Easy Air Fryer Paneer Recipe

Name: Easy Air Fryer Paneer
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 12 min
Ingredients: 100 gm Paneer (1/2 cup paneer or 12 cubes of paneer); 1 tsp Garlic Butter; 1 tsp Red Chilly powder; 1 tsp Black pepper; 1 tsp Black Salt; 1-2 tsp lemon juice

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Perfectly roasted, this Air Fryer Paneer is a perfect snack or an appetizer. With just a few ingredients, you can enjoy this flavorful air-fried Indian cottage cheese. Dunk it into a gravy for making a hearty vegetarian meal or have it as is for a quick snack!

Smothered with warm spices and topped with lemon juice, this spicy Air fryer Paneer is surprisingly made with just a spoon of garlic butter. The best thing about Paneer is that it won't melt when heated or fried. Coating it with garlic butter and air frying adds a perfect smoky flavor to it.

If you are looking for a quick appetizer, this air fried paneer is a perfect treat! Crispy and browned from out and tender within, each bite of this paneer chunk is incredibly indulgent!

Team it with green chutney or homemade tomato ketchup for a delicious starter!

Paneer has always been my favorite ever since I was a kid. Are you not a fan of store-bought Paneer? Try my perfect recipe for homemade paneer!

Making and serving paneer dishes is a delicacy and mom used to fry paneer to add it to gravy dishes like Palak Paneer and Paneer Tikka masala.

Find my favorites Air Fryer Paneer Tikka, Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower, and Paneer Tikka.

Jump to:

Ingredients
What Is Paneer?
How To Air Fry Paneer
Expert Tips
Storage Suggestions
What To Team With This Air Fryer Paneer?
Recipe FAQs
Easy Air Fryer Paneer

Ingredients

Paneer- Paneer or Indian Cottage Cheese. Any good quality brand would work. If you wish to make this recipe vegan, you may swap it with Tofu.
Garlic Butter- You may use olive oil or plain butter as well.
Red Chili powder, Black pepper
Lemon Juice
Cilantro- (optional)
Black Salt

What Is Paneer?

Paneer is a fresh cheese commonly used in Indian cuisine. It's made by curdling milk with an acidic agent like lemon juice or vinegar, which causes the milk solids to separate from the whey. The resulting curd is then pressed to remove excess moisture, creating a firm yet crumbly texture- find my homemade paneer recipe for detailed steps.

Due to its firmness, paneer holds its shape well during cooking and doesn't melt like some other cheeses. It's a versatile ingredient often used in dishes like curries, tikka masala, and snacks due to its ability to absorb flavors and complement spices.[1]

How To Air Fry Paneer

Step 1 Wash, Chop and Coat

In a large bowl, add spices, salt and oil. Mix well. Coat Paneer cubes with the spices.

While you preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5-8 min, you may wash paneer and remove excess water. Chop it into equal sized cubes. Not very thick not very thin.

add spices, butter, salt and paneer cubes in a bowl

Step 2 Air Fry

The paneer should turn golden brown and crispy on the outside. The exact cooking time might vary depending on your air fryer model and paneer size.

Place the coated and seasoned paneer pieces in the air fryer basket. Make sure to arrange them in a single layer without overcrowding for even cooking. Let the paneer air fry for about 8-10 min while shaking the basket or flipping the paneer halfway through the cooking time.

Step 3 Serve It

The crispy golden Air Fryer Fried Paneer is ready. Top it with chopped cilantro, and lemon juice for extra flavor boost.

Expert Tips

Cut the paneer into uniform pieces of medium thickness. This ensures even cooking and a balance of texture.
Preheat the air fryer for a few minutes before placing the paneer inside. This helps make crispy paneer cubes.
You may grease the air fryer basket with little oil so that paneer cubes don't stick to it.
Avoid overcrowding to allow proper air circulation, resulting in even cooking.
Don't marinade for very long as paneer when coated with salt would leave water and excessive moisture won't make it crispy.
Follow the instructions for your model of Air Fryer.

Storage Suggestions

Allow the paneer to cool down to room temperature before storing. Place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 to 3 days for best flavor.

When reheating, use the air fryer on a lower setting to gently warm the paneer and restore its crispiness.

I don't recommend freezing air fried paneer as it will become dry and chewy when used post freezing.

What To Team With This Air Fryer Paneer?

Dips/ Chutneys-Enjoy this paneer popcorn with homemade green cilantro chutney or Hummus.
Top your salad with these crispy and crunchy paneer cubes for a light meal. Get our collection of Vegetarian and vegan Salads.
Serve with warm naan, roti, or pita bread to create a satisfying wrap or sandwich. Get Paneer Wrap recipe.
Have them with pulao rice for a complete meal.

Recipe FAQs

How to fry paneer without making it hard?

If you are deep frying paneer, make sure the oil is hot and fry on slow flame. Make sure to remove water and then fry.

Can we fry paneer directly?

Yes. In a large pan, add ghee or oil (2 tbsp). Let it be hot. Slow the flame and then place the paneer cubes with even spacing and flip them with knife to cook from the other side.

Do you fry paneer before cooking?

Not always. Frying paneer gives it crispy edges and makes it soft from within. It's a nice way of adding paneer to gravy dishes but you may always skip it.

More Easy Appetizers:

Don't forget to subscribe to my Weekly Newsletter for a free Recipe!

Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a comment below and let me know what sides you served it with! If you loved it, feel free to share this post with your friends who love simple Indian cooking.