular Indo Chinese starter made by seasoning fried Indian cottage cheese in chilli sauce. We love the restaurant served Indo chinese foods. But I try to limit eating them out due to the MSG and large amount of sauces used. Most times I make them at home using the best possible ingredients and without MSG.
This recipe yields one of the best chilli paneer dry & gravy that pairs well with a veg fried rice, schezwan fried rice, hakka noodles, or can be served as a starter.
A slightly different version of this is the Paneer manchurian recipe. A dry version goes well as a starter. While a gravy version goes well as a side dish to veg fried rice, restaurant style hakka noodles or this easy veg noodles.
Always choose naturally brewed or organic soya sauce. As others may have added msg, coloring and harmful chemicals. Check the labels before you use.
For more Paneer recipes check
Paneer tikka
Crispy paneer 65
Paneer cheese toast
Crispy paneer popcorn
Garlic paneer
Chilli paneer recipe
Chilli paneer recipe
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
ingredients for chilli paneer batter
- 1 ½ to 1 ¾ cups paneer (approximately 200 to 250 grams)
- ¼ tsp red chilli powder kashmiri (optional)
- 3 tbsp corn flour or corn starch
- 3 tbsp maida or plain flour (optional)
- 2 pinches pepper powder
- salt as needed
- water as needed
- 3 to 4 tbsps oil as needed for shallow frying
Sauce for chilli paneer recipe
- ½ to 1 tsp vinegar
- ¾ to 1 tbsp soya sauce
- ½ to 1 tbsp chilli sauce (adjust to suit your taste)
other ingredients for chilli paneer
- 1 tbsp garlic chopped
- 2 tbsp spring onions greens chopped
- 2 tbsp spring onion whites chopped
- ½ cup capsicum bell pepper or cubed
- 1 medium onion cubed, layers separated
- 1 to 2 green chilies slit and deseeded
- ½ tsp red chili powder kashmiri or red chilli paste
- ¼ tsp pepper powder
- ½ tsp corn flour for dry chilli paneer or 1 tsp for gravy
- Water as needed
Instructions
Preparation for chilli paneer recipe
- Add cornflour, maida (optional) to a mixing bowl along with red chilli powder, pepper, salt and little water.
- If you are health conscious and prefer to use less refined flour then make a thin batter. If you like the restaurant style chilli paneer which has a thick coating of flour, then make thick batter.
- Heat 3 to 4 tbsps oil in a deep pan for shallow frying.
- Add paneer to the batter and coat them well.
- When the oil is hot enough, drop the batter coated paneer pieces in the oil one by one.
- Fry them on a a medium heat until crispy.
How to make chilli paneer
- Remove the oil from the pan retaining 1 tbsp. Fry garlic until it smells good.
- Add onions, chilies and capsicum. Saute on a high flame for 1 to 2 mins.
- Stir in soya sauce, chilli sauce, vinegar and red chilli powder or paste.
- Add 2.5 tbsp. water to the pan.
To make chilli paneer dry
- Add half tsp corn flour to a bowl and mix with 2.5 to 3 tbsp water. Stir well.
- Pour this mixture to the pan. Cook till the sauce thickens. Check the taste of the sauce. You can add more sauces or salt if you wish.
- Next sprinkle pepper powder.
- Add fried cubes and saute for 2 minutes. Add the spring onion greens.
- Serve paneer chilli hot as a starter.
To make paneer chilli gravy
- Add 1 tsp corn flour & half cup water to a bowl. Stir well and make a lump free liquid. You can also add a tsp or more tomato ketchup.
- Pour the mixture to the hot pan. Stir well. The mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Taste the sauce and add more salt or sauces if needed.
- Then add paneer. Coat the paneer well in sauce and sprinkle some spring onion greens. Off the stove.
Video
Video of chilli paneer recipe
In the video I have shown making chilli paneer that has more sauce than the one shown in step by step pictures. The recipe is the same as mentioned in the recipe card below with 1 tsp cornflour and half cup water.Notes
Nutrition
Preparation for chilli paneer recipe
1. Add corn flour, salt, red chilli powder and pepper powder to a bowl.
2. Make a thick or thin batter adding water as needed. If you like the restaurant style flour coated paneer then make a thick batter.
3. Add paneer to the batter. Then coat them well with batter. If you like, you can also marinate paneer with ½ tbsp chilli sauce, ¼ tbsp soya sauce and add dry flour to the paneer. Then just toss. I added a bit of red chilli sauce to the batter to get a nice color. That’s optional.
4. Heat a pan and fry them on a medium high flame. It can be grilled, tawa fried, shallow fried or deep fried. Spread them evenly while frying else they stick to each other.
5. Stir well and fry evenly until golden. You may not get the golden color if you have not used chili sauce or chilli powder.
6. Drain them on a kitchen tissue.
7. Lastly transfer the oil to a cup and retain very little in the pan. Add garlic and saute until they smell good.
How to make chilli paneer recipe
8. Switch the flame to high. Add onions, spring onions greens, capsicum, sliced and deseeded chilli. Saute on a high flame till they are slightly cooked but still crunchy.
