Indulge in the ever so versatile, humble, and an all-time favorite ingredient we all grew up with - paneer. Paneer is a type of fresh cheese common in South Asian cuisine. It's a special favorite with North Indians, and in eastern parts of the Indian Subcontinent where it is generally referred to as chhena. Paneer is a type of fresh cheese that can be easily made at home. Since it is made with milk, it is naturally loaded with calcium. All you need are three ingredients - milk, lemon juice or vinegar, and a pinch of salt. When you mix the milk and lemon juice, the acidity in the lime causes the milk to separate into curds and whey. Strain the curds and you will get fresh, homemade paneer. Paneer or cottage cheese can be used to make a number of dishes.
With its delicate milky flavor, paneer can be used in curries or served grilled as a side like the famous Paneer Tikkas from Punjab. In Bengal fresh paneer or chhena is used to make some of the much-loved desserts like rasgulla, rasmalai, chenna murki, and many more. If you're buying paneer from the market, remember that you will find two varieties - hard and soft. Though the soft one is preferred by many, one must remember soft cottage cheese stays fresh for a lesser duration as compared to the hard one. Soft cottage cheese is great for salads while the hard one can be used to make snacks or in curries.