Roasted Paneer (Oven or Air Fryer)

Name: Roasted Paneer (Oven or Air Fryer)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 175 g paneer; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/4 tsp chili powder; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 1/4 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp cumin; 1/8 tsp salt; 1/8 tsp black pepper

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.

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Appetizer and snack recipes you might enjoy
Why you'll love roasted paneer or air fryer paneer?
Ingredients Used
Steps by step instructions
Air Fryer Paneer Cooking Method
Recipe tips
Recipe variations
Frequently asked questions
Recipe Card

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.

Appetizer and snack recipes you might enjoy

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.

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.

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.

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

Air Fryer Paneer Cooking Method

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.

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

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.

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!

Recipe Card

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 33 votes

Print Pin This Recipe

Prep Time : 5

Cook Time : 10

Marinade : 1

Total Time : 15

Course : Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine : Indian

Diet : Diabetic, Gluten Free

Servings : people

RECIPE VIDEO

Equipment

Baking Sheet

Parchment Paper

Air Fryer if making in the air fryer

Medium Bowl

Ingredients

Meal Plans, Ad Free Browsing and Exclusive RecipesSimple, diabetes-friendly meals for steady blood sugar.

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. (see video)

Notes

This recipe is subtly seasoned to cater to a wide range of readers. Feel free to enhance the flavors with additional spices according to your preferences.

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

Important Information

For more information, tips and variations please review the recipe video and content above and below the recipe card.

Updates and Revisions

If the video and recipe card differ, follow the recipe card for the latest ingredients and instructions.

Nutritional Information

Nutrition info is estimated and varies by ingredients, measurements, and portions.

Nutrition

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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

Comments

4.94 from 33 votes (31 ratings without comment)

Roasted Paneer (Oven or Air Fryer)

Appetizer and snack recipes you might enjoy

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

Ingredients Used

Steps by step instructions

How to make the oven roasted paneer recipe?

Air Fryer Paneer Cooking Method

Recipe tips

Recipe variations

Frequently asked questions

Recipe Card

Roasted Paneer (Oven or Air Fryer)

RECIPE VIDEO

Equipment

Ingredients 1x1.5x2x3x

Instructions

Notes

Important Information

Updates and Revisions

Nutritional Information

Nutrition

Food safety

Comments

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Ingredients