Chilli paneer dry is a fusion recipe, Indian cottage cheese cubes are tossed in a balanced manchurian sauce. Step by step pictures and full video, for easy understanding to beginners.

Chilli paneer dry is a quick snack or starter, even can be side dish for Indo-Chinese dishes like fried rice or noodles.
Few weeks back I realized I make only few repeated paneer dishes at home which we all got bored of🙄…
Then I saw this easy Chilli paneer dry recipe in a cookbook I borrowed from library.
I just can't wait to try it 🤩, it was very simple yet one of the favorite style of recipe which my kid loves…
He loves Indo Chinese fusions like Gobi Manchurian etc... He enjoyed it a lot as I expected👸.
So I thought I will share here too, how to make chilli paneer dry like restaurant at home.
Let's learn in easy steps and do not forget to check out the notes section for tips and tricks!
Highlights
- Pepper and garlic are the two things I love in this recipe. So make sure to add lots of garlic.
- If you are not a big fan of black pepper, you can try adding half the pepper while tempering. This gives a different flavor to the recipe, in good way.
- Tossing in high flame gives restaurant flavor.
Top tip
How to make perfect street food style/ Restaurant style chilli paneer dry?
- Don't skimp on garlic and ginger (if adding) as this forms the base.
- Add spice to the recipe - Green chilli, black pepper and kashmiri chilli powder if you want color as well. If you want more heat, instead of slit chilli, you can add finely chopped ones.
- Balance the spice with vinegar or lemon juice and the sauces.
- A sweet sauce or adding sugar will make it taste perfectly balanced.
For batter frying paneer
- Though I have not done it, you can also add a little bit of spice like pepper powder or chilli powder to the batter.
- If your batter is too thick, while tossing, it might come off from the paneer. So make sure to prepare batter just to coat the paneer.
- Another tip for the outer layer to stay intact with the paneer - after soaking, you can coat the paneer cubes with a tablespoon of all purpose flour or corn flour. Then dip it in the batter.
- Using cold water will give crispier result. Also you can use chilled plain soda in place of water. This gives airy lighter results.
In street food, they even double fry the paneer cubes for super crisp results in chilli paneer dry.
Recipe card
Chilli paneer dry recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Paneer cubed - 200 gm
- 1 Capsicum
- 1 Onion
- 4 Green chilli
- 1 teaspoon Soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chilli tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoon Lemon juice or 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Pepper powder black
- 5 Garlic cloves
- 4 tablespoon Coriander chopped
- 2 tablespoon Spring onion I skipped
- Salt
Batter
- Oil - As needed for deep frying
- 1.5 tablespoon Maida/ all purpose flour
- 1.5 tablespoon Corn flour Corn starch
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper powder I did not add, but recommend
- 1 Pinch Cooking soda
- Salt
Instructions
- Keep paneer immersed in hot water firstly until use. This ensures soft results.
- Make a batter out of all purpose flour, cooking soda, corn flour and salt. The batter consistency should not too thick, just it has to coat the paneer.
- Deep fry the paneer cubes by dipping them in this batter, drain in paper towel.
- Cube the onion, capsicum, slit the green chillies and crush the garlic flakes roughly. You can very finely chop the garlic too and use.
- Heat a wide pan with 2 teaspoon oil and add garlic, green chillies, give a fry. Add the onion and fry till transparent.
- And then add the capsicum. Give a stir in high flame.
- Reduce flame and add the sauces, pepper salt and mix well.
- Add the deep fried paneer cubes and mix in the lemon juice.
- Toss well until everything blends evenly.
- Lastly add the coriander leaves and transfer to the serving dish. (You can add spring onions too)
Video
Notes
- My cubed capsicum in cup measurement - ¾ cup to 1 cup.
- You can add finely chopped ginger along with garlic.
- Using ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder gives attractive color.
- Goes well with fried rice or can have as starter.
- Eat hot!
- If you want to avoid deep frying, just use the paneer cubes as such and proceed with the recipe.
Chilli paneer dry step by step
Deep frying for chilli paneer dry:
- Keep paneer immersed in hot water until use to soften it firstly.
- After that, make a batter out of all purpose flour, corn flour, cooking soda pepper powder (if adding) and salt.