9. Pour soya sauce.
10. Then next add vinegar.
11. Next add red chili sauce.
12. Add red chilli powder or paste.
13. Pour 2.5 tbsp water. Then allow the sauces to bubble and thicken as well. For the restaurant style glossy look – Add half tsp of corn flour with 2.5 to 3 tbsp. water to a bowl. Stir well and pour it to the pan. You can even skip using corn flour. The smooth feel of sauce and the glaze will be missing. In the step by step photo method I have not used cornflour. But I have used it in the video which was made another time.
14. Next add pepper powder, paneer, spring onions and toss on a high flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
To make chilli paneer gravy, you will have to use more of soya sauce, chilli sauce as desired. Next Add 1 tsp corn flour, pinch of salt, half cup of water to a bowl. Stir well to break any lumps. You can also add a tsp tomato ketchup.
Lastly pour the mixture to the pan. Stir well. When the mixture comes to a boil and thickens, add paneer. Switch off the stove. Adjust more or less water, corn flour and salt as needed to get make more gravy.
Garnish chilli paneer with spring onions.
Sid says
Could you please tell me which chilli sauce to use?
swasthi says
You can use something like maggie. Not very hot and will be good if slightly sweetened.
Swati Hardiya says
Nice method to cook. The way you have explained with pictures and simple sentences that is very good to understand. It took me few minutes to know the recipe.
swasthi says
Thanks Swati Hardiya
Dsouza says
superb n yummy… turned out so well. All appreciated. Thanks for the receipe.
Jou says
Thank you very much. My chilli paneer turned out of this world. Absolutely loving it.
Gita bajaj says
Yummy delicious dishes
swasthi says
Thank you
Anuja says
Swasthi alllll your recipes are super easy to understand, simple to make & turn out justtt perfect. Kudos to you dear. . !!
swasthi says
Hi Anuja
Thank you so much for trying the recipes.
🙂
Jhalak giri says
Very wander full recipe
n patel says
I like your all recipe
swasthi says
Thanks
Sirisha says
Hi swasti, ur recipes r really amazing. I have tried so many recipes, every recipe came out really tasty….I have a doubt about corn flour and all purpose flour ratio…in some recipes why do we use equal quanties and in some recipes we use 2:1 ratio of corn flour and all purpose flour…but in chilli paneer u used only corn purpose flour, y didn’t u add some all purpose flour to this…..can u please explain this….
Saras santosh says
All your recipes are really good & we are enjoying.. Thanx a lot for posting.
swasthi says
Welcome Sara
Thanks for the compliments
Happy to know you liked the recipes
S. Swathi says
Its soo colorfull i like this……
S. Swathi says
Its very easy to understand and cooking…..
swasthi says
Thanks Swathi
Shashikala Kalkutnal says
Hi swasti ,you are showing every step that’s nice,thanks for easy cooking. Thanks for yummy recipes,keep it up,
swasthi says
Welcome shahikala
Thanks for trying. Happy to know you like the steps
Brajesh says
Really You are Great Swasti.
What a great way of Showing receipie.
Every Step with specific photos.
swasthi says
Thanks Brajesh
adam says
we only have to add garlic or garlic and ginger both
swasthi says
Hi Adam
No ginger is used in chilli paneer
C G joshi says
It’s fantastic item
swasthi says
Thanks
Sahil says
You are the best. Great work. Keep it Up
swasthi says
Thanks a lot Sahil
jhalak says
i really like the recipe of chilli paneer…
swasthi says
Thanks Jhalak
sarb says
wowww ur outstanding dear… all recipes are amzing… i tried bread pakodra.. it ws vry taste.. evry1 were praising fr ur pakodras recipes. n i will try more recipes like cutlet, chilli paneer n many more… thnx alot fr yummmmmy osmmmm amznig recipes..???
swasthi says
Hi Sarb
So happy to know that u have tried so many recipes from this blog. Thanks a lot for the comment.
🙂
sagar says
Hi swasthi…
As usaul its very tasty… Tons of Thanks .
and i read in some of your posts to use deseeded tomatoes or capsicum. how it may differ in taste?
swasthi says
Hi Sagar
You are welcome.
I mention to deseed as many folks do not like to get seeds in the mouth while they bite in. But tomato seeds are healthy and can be used especially in recipes where we puree them. You can also filter the puree and then use in recipes like butter masala or makhani recipes
Taste wise I have not felt a difference
Asiya says
I’m very thankful for the recipes.its very amazing..
swasthi says
Welcome Asiya
anusha says
Thank u for giving an wonderfull receipe i love paneer receips i want the receipe of panner salte
swasthi says
welcome Anusha
I will try to share it
sushna says
i really , truely like paneer and i am a fan of you .like u…..
swasthi says
Thanks Sushna
🙂
k.dharani says
Hi swasthi thank u for ur wonderful paneer recipe…….it come out very well….. my family members loved this recipe…once again a lot of thanks to giving us such a nice recipe…… keep rocking……
swasthi says
Hi Dharani
You are welcome. Glad to know chilli paneer turned out good
Thank you
Reena says
its beauti ful to.make and impress thanks
swasthi says
Welcome Reena
amarjeet singh says
good can try it
swasthi says
Thanks
Neeru says
Very nice and easy …….obviously tasty too
swasthi says
Thanks Neeru
So glad to know you liked it
Akashdeep Singh says
Excellent recipe, made a few modifications and it turned out perfect. Thanks very much!
swasthi says
welcome Akashdeep
Glad to know you liked it.
