Chilli Paneer (Paneer or Cottage Cheese in a hot spicy Chinese gravy)

Chilli Chicken  is a very popular item in any Chinese restaurant  in India.Chilli Paneer  is a modified  vegetarian  version of chilli chicken. Here,paneer  or  Indian cottage  cheese are cooked in flavourful  Chinese spiced gravy.I often make this dish at home.It is very easy to make if you have all the ingredients  at home. Do you believe  I made this chilli paneer  along with veg fried rice at 6'O clock in the morning for my daughter  lunch box?

-----------------------------------------------------------
Author - Moumita 
Preparation Time - 10 
Cooking Time - 15 Minutes 
Servings - 2 
-----------------------------------------------------------


Ingredients 
For Frying Paneer 

Paneer (cottage cheese)-100 grams , cut into 2 inch cubes
Oil-1 cup (  for deep-frying)
Cornflour-1/4 cup
Plain flour (maida) -4 tablespoons
Soy sauce-2 teaspoons 
Black pepper powder - 1 teaspoon 
Salt to taste
Water as needed. .approx 4 tablespoons for the above mentioned  measurements (adjust the water  level,the batter should not be very thin or thick )

For Making Gravy
Grated ginger-1 teaspoon 
Garlic cloves - 8  finely chopped
Onion -2 big ( cut into 1 inch  cubed)
Green  Capsicum or bell paper -1 ( cut into 1 inch cubed) 
Spring onions  (white parts)-1/4 cup ( chopped )
Green chillies -6 (cut into thin sliced ) 
Soy sauce-1 tablespoon 
Green chilli  sauce-1/2 teaspoon 
Red chilli  sauce -1 teaspoon
Tomato sauce -1 teaspoon
Vinegar -1/2 teaspoon
Ajinamoto (msg ) mono sodium gluatamate or chinese salt-1 pinch (optional )
Black pepper powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Oil-4 tablespoons
Sugar- 1 teaspoon 
Cornflour-2 teaspoons  mixed with 3 tablespoons water
Salt to taste 
Spring  onions(green  part) -1/4 cup ( chopped )

Method Of Frying  Paneer 
Combine all the ingredients for the frying paneer in a bowl.Make a smooth batter.Coat the paneer pieces with the batter.

Heat oil in a pan,and deep fry the paneer pieces  in hot oil over a high flame till the paneer is light brown(do not overcook the paneer, otherwise it will get hard).

Drain on absorbent paper and keep aside.


Method  Of Making  Gravy

Heat 4 tablespoons  oil in a another pan.

Add chopped garlic. ..fry until garlic turn into light brown colour.Add cubed onions , cubed capsicum,spring onion whites and green chillies and sauté over a high flame for 1 to  2 minutes.

Add the soya sauce,red chilli  sauce and green chilli sauce ,salt and sugar, mix and stir on high flame for 3-4 minutes.Keep stirring  continuously.

Add cornflour water mixture. stir well  and allow it to come to a boil.Let the sauce thicken.Add the fried paneer cubes and simmer them in the sauce for 1-2 minutes.

Add tomato sauce, 1/4 cup chopped spring onions. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper,ajinamoto ,mix well and toss   for 1 minutes on high flame (  just tap the pan) stirring continuously.

Turn off the gas . Garnish  with remaining  chopped  spring onions  (green part ) on top.

Serve this Chilli Chicken with any Chinese Rice like egg fried rice,chicken fried rice, veg fried rice  and many more.

Check out more Indo Chinese  Recipes

Veg Fried Rice

Veg Manchurian

Chilli Chicken

Saucy Prawns

Orange Chicken