- The batter consistency should not be too thick, just it has to coat the paneer.
- Furthermore, deep fry the paneer cubes by dipping them in this batter. Drain in paper towel.
Make chilli paneer dry:
1. Cube the onion, capsicum, slit the green chillies and crush the garlic flakes roughly. You can very finely chop the garlic too and use.
2. Furthermore, heat a wide pan with a tablespoon of oil and add garlic, green chillies, give a fry. After that, add the cubed onion and fry till transparent.
3. Then add the cubed capsicum. Give a stir in high flame. Reduce flame and add the sauces, pepper, salt and mix well.
4. Finally, add the deep fried paneer cubes and mix in the lemon juice and toss well until everything blends evenly.
Lastly add the coriander leaves and transfer to the serving dish. (You can add spring onions too).
Serve chilli paneer dry hot for best taste. Goes well with fried rice as side dish or even as starter.
Priya
Yumm!! very tempting and delectable chilli paneer, irresistible starter..
Dr.Sameena Prathap
Hi Raji,
Beautiful and yummy dish with paneer...:)
Dr.Sameena@
http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com
Jay
Bookmarked...can t wait to giv a try..
Thanx dear for sharing...
Tasty Appetite
Prathibha
Chili paneer is my favorite...love anything of Indo chinese varieties....looks really yumm..
indianspicemagic
Paneer is my all time favourite. Love to have a soft bite of paneer and crunchy capsicum.
Akila
wow looks so wonderful dear... love it so much...
yuvana
hi raks,
i am ur daily visitor.i have tried so many of ur recipes.today i tried ur jam biscuits, my first baking experience. it was just a hit in my home. i really thank you for sharing ur recipes. it is really useful for beginners like me.
Gayu
Yummy Chilli Paneer..Feel like eating it right away..Lovely clicks..Great dish.
Gayu
http://ensamayalarangam.blogspot.com
Kanchan
wow .. its one of my favorite too .. i prepare this in quite a different manner.. loved your pics!
jayasree
Yummy...I shallow fry the paneer. Yours looks very delectable
jeyashrisuresh
thats looking very fantastic raji. Even i too saw this recipe in Vah chef's video.Must be a treat for ajay. Tried the mango sago dessert.Came out very nice.
Happy Cook
Looks delish, i am sure gonna try this next time when i have paneer athome.
RAKS KITCHEN
Yuvana
Thanks so much ! I am very happy that your first baking effort was a success! 🙂 Keep visiting and thanks for the lovely comments 🙂
Chitra
Lovely , bright pics.. will try for raksha:)
Sharmilee! :)
Aw super...luved the 2nd click very much. Looks very delicious and easy too...
Kurinji
super o Super!
Home Cooked Oriya Food
awesome paneer... Would love it with chinese fried rice!
Shanthi
I am not a big fan of chilli paneer. This looks awesome & tempting , feel like trying it now itself.
GEETHA ACHAL
Looks so tempting....Love it always...
Nithu Bala
very tempting..nice pictures Raks
Sailaja Damodaran
Yummy..
Suja Sugathan
Yummy chili paneer, looks so tempting..bookmarked, will surely try this.
Divya Kudua
I love Chilli Paneer but seldom do I make it.It is always PBM,not that I am complaining,but still! Love the pictures,very drool worthy!!
Pavithra
Mmmmmm my fav one and looks tempting . All the pictures are absolutely beautiful. Everything I do the same excep I add little bit of finely chopped ginger which gives wonderful flavor too.
Vidhya
wow.. looks super Yummy Raji..That picture itself is very inviting...
http://www.iyercooks.com
notyet100
looks yummy ,..together with rice nd dal,.perfect
Laavanya
I usually end up shallow frying the paneer - looks real tempting Raks.
Shanavi
Ahhaa.. This recipe is bookmarked and am gonna this to bookmarked event this time...Thanks Raks..
Loving it...
Smitha
chilli paneer looks soo yum!...very tempting...I am gonna try this soon...as soon as I get paneer from the store!:)yummy clicks
Vidhya
Chilli paneer...love it..tempting.
Swathi
Chili paneer sounds delicious Nice clicks Raji.
aipi
I looooooove indo chinese..this one tops the list!!