Thanks for the feedback
Megha says
Nice and good recipe
swasthi says
Thanks Megha
mahi maurya says
Hello mam. Today i tried chilli paneer although it was Delicious bt paneer became little bit hard after frying. so plz tell me wht 2 do fr mkng paneer soft?
swasthi says
Hi Mahi
You have over fried it. Next time fry them on a medium to high flame only until the coated batter is fried
Jasmine says
Delicious foods and recipes……
Easily understandable way of cook…..
swasthi says
Thanks Jasmine
Sue says
I love your recipes, simple and deliciously easy!!! Found your site online while I was looking for paneer recipe. I have only recently started learning how to prepare Indian dishes and what better way to learn, from the the best. Thank you again!!!!
swasthi says
Welcome Sue
So glad reading your comment. Thanks for the compliments
S mayo says
What chilli sauce is used please
swasthi says
Hi,
I used maggie red chilli sauce
Dolly says
Good recipe and its shallow fry nor shallor fry, please correct
swasthi says
Thanks Dolly will do it
qry says
pleas give the information briefly in all dishes
swasthi says
Thanks for the suggestion. I will give the info from now on
rishika sharma says
Yummm feels awesome
swasthi says
Thank you
Afsheen says
Superb & yummy
swasthi says
Thank you
suguna says
ur recipies are very useful my child.good work.thank you.
swasthi says
welcome Suguna
So glad to know you liked the recipes. Thanks for the feedback
suguna says
Very nice,useful for houswifes&all .very helpful my child.
swasthi says
Thanks Suguna
mirika says
I like to eat every item of paneer.Can u help me to make different receipe of the paneer..Thanks a lot…..
Pratima pandey says
Hi Swasti
I enjoyed the way u explain the dishes but i tried today chilli paneer gravy n it was awesome especially when the paneer was marinated it gives very good color n texture to the food . Thanks .Give more ideas to make our recipes more tasty n easy. Bye
swasthi says
Hello Pratima
Welcome and thanks. glad to know it was awesome
MONALISA SANYAL says
Hi swasti,
First of all thank you again for guide me. I tried it yesterday and it was mouthwatering and exelent. I am very satisfied . One more thing you are replied so fast which is very important to guide anyone.
So please give more useful recipe and make your blog number one.
Thank you vety much and take care.
swasthi says
Welcome Mona,
So happy to know it turned out good. Will surely post more recipes. Thanks a ton for the wonderful feedback. Have a good day
MONALISA SANYAL says
Hi swasti,
Today i’m trying this recipe for my hubby and i know it’s will comes out delicious. Your blog is most helpful for all viewers because you add both veg and non veg platters. Thankyou for making this blog because we are non vegetarian too. So i am always search both recipes. Just a query about chilly paneer that is i am using homemade paneer which is 350grms.can i use same quantity of sauces? just let me know.
Thank you again
swasthi says
Welcome Mona,
Glad to know you. You will have to increase the quantity of sauces slightly. At step 13 in step by step pics, after adding little water, just taste the sauce from the pan. Adjust whatever is needed. Must be slightly spicy, tangy and sweet. You may need to add a bit of sugar as well, if your sauces do not have the mild hint of sweetness. Hope this helps. Would love to hear how it turned out.Thanks for the feedback
Piyali says
Can you give some kabab recipes
Yash says
Hi , thanks for awesome and detailed recipies. They help me a lot as i a beginner at cooking. Thanks a lot.
swasthi says
Welcome Yash
So Glad to know they help. Thanks for the feedback
Niru says
Tried this one so yummy like always ur recipes. So easy and fab
Yasho says
All your indo Chinese recipes are very good. Tried this one too. Just awesome
gurvir says
very quick to make and really tasty
Poornima says
I tried this recepie and it came out so yummy ! My family loved it . It takes less time to make this recepie . Love it love it .. Thank you very much for sharing this recepie
Sujatha says
I tried your chilli paneer today. It came out good. Thanks so much for the recipe.
swasthi says
Welcome Suajtha,
I am happy to know it turned out good. Thanks for the feedback
Alicia says
It was yum. Soft paneer .loved it thanks
swapna says
very nice swasthi i just loved it i also tried at home its amazing and very tasty thanks for the recipe like this only share more recipes with us.
Jasu says
Thanks for all the yummy recipes. Keep posting, keep us inspired to cook home