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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Roasted Paneer (Oven or Air Fryer)

    by Oscar Chimenti, Last Modified: February 8, 2023 This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. See the Disclosure Policy linked in my footer.

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Roasted paneer on a baking sheet sprinkled with chopped cilantro.
    Paneer in an air fryer basket.

    Roasted Paneer is a soft cheese that doesn't melt when heated. We roast in the oven for a crispy outer texture and a gooey inside and season with just a few simple ingredients, made within 10 minutes.

    Make it in the oven or make Air Fryer Paneer, we show you both cooking methods down below.

    Roasted paneer on a baking sheet sprinkled with chopped cilantro. this recipe
    Jump To:
    • Why you'll love roasted paneer or air fryer paneer?
    • Ingredients Used
    • Steps by step instructions
    • Air Fryer Paneer Cooking Method
    • Appetizer and snack recipes you might enjoy
    • Recipe tips
    • Recipe variations
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Roasted Paneer (Oven or Air Fryer)

    Paneer is an Indian cheese (Indian cottage cheese) that is made with curdled milk and is similar to halloumi, the difference being that paneer is a high-acid cheese and halloumi has almost no acid. High acidity or low acidity is what keeps this cheese from melting.

    Why you'll love roasted paneer or air fryer paneer?

    • It's made with just a few ingredients and makes a great low carb appetizer or snack.
    • Bake in the oven within 10 minutes or make air fryer paneer in only 7 minutes.
    • It's rich in minerals like iron, calcium and magnesium.
    • Paneer has a mild milky flavor and accepts all the flavors you add to it. Mix with mild or strong flavors, you can add more or less according to your tastes.
    • You can also use it in curries, as skewers, wraps or in a tandoori paneer tikka recipe marinated with plain greek yogurt.
    • It's keto, low carb, gluten-free and diabetic friendly with less than 1g of carbs per ounce.
    Roasted paneer on a baking sheet sprinkled with chopped cilantro.

    Ingredients Used

    Simply made with olive oil and just a few spices. You can easily add more or fewer spices to this oven baked paneer recipe. I'll also show you some variations further down below.

    • Paneer: made from full-fat buffalo milk or cow's milk.
    • Olive Oil: used for the marinade to help the spices stick to the paneer and ads a little crispiness.
    • Cumin: earthy and warm with a slightly citrus flavor.
    • Red Chili Powder: with notes of cumin, garlic, oregano and cayenne pepper.
    • Garlic Powder: sweeter and much less aggressive than fresh garlic.
    • Onion Powder: adds a sweet savory flavor that you can't get from fresh onions.
    • Salt and Black Pepper

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Steps by step instructions

    How to make the oven roasted paneer recipe?

    STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F

    Place the block of paneer on a cutting board and cut it into 1-inch cubes.

    cutting paneer into cubes on a cutting board.

    STEP 2: Place the paneer cubes in a medium-sized bowl and add the olive oil, red chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper. Mix thoroughly so that each paneer cube is coated with olive oil and spices.

    Cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 1 hour.

    marinated paneer in a white bowl.

    STEP 3: After one hour, remove the marinated paneer cubes from the fridge and transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Move the paneer around so that it is in a single layer and has some space between each paneer cube.

    Marinated paneer spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    • STEP 4: Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes flipping halfway.
    Roasted paneer on a baking sheet sprinkled with chopped cilantro.

    STEP 5: Remove the roasted paneer from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro. Serve warm.

    Air Fryer Paneer Cooking Method

    Paneer in an air fryer basket.
    • Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil if needed.
    • Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
    • Follow steps 1 and 2 above.
    • Remove the marinated paneer cubes from the fridge and transfer a single layer into the air fryer basket.
    • Air fry for 4 minutes, then flip the paneer cubes and air fry for another 3 minutes all at 400°F.
    Paneer in an air fryer basket.

    Garnish the air fryer paneer with freshly chopped cilantro and serve warm.

    Paneer in an air fryer basket.

    Appetizer and snack recipes you might enjoy

    • Low Carb Pizza Bowls
    • Sweet and Salty Seed and Nut Mix
    • Jalapeno Low Carb Pin Wheels
    • Marinated Mozzarella Balls
    • Loaded Cauliflower Nachos

    Recipe tips

    Top Tip: paneer can easily dry out when cooked, especially in the air fryer. Careful not to overcook the paneer.

    Storage: Paneer is best served immediately after cooking but if you do have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, place them on a microwave-safe dish lined with a damp paper towel. Heat on high for 45 seconds.

    Serving: garnish the oven roasted paneer with freshly chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve with grilled vegetables, a salad, or with a fried egg. Dipping those paneer cubes in the yolk is delicious.

    Recipe variations

    The roasted paneer and air fryer paneer recipes provide the simplest of ingredients. Here are a few ideas to make them over the top delicious.

    • Spices - add more spice to the marinade like dried fenugreek leaves, a teaspoon garam masala, turmeric, cardamom or ginger.
    • Marinade - make paneer tikka masala and marinade with plain yogurt or greek yogurt

    See this spicy Thai Chicken Curry Pasta recipe.

    Roasted paneer on a baking sheet sprinkled with chopped cilantro.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I eat paneer raw?

    You can eat it raw and it would contain fewer calories and fat and would keep all of its nutrition.

    Is it ok for diabetics to eat cheese?

    It depends on who you ask but those who follow a low carb way of eating and do not fear fat will eat it without any concern. Some diabetics with heart or cholesterol issues that believe fat is evil may disagree. Don't blame fat for what the sugar did!

    Roasted paneer on a baking sheet sprinkled with chopped cilantro.

    Roasted Paneer (Oven or Air Fryer)

    Oscar
    Roasted paneer is a soft cheese that doesn't melt when heated. Roasted in the oven for a crispy outer texture and a gooey inside. Seasoned with chili powder and cumin.
    5 from 31 votes
    Print Pin This Recipe
    Prep Time : 5 mins
    Cook Time : 10 mins
    Marinade : 1 hr
    Total Time : 15 mins
    Course : Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine : Indian
    Diet : Diabetic, Gluten Free
    Servings : 6 people
    Calories : 126

    Equipment

    • Baking Sheet
    • Parchment Paper
    • Air Fryer if making in the air fryer
    • Medium Bowl

    Ingredients
      

    • 175 g paneer
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
    Get the New E-bookCheck out Low Carb Comfort Food!

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the paneer into one inch cubes then add them to a medium bowl with the remaining ingredients.
    • Mix thoroughly so that every cube is well coated with the olive oil and spices. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and palce in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
    • After 1 hour, preheat your oven to 425°F or air fryer to 400°F.
    • If oven roasting, transfer the paneer cubes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread out into a single layer and bake at 425°F for 10 minutes flipping halfway.
    • If air frying,, spread the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil and transfer the paneer cubes to the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 4 minutes, then flip and air fry for another 3 minutes.
    • Garnish the paneer cubes with freshly chopped cilantro, a squeeze of lemon juice and serve warm.

    Notes

    Top Tip: paneer can easily dry out when cooked, especially in the air fryer. Careful not to overcook the paneer.
    Storage: Paneer is best served immediately after cooking but if you do have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, place them on a microwave-safe dish lined with a damp paper towel. Heat on high for 45 seconds.

    This recipe card provides the basic details to make this recipe. For more information, questions or variations please review the content above the recipe card.

    Updates and Revisions

    If conflicting information between the video and recipe card, the recipe card will always have the most up to date information, ingredients and instructions.

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutritional Information

    All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Calories: 126kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g
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    Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooked food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more food guidelines

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