US Masala
DEESHA
this is lovely .. I too make 1 or 2 dishes with paneer thatz it .. I should try this one
Hamaree Rasoi
Thanks for sharing this wonderful starter with us..Looks yummy
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Pushpa
Looks delicious and mouthwatering.
Aparna
Looks really nice, have to try it
Mahi
chilli paneer is inviting! 😛 even though I am not a big fan of paneer, your clicks make me drooling!
Satrupa
Chili Paneer looks yummy. Droolz. I had prepared a Chili Paneer wrap last week.
Cheers,
Satrupa
http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com
Nags
u wont believe it!! i almost made it this weekend too but forgot to defrost the paner and then got lazy 😀
Sudha
hi raji,
chillie panner fry looks awesome n wil be dfntly superb coz u've given us.Can u give me few more south indian gravies to have with rice.I got married 6mths back n now in need of sme gravies with rice as my hubby likes new dishes.Also if possi can u give us sme receipes with Meal Maker which is rich of protiens.
RAKS KITCHEN
Hi Sudha, thanks for the lovely comments 🙂
For gravies, please refer the 'Easy select' gadget in the right side bar,you will find a drop down menu for south Indian gravies... If you want any other specific recipes,please leave a comment,I will try to post that. I wish I could help you posting meal maker recipes,still I myself have not cooked that one,but sure wanting to try,I will surely post in recent future,Thank you 🙂
Sandhya Hariharan
Absolutely drooworthy .. recipe.. I have been thinking of Paneer manchurian for a while.. and this comes right in time....
gr8 clicks dear:)
Sudha
Hi Raji,
Thanks for ur rply n expecting receipes in meal maker from u soon.Dfntly in tht receipe also u'll rock.I went thro d south indian gravies in tht i've almost tried all d receipes.I want still sme thing new.If possi wil u b able to give me still more.Hope im not disturbing you.
RAKS KITCHEN
Haha,I will surely try to post those Sudha ! Nothing thats disturbing!!
Gayathri's Cook Spot
Chilly Paneer looks awesome!
Rajani
You have a fantastic space here.Very inspiring recipes and presentation, chilli paneer is on my must do list now,will tell you how it came out.Thanks,Rajani
Sarah Naveen
i made this last week and love it..
this looks so delicious..yummy yumm
Gulmohar
I love this too :-)Love your clutterless pictorial, I know how hard it is to click while you cook. I never manage to get neat pictures of the process 🙁
Rachana
This chilli paneer would make such a delicious starter. Lovely Clicks!
Padma
Delicious combo. Just can't take my eyes off the picture... too tempting.
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal
Such elaborate and step by step recipe. Will surely give it a try.
sanjeeta kk
Lovely and a real quickie to make. I do the same way most of the time, only that I soak the fried paneer in warm water for a few minutes before adding them to the curry.
Lavi
This is my most favourite one!
The Paneer makes me drool..
I love these pictures, its different!
Mano Saminathan
A very nice recipe! As usual, the snap is striking!
Premalatha Aravindhan
My fav too,love ur version...Luks fab!!!
Anonymous
Hi Raji,
Killing me with this dish. Its been three years since I have been to India...i ahve started making indo chinese a lot at home..Ths one would be on my list for next week....I will prob just shallow fry the paneer after marinating it in spices....I also love to add a little kala namak for the tang!!!
Shobha
Cham
They are irresistible !
Vandana Rajesh
A nice starter...very tempting indeed!!
Suhaina
wonderful starter Raji..nice clicks too.
A
Dear Raji,
A long time reader of ur lovely blog. Have never commented before, but have tried a lot of recipies from here. My fav remains, ur very easy home made pizza recipie.
I have to share this incident with you: I wanted to make the puffs and went about searching for the puff pastry sheets, instead i picked up the ones that are used to make spring rolls and followed the puff making recipie - only change i made was i rolled the sheets in spring roll form.The result was surprisingly good, considering i had altered such a major element of the recipie and just when I was about to leave u a comment, I see you posted a spring roll recipie urself! With the remaing sheets, I made the spring rolls (this time the proper way) and they came out well. Thanks so much. Also you have an awesome blog and keep the good work up.
