Chilli Paneer

4.77 from 34 votes
Chilli paneer is one of the popular recipe from the Indian Chinese cuisine.
This chilli paneer gives restaurant style taste and flavor.

(1 CUP = 250 ML)

Ingredients

for batter
 2 tablespoons cornstarch (also known as corn flour in india)
 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
 ½ teaspoon ginger paste
 ½ teaspoon garlic paste
 ¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper or black pepper powder
 ¼ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder
 salt as required
 ¼ cup water or add as required

for frying paneer

 3 tablespoons oil
 200 to 250 grams paneer - cut in cubes

for chilli paneer gravy or sauce

 2 small spring onions or ⅓ cup chopped spring onions
 2 to 3 green chillies - slit or sliced
 2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
 1 small to medium capsicum or ½ cup sliced green bell pepper
 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  1 teaspoon red chilli sauce
 ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
 ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder
 ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar or add as required
 salt as required
 ½ to ⅔ cup water or add as required
 1 tablespoon cornstarch (also known as corn flour in india)
 2 to 3 tablespoons water for dissolving corn starch
 ¼ to ½ teaspoon rice vinegar or white vinegar - optional
 2 to 3 spring onion greens to be added later

Instructions

making batter
1. In a bowl take 2 tablespoons cornstarch.
2. Then add 3 tablespoons maida (all purpose flour).
3. Next add 2 teaspoon finely chopped ginger, 2 teaspoon finely
chopped garlic,  ¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper or black pepper
powder and ¼ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder. Also season with
salt as required.
4. Add ¼ cup water or add as required.
5. With a wired whisk or a spoon mix very well to get a smooth batter
without any lumps.
6. Now add paneer cubes in the batter.
7. With a spoon gently coat the paneer cubes with the batter.

frying paneer
1. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a frying pan. 
2. One side is done, flip it and fry the other side. Flip a couple of times
and fry till the paneer cubes are crisp and golden. Also do not over
do the frying as then the paneer cubes can become hard.
3. Remove the fried paneer cubes and place them on kitchen paper
towels for the extra oil to be absorbed.

making chilli paneer gravy or sauce

1. In the same pan, there will be some oil left. So no need to add any
extra oil. Add 2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger, 2 teaspoons finely
chopped garlic and 2 to 3 green chillies (slit or sliced).
2. Stir fry on medium to high flame for some seconds.
 3. Then add ⅓ cup chopped spring onions.
4. Stir fry spring onions for 1 to 2 minutes on medium to high flame.
5. Next add ½ cup sliced capsicum.
6. Stir fry on medium to high flame for 3 to 4 minutes. The capsicum
only needs to be slightly cooked.
7. Lower the flame and then add ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder.
8. Then add 2 teaspoons soy sauce and 1 teaspoon red chilli sauce.
9. Stir and mix the sauces and red chilli powder with the remaining stir
fried ingredients.
10. Add ½ to ⅔ cup water. mix well.
11. Let the mixture come to a simmer on medium to medium-high
flame.
12. Meanwhile take 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a small bowl.
13. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons water for dissolving corn starch. Corn
starch is known as corn flour in india.
14. Mix very well to get a smooth paste.
15. Lower the flame and then add this corn starch paste to the
gravy.
16. As soon as you add corn flour paste to the gravy, mix the paste
very well so that no lumps are formed.
17. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar or as required. 
18. Season with salt as per taste. Do keep a check on salt as soy
sauce and red chilli sauce already have salt in them.
19. Mix very well and simmer till the sauce has slightly thickened
and the corn starch has cooked. You can check the taste and you
should not feel any raw taste coming from the corn starch in the
sauce.
20. Add the fried paneer cubes.
21. Mix paneer cubes very well with the gravy.
22. Switch off the flame and then add ¼ to ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
or white vinegar. You can skip vinegar if you want.
23. Then add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of chopped spring onions
greens.
24. Mix very well. Check the taste of gravy and if you want, you
can add more soy sauce, chilli sauce, salt, black pepper or sugar.
25. Serve restaurant-style chilli paneer garnished with some spring
onions.

Notes
 By adding less or more water, you can change the consistency of the
chilli paneer sauce or gravy by making it thin or thick. 
 Add less or more of the spices or sauces as per your taste buds.