Spicy paneer snack with soft and cushiony cottage cheese (paneer) cubes, with a crispy outing, bursting with the flavors of chilies, garlic, curry leaves, etc are paneer 65. Paneer 65 recipe is very toothsome. It makes a great party appetizer and a filling tea-time snack recipe. Paneer 65 can also be relished as a light lunch or dinner. It can be served with veg fried rice or plain rice if prepared with little gravy. This Paneer 65 Recipe is for dry paneer 65. It explains how to make Paneer 65 with step by step pictures as well as with a complete recipe video.
Paneer 65 is itself a variation of a non-veg chicken snack called chicken 65. In this recipe the chicken is marinated and fried and re-fried with a handful of ingredients. Its vegetarian version is prepared using paneer and is called paneer 65. Likewise, gobi 65, aloo 65, mushroom 65, carrot 65, sweet corn 65 etc. can also be made.
There are various legends behind the name “chicken 65” (the original dish). One says that there are 65 chilies used for 1 kg of chicken. As per another legend, 65 ingredients are required to make the dish. The dish chicken 65 called for 65 days old chicken and therefore it is believed to be so named.
Authentically paneer cubes are deep-fried and thereafter re-fried to make paneer 65. However, with correct proportions of ingredients used, you can get crispy paneer 65 by just shallow frying or air-frying the paneer instead of deep-frying it. In this Paneer 65 Recipe, the paneer has been air fried instead of deep-fried, making it a healthy paneer 65 recipe.
Paneer: Soft paneer makes the best paneer 65. Make sure that the paneer is soft yet firm.
Marinade: Ginger, garlic, curry leaves, red chili powder, lemon juice along with all-purpose flour, cornflour and rice flour are used to make the marinade and that gives it a flavorsome and crispy outer coating.
Tempering: The fried (deep-fried or shallow-fried or air-fried) paneer cubes are re-fried in garlic, curry leaves, green chilies, chili sauce, yogurt, etc.
At every stage of the recipe, the ingredients can be adjusted as per liking and the level of spiciness can be increased.
You might like our collection of veg starter recipes
Paneer 65 can be served as a starter with onion salad etc. Or it can be served with fried rice for a light meal.
1.This recipe serves 3-4 persons.
2.The preparations!
3.In a mixing bowl add 200 grams of paneer cubes.
4.Add in ½ tsp of chopped garlic.
5.Next goes in ½ tsp of ginger paste.
6.Add 1 tsp of red chili powder.
7.Add salt to taste.
8.Add 1 tbsp of all purpose flour (maida).
9.Next add in 1 tbsp rice flour (chawal ka atta).
10.Also add in 1 tbsp of corn flour.
11.Mix everything.
12.Add 1 tsp of lemon juice.
13.Add little water gradually.
14.Also add in a few curry leaves (kadi patta).
15.Mix well. The batter should coat the well on the paneer cubes. Add in more corn flour if required.
16.Keep aside for 15 minutes.
17.After 15 minutes add in 2 tsp of oil if air frying. Mix well.
18.Air fry or shallow fry or deep fry the paneer cubes till crispy. I have air fried the paneer. To air fry it, place it on a greased baking plate and bake at 180 degrees centigrade for 12-15 minutes or till crisp. To deep fry it; heat enough oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot, add in paneer cubes one by one. Do not disturb for a minute. Once the coating firms up, flip and fry from the other side too. Fry till absolutely crispy. Likewise you can also shallow fry the paneer cubes using 1-2 tbsp of oil.
19.Take out the fried paneer cubes. Keep aside for now.
20.Heat 1 tbsp of oil.
21.Next goes in 1 tbsp of chopped garlic.
22.Cook on high flame for 10-15 seconds.
23.Add in 2 green chilies.
24.And a handful of curry leaves (kadi patta).
25.Cook for 10 seconds.
26.Next goes in 1 small onion cut into cubes.
27.Cook for a minute on high flame.
28.Add 1 tbsp of tomato ketchup.
29.Next add 1 tbsp of red chili sauce. You can add in more sauce for a spicier version.
30.Mix everything well.
31.In a bowl mix 2 tbsp of yogurt and 1 tsp of corn flour.
32.Add the yogurt corn flour mix to the preparation.
33.Stir continuously to avoid curdling of yogurt. Cook for a couple of minutes.
34.Let the above prepared sauce cool down a little.
35.Add the fried paneer cubes.
36.Toss it well in the sauce.
37.Garnish with chopped spring onion greens.
38.Bon appetite!
PREP TIME 15 minutes + 15 minutes rest time
COOK TIME 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME 25 minutes + 15 minutes passive time
For tempering
To make paneer cubes for Paneer 65
To make the tempering for Paneer 65:
To make Paneer 65:
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