This Chili Paneer is spicy, sweet, sour, and without onion and garlic. It is an Indo-Chinese dish that is widely popular in India, and it is very delicious and easy to make.
Chili Paneer is perfect as a starter, appetizer, or side dish. This restaurant-style dish is very flavourful with crispy Paneer and crunchy bell peppers and requires only 30 minutes to be done!
About Chili Paneer
This chili paneer is dry, which means it does not have gravy. Instead, the sauce will be thick and enough to coat the paneer and bell pepper cubes.
Traditionally, the paneer is deep-fried in this recipe, but I like shallow-fry paneer cubes. Even with shallow frying, we get paneer perfectly crispy on the outside and tender form inside! However, if you want, you can still deep-fry the paneer cubes.
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Chili Paneer (No Onion No Garlic)
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Ingredients
For Paneer:
- 400 gms Paneer Cubes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoon corn starch
- 3 tablespoon oil
For Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon ginger finely chopped
- 2 Cups bell pepper diced (mix of green and other colors)
- 1 tablespoon red chili sauce or as needed
- 2 tablespoon soya sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
- 1 teaspoon sugar
For Chilli Paneer:
- ¼ Cup water + 1 teaspoon corn starch
- ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- 2 tablespoon coriander finely chopped
Instructions
For Paneer:
- In a medium mixing bowl, toss together paneer cubes, salt, red chili powder, freshly ground black pepper, and corn starch. If it is too dry, sprinkle some water so cornstarch coats evenly on each paneer cube. Set aside.
- Mix ¼ cup water with 1 teaspoon corn starch, set aside.
- Heat 3 tablespoon oil into a large frying pan; add prepared paneer cubes and shallow fry until golden brown on each side. Take it on the plate covered with a paper towel and set aside.
For Sauce:
- Heat the same frying pan; you will still have some oil left in this pan after shallow frying paneer. Add chopped ginger and sauté for few seconds. Add diced bell pepper and continue to sauté on high flame for 2 minutes.
- Add red chili sauce, soya sauce, tomato ketchup, and sugar. Mix it well and turn the flame on low to medium.
Chilli Paneer:
- Add shallow fried paneer cubes to this sauce and mix well. Add a mixture of corn starch and water, mix well. The sauce will become thick, and that is perfect for dry chili paneer. But if you want with some gravy, add some more water.
- Add ½ teaspoon white vinegar and mix, taste and add salt as needed. Turn off the heat. Take chili paneer in the serving bowl and garnish with chopped coriander. Serve immediately.
Jolie says
I just made this today and we loved it!!
Jigna says
Thanks Jolie, I am glad you like it.
Anonymous says
This reciepe is very delicious -and easy reciepe to follow. Thank you for posting.
Jigna says
Thank you so much!?
Anonymous says
it was really good.
Jigna says
Thank you so much!
Rohith Suresh says
Tomato ketchup contains spices and condiments which implies finely chopped onion and garlic..!!
Jigna says
Hi Rohith, I understand your concern! But we are using the particular brand which clearly mentions on the bottle in bold writing ” tomato sauce no onion no garlic”. I don’t know where you are living, but I am getting this ketchup in Canada in Indian grocery stores.
The same goes with red chili sauce, I am using the one which has only three ingredients, chili peppers, vinegar, and salt.
Also in India, I had always access to tomato ketchup without onion and garlic (Jain tomato ketchup).
So I hope you will find one, and if you don’t you can simply skip the ingredient.
I would also like to mention that the recipes on this website are 100% onion and garlic free, and we don’t compromise on it.
Rashmi says
Pls suggest red chilly sauce without onion n garlic
Jigna says
Hi Rashmi, the sauce is without onion and garlic. And I mostly use Maggie red chili sauce which comes without onion and garlic.
Mahika says
IT WAS AMAZING. thank you so much! it’s my fav. dish!
Jigna says
Hi Mahika, thank you so much for your feedback. I am delighted that you like it.😊