5 Breakfast Dishes To Make Using Indian Cottage Cheese

Paneer, or Indian cottage cheese, is a fresh cheese commonly used in Indian cuisine to prepare sabjis and gravies or added to other ingredients to prepare bhurjis, parathas, or cheelas. This non-melting cheese is made from buffalo or cow milk and goes through curdling, i.e. aiming to break its components by introducing a souring agent, such as lemon juice or yoghurt. Doing so adds acid to the milk, which breaks down the milk to form chunks of paneer. A highly versatile ingredient with multiple uses, paneer has a spongy texture with a creamy, savoury taste, which can be crushed or diced to make various breakfast, lunch or dinner meals.

Here are five breakfast recipes that can be prepared using paneer or Indian cottage cheese.

A highly nutritious, protein-rich breakfast made using paneer, sooji and veggies, the ingredients are mixed to form a batter, which is then given a pancake-like shape and savoured with ketchup or chutney.

Method

● Prepare the batter by combining semolina, water, and curd in a bowl. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, then set the bowl aside.

● Add some oil to a pan and add garlic, ginger, green chillies and onions. Saute the ingredients for a minute. Add the chopped carrots, capsicum and peas and cook for some time.

● Add coriander powder, black pepper powder, salt, and chilli flakes to the mixture and let it fry for a few seconds. Add the grated paneer and turn off the heat once it cooks. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down.

● Add some water to the semolina-curd batter and add the paneer mixture to it.

● Add oil to the pan, pour the batter, and spread it evenly to form a pancake. Close the pan with a lid to let the bottom half roast. Once done, flip to roast the other half.

● Remove the paneer roasties from the pan once both sides have evenly roasted. Stack them on a plate and serve with mint, tamarind chutney, or ketchup.

Prep time: 10 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins

A delightful breakfast combination made using paneer cubes and poha and mixed with onions, tomatoes, spices and roasted peanuts.

● Wash and soak the poha in water and set it aside after draining. Add oil to a pan and add urad dal, chana dal and peanuts. Roast the ingredients till the dal turns golden brown.

● Add green chillies, onions and curry leaves and saute till the onions appear translucent. Add chopped tomatoes and cook till soft.

● Add salt, chilli flakes and turmeric powder and mix the ingredients. Add the drained poha and mix well. Add the grated coconut and paneer cubes and cook with a closed lid. Stir once again and turn off the heat. Serve poha with bhujia sev, chutney or pickle.

A healthy North Indian dish stuffed with crumbled paneer and spices, this breakfast is not only delicious but also fulfilling, keeping your stomach full and body energised for the day.

● Prepare the dough by mixing whole wheat flour with water and salt. Knead the mixture and keep it aside for some time.

● Grate the paneer in a bowl and mix it with the spices and coriander leaves. Divide the dough into chunks and roll to shape them into small circles.

● Add the stuffing to the circle, seal the dough, roll it, and shape it into rotis. Pour some oil into a pan, place the parathas, and cook both sides evenly until golden and crisp. Serve delicious paneer parathas with curd, raita, or pickle.

Prep time: 15 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins

A delicious and fluffy omelette made using grated paneer, onion and other herbs, this Indo-Western fusion breakfast is the perfect way to start your day.

Method

● Crack the eggs and add all the ingredients in a bowl. Whisk till it forms an even texture.

● Heat the pan and add some oil. Pour the mixture into the pan and spread evenly. Flip once the bottom half has been cooked.

● Once both sides have been cooked, serve on a plate and eat as it is or with a slice of bread.

Prep time: 15 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins

This is an Indian-style wrap made using paneer cubes, veggies, and spices rolled in a wheat paratha. Enjoy the goodness of pan-fried paneer with nutritious veggies for a hearty and fulfilling breakfast.

● Add some yoghurt and spices, salt, ajwain, and ginger-garlic paste in a bowl. Squeeze or pour the lemon juice, mix the ingredients and add the paneer cubes.

● Mix the paneer cubes evenly with the marinade and refrigerate for an hour or two.

● Prepare the rotis by mixing whole wheat flour with water and salt. Knead to form the dough, divide them into sections and roll them to shape them into rotis.

● Flip to cook both sides and apply mint chutney on one side of the roti. Add the paneer stuffing on one side, sprinkle chaat masala, and roll it tightly. Serve paneer kathi rolls immediately and enjoy.