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Healthy Paneer Popcorn{Baked+Oil-free}


  • Author: Siri of Fat Rainbow
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Diet: Low Calorie

Description

A delicious low-fat crunchy healthy paneer popcorn recipe that can be served as an appetizer, snack. High in protein and calcium too ideal for weight loss and calorie counting diets.


Ingredients

Scale
  1. 100g paneer (Indian cottage cheese)
  2. 1.5 Weetabix biscuit crumbled
  3. 1 egg
  4. 1/2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  5. 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder or paprika
  6. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  7. 1.5 teaspoon mixed herbs like oregano, thyme etc
  8. 1 tablespoon bread crumbs

Instructions

  1.  Soak the paneer cubes in warm water for at least 10 minutes. Drain the water and pat dry them using a kitchen tissue. Make sure there is absolutely no excess water.
  2.  Beat an egg into a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Keep it aside. If not using egg, take roughly 2 tablespoons each of white flour and cornflower, add little water and make it into thin batter consistency.
  3.  Add in ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder/paprika, salt, ground black pepper, mixed herbs, coat the paneer pieces well.
  4. Quickly dip each paneer cube in beaten egg and roll on breadcrumbs. Repeat the process once more which will ensure a dense coating yielding in crispy paneer nuggets.
  5. Optionally refrigerate them for at least 10-15 minutes while the oven is getting pre-heated.
  6. Bake them for 15-18  minutes until golden brown by checking in between once. Once done allow them to cool for 10 minutes.
  7. Serve with light ketchup and plenty of salad if you wish to make it as a light lunch.

Notes

Soaking the store-bought paneer in warm water makes it softer.

You can skip the breadcrumbs totally and use Weetabix biscuits or blitzed oats or plain corn flakes.

If you don’t prefer egg, use a mixture of corn and white flours or besan flour for the coating.

Refrigerating is an option before baking the paneer popcorn as it helps to bind the coating well.

Baking time may change with the type of oven and preheating conditions etc. but it should not take more than 20 minutes in general. Over baking will make the panner harder so keep checking in between.

You can replace paneer with tofu or cheddar cheese. I assume cheddar cheese needs much lower baking times. 

You can use the same recipe for making tofu and paneer nuggets too.

 

  • Category: Snacks,Appetizers
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: Indian

Keywords: paneer, popcorn, snacks