AS
(a teevra rasigai of ur cooking blog from Singapore)
Mangala Bhat
wow! Yummy! Mouth watering!
RAKS KITCHEN
OMG,AS - thanks for writing here and sharing your experience !!! 🙂 One of my friend too misunderstood the puff pastry sheets with spring roll sheets,thank god that too turned out to be good 🙂
And thanks for the wonderful words,this is one of the touching comments I have received so far! Happy happy 🙂 🙂 Very encouraging!
Theevira rasigainellam podreenga!! Keep visiting and keep in touch!!
Nithya
Extremely yummy recipe 🙂 I am getting so tempted now 🙂 you rock lady 🙂
Sushma Mallya
Looks so nice Raks ...Ur photos always make me drool and and I am sure Ur kid would have loved it too:)
kothiyavunu.com
wow!! mouth watering chilli panner...im just drooling here.
sangeeta
Great looking chilly paneer . This is a favorite at our place but with a major change . My husband is allergic to capsicum so i use other peppers like habanero for this.
♥LOVE2COOK♥
Hi Raks, thanks for dropping by and leaving ur comments at love2cook ya. 😉
I'm drooling over ur chilli paneer! Superb click, loved it! 😀
vanishri bhat
Hi Rajeswari, Lovely chilli paneer. Looks super delicious. I will try it out.
You have a very lovely blog here. Very nice photos too. Keep up the good work.
Krishnaveni
tempting recipe, looks yumm, beautiful picture, lovely
Sowmya
Excellent recipe when one feels like having something kaara saarama 🙂
Sayantani
lovely chilli paneer...perfect to snack on.
Kurinji
U have a sweet surprise in my blog!!
http://kurinjikathambam.blogspot.com/2010/12/award-time.html
M D
Love this as a starter. Looks very yummy!
Reena
Hi Rak
I tried this yesterday. It was yummy. Really love ure blog with its step wise pics. Good work. and good photos too..
Reena
Kuwait
RAKS KITCHEN
Reena,Thanks so much for trying out and the prompt feedback! Happy that you liked it and thanks for the nice words too!
Divya.M
this is mouth watering......Wil try soon
Megha
First of all,
I am visiting your blog as a random selection, and I saw the Paneer Tikka recipe, since I have already tried them, I saw "YOU MAY ALSO LIKE".. and Now I can't resist myself from posting this comment. This recipe is amazing, I want to try it right now!!! 😛
lol... he hee.. but m sure it will be done, and let me promise, you will know how was it.. :D..
Regards,
Megha..
P.S. you have got a follower 🙂 I love your space!.. can't wait to check out other recipes ..!!
Bobby
I so love all the dishes that u have posted... I should be sleeping now as it is quite late for me... But, I simply couldn't! May I know where u buy all the plates and bowls from? Those plates and bowls look way too tempting than the dish itself! I love the presentation! (my hubby likes me cooking but, he hates me spending on buying different plates and stuff... hehe I hope he doesn't see this) Congrats and all the very best to u! 🙂 ~ Babitha
Ramya
visiting for the first time, very nice blog and awesome presentation
Jessica
Pics are tempting!!
Mukta Sharma
Hi Raks Mam! i got married 2 months back! Ilove cooking new dishes at home for my husband. As I am an IT professional I get very less time for trying new dishes but somehow i manage. I tried this dish at home for the very first time!my Paneer cubes got very hard after frying. Cud you please guide me on how to make paneer cubes soft.i tried paneer pasanda also!
RAKS KITCHEN
deep fry in hot oil for short time, if u fry in low heat for long time, then this happens.. Do try and let me know...
Taj
hai raks.. your dishes are really amazing.. i tried many of them.. chilli paneer z wonderfull as a starter. will u plz post some non-veg dishes. i will be happy if u let me know how to make a delicious haleem(matten). will u ?
Ramya's World
wow..im gonna try this
Corporate to Kitchen
yummy.... feel like eating it right away. U have a great collection of recipes & I am so glad to follow u.
Kavitha
Hi raks,
jI tried this today.. came out well... Just wanted to ask a ques abt the storage... How do u store garam masala,coriander powder and all such items.. in refrigerator? I 'll store in a box.. I've seen my friends storing in refri.. So just want to ask u where do u store.. And also can gram flour,rice flour can also be stored in ref? Can u guide me which should and shouldn't be stored?
