Garlic paneer recipe – delicious garlic flavored quick paneer starter that can be made under 15 minutes. This can be served in so many wonderful ways – as a starter for parties, as a evening snack or can be used as a filling for kathi rolls.

Since it is mildly spicy and hot, it is best to enjoy during the chilly winters. The spice levels can be adjusted to suit kids’ taste buds. This recipe is adapted from our family favorite garlic chicken recipe.
You can serve this alongside fried rice or hakka noodles.
There is no deep frying involved to make this garlic paneer recipe. The sauce used is homemade with just minimum ingredients.
This also goes well in lunch box as a side. If you prefer to make paneer at home, you can check this post on Homemade Paneer.
For more Paneer recipes, you can check
Chilli paneer
Paneer tikka
Easy Paneer 65
Paneer pakora
Bread paneer rolls
Preparation
1. Add garlic, red chilies, sugar, salt and vinegar to a blender jar.

2. Add 2 tbsp. water and blend to a smooth or coarse paste.

How to make garlic paneer
3. Add cumin to hot oil and saute for a while. You can skip cumin and add a single small strand of mace as well. Add finely chopped onions. You can skip onions and use spring onions.

4. Saute until lightly golden. You can also add capsicum and saute for a while.

5. Add the ground paste.

6. Saute on a medium flame until the mixture begins to leave the sides of the pan or oil begins to separate. There is not much oil used but still one can make out when the sauce is ready. It turns fragrant. But do not overcook, garlic may turn bitter.

7. Add paneer and toss gently to coat the mixture.

8. Saute for just 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook. Pour that to the pan and cook until thickens. It just takes one to 2 minutes to thicken.

Garnish with coriander leaves or celery.

Related Recipes
Recipe card

Garlic paneer recipe
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1 ¼ cup paneer cubed
- 6 large garlic cloves
- 1 tsp vinegar (apple cider vinegar)
- 5 to 6 red chilies kashmiri (seeds removed)
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt as needed
- 1 tbsp oil
- ½ tsp cumin or 1 small strand of mace
- ½ cup onions chopped
- coriander leaves or celery as needed for garnish
- 1 tsp soya sauce naturally brewed – optional
Instructions
How to make garlic paneer appetizer
- Blend together garlic, chilies, sugar, salt and vinegar with 2 to 3 tbsp water.
- Heat a pan with oil and allow cumin to sizzle.
- Fry onions until golden. Add the sauce and cook until it thickens and the oil separates.
- Add paneer and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with coriander or celery.
- Serve garlic paneer hot.
Notes
Paneer can be coated with corn flour batter and shallow fried or deep fried first then added to the garlic sauce.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes

amazing
Thanks Jayashree
Where would I find the chilis used in this recipe? Are there alternatives if I can’t find those chilis?
Liz, You will find them in Indian or Asian stores. Use low heat red chilli powder or chilli flakes if you can’t find chilies
This was the first time I tried Paneer, and it was delicious. I made a smaller quantity since I was just cooking for myself. I also forgot to add the water, but it turned out alright. Thanks for the recipe!
Glad you like it Nimra
Thank you
Point 8. “Pour that to the pan”
Its already in the pan , right? (both, the gravy and the paneer cubes). So where am I transferring ? Plz xplain 😀
Hi Jay,
Yes you are right. Thanks for pointing it. I will correct.
Thank you for this quick and easy recipe. It was a huge hit at my place!
Glad to know Lavanya
Thank you
Super easy and quick for a snack … totally loved it
Thank you so much!
Dear Swasti,
Always look through your recipes & today tried your garlic paneer. Was fantastic & it vanished in minutes. Thanks for a quick, easy & delicious recipe.
Hi Sushila
That’s great to know! Thank you!
🙂
dear swathi!
your recipes are awesome.I always look for your recipes when I am in need of help. Its ethnic as well as some of them have the taste of improvised experiments that you have successfully made. So for me Swathi is the best. congratilations!!!
Leela, Thank you so much! Glad you like the recipes.
🙂
dear swathi,
Such a time saver !!!
This recipe turned out to be very delicious.. everyone licked their plates..
Thank you for this recipe..
I didn’t have vinegar in my kitchen so I skipped it. Still it turned out great..
Glad to know Charmi
Thank you
Hi Swasthi,
Firstly, wish you a happy and healthy new year 2021.
I just happened to stumbled upon this recipe.. it seems so interesting..I will definitely try it.
However, I do not have vinegar. Can I replace the vinegar in this recipe with lemon juice or any other alternate ? If yes, how much quantity will be needed?
Thank you!
Hi Resh
Thank you so much! Wish you all too a very happy new year.
Yes you can use lemon juice but add it while serving. You can use as needed. Hope this helps
Tried this tonight and everyone absolutely loved it , thank you so much ☺️
Welcome Mitali
Glad you all loved it.
Thank you
Made this delicious
Thank you
This turned out very well. Thanks for the detailed pics. Those of us who are hesitant cooks are in great need of them!
Could you share your preferred brand of soya sauce for this dish?
Thx!
Welcome Preethi
Glad to know!
Look for organic Kikkoman. Any other organic one should be fine too.
Ma’am really a mind-blowing recipe… Thank you so much .. I did this on my hubby’s birthday and his happiness grown exponentially as he loves garlic flavour…
Hi Mahi
You are welcome! Glad your garlic paneer turned out good. Good wishes to both of you!
Thank you!
🙂
Nice way of explaining receipie with pics.
Thanks Savitha
Tried this recipe. It was delicious. Everyone liked it. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us.
Hi, thanks for posting this quick & easy recipe. I made this today & it came out really well. Very tasty. Only I added some stir fried capsicum & baby corn. 🙂
Welcome Nivedita
Glad to know garlic paneer turned out good. Thank you so much for trying.
It’s actually a pretty quick, and healthy recipe. It came out tasting really well. I had it with sautéed veggies. Made it a complete meal, in terms of nutrition.
Hi Saloni,
Thanks for trying. So glad to know you liked it. Thanks again
Hi swasthi,
I make this chilli garlic sameer recipe for 10 times.it’s made so yummy, delicious and very tempting.
This recipe are favourite for my family members.
This is a very simple but very tasty recipe.
Thanks for sharing this yummilicious recipe.
God bless u.
Hi Meenakshi
You are welcome. So glad to know you all like the garlic paneer. Thanks a lot for the comment.
🙂
Thanks, it was good. However you might want to suggest adding a spice or two for a little spicy taste. It was a bit bland.
Thank you Patriot
Okay I will update the recipe. It was too spicy for us.