RAKS KITCHEN
Yes Kavitha, I store all these powders in my fridge. I arrange everything in the doors in small bottles.
Also store the flours, that I use rarely and gets spoiled easily. I store them in zip locks and place them in either the racks or in the freezer, where ever I have place.
renu
looks delicious!! just looking at the snaps makes my mouth water and encouraging me to cook 🙂 thanks raji..
Geetha Venkitachalam
hi raks
i tried ur chilli paneer recipe yesterday.i am palnning to make this for a party.my problem was paneer is not getting coated with sauces and onina capsicum mix left a sseparate .what should i do to get it coated with paneer.can i pour more sauces or corn flour paste while making the base.pls guide me fast this is for new year.thanks
RAKS KITCHEN
Hi Geetha, Yes you can dissolve a tsp of corn flour in a tblsp of water and sprinkle it while tossing to get a coat. Since the paneer is oily, it should get coated well, but still you can try this.
butterflyfanatic
Hi Raji, I looked at this recipe of yours today and gave it a shot. It came out really well and we enjoyed it. A simple yet great tasting and an esay-to-prepare recipe. Thank you!
butterflyfanatic
I tried this earlier tonight and we enjoyed it 🙂 A simple yet great recipe. Thank you, Raks!
vikramadevi
i tired it last week, it came out really nice. thanks.
vikramadevi
i tried this, it came out really good. thanks.
vrushti
is it possible to roast the paneer than fry it...as we have health issues and are not allowed to eat fried things...how can i roast the paneer using gas
RAKS KITCHEN
Yes you can do it in a tawa by turning occasionally to take care not to burn.
Srabanti Das
wow.I have done this.very testy
Srabanti Das
thanks for the recipe ...its really nice Raks...
Vruti Shah
The second picture tempts me to have the paneer chilli right away... 🙂
Just saw your other paneer recipe... I recently made Idlli-Chilli which was equally tasty...
themustardseed
This looks so good! The pictures have make me hungry!
Poonam Chopra
ow.I have done this yesterday it was very testy and spicy.
MayurD
This was really gr8 experiecnce of cooking and taste.
I wish if you could also avail us recipe for paneer 65, its a really nice dish and a bit tangy.All combination of spices are superb.
I request you to send recipe for it.
santhu
Awesome Raks. I love your website and recipes. It is surely inspiring me to get back to cooking 🙂
sanjan
I tried this recipe today and came out well. I did one change of adding corn flour in water at the end for the sauce to bind with the paneer. Thanks a lot raks
kavanjit.s
hi. Your blog is extremely interesting. Will surely give u a feedback once I have tried this recipe 🙂
Shankar
where to use the cooking soda????
Raks anand
While making batter. Forgot to mention
Rammy
Tried this one and it came out really well! Thanks a ton.. U do a great job 🙂
Meera Chandrasekaran
Hi Raji, I tried this dish as well..not sure what mistake i did , the paneer had more of flour coating than expected... otherwise the dish came out very well...
Vidhya
I have tried most of ur dishes and i has really come out well. ur step by step explanation is really awesome and makes like pretty easy. thanks a ton for doing it this way.. continue the great work and thank u soo much for doing it 🙂
Arpita Patel
too good 🙂
Ruhi Saxena
Hiii Raji 🙂
I tried this recipe & it turned out yummy......but the only problem was with my hubby..he asked me to add gravy to it & i answered...raji didnt tried it...so how could i!!! hahahha see i made fool of myself!! please try chilly paneer with gravy if possible...looking forward to surprise my love with your efforts 🙂
Raks anand
I do have chilli paneer gravy. heres the link : http://www.rakskitchen.net/2013/08/chilli-paneer-gravy-recipe-indo-chinese.html
Anonymous
Chilli paneer looks awesome Raks. Specially love the way you have garnished it! that itself should give it a lot of flavour! Are you going to India this summer??
Shobha
Malathy M
I tried this recipe it came out very well and whole family enjoyed nicely...very tasty appetiser do try this friends
Thank you raks