I’m a frequenter of Indian buffets, it’s true. At one point, when I worked in midtown in Memphis, I hit the local favorite two to three times a week. I even ran into my [at the time] future father-in-law hamming it up with a few of his fellow doctors there, shortly after we’d first met. I was wearing yoga pants.
Grey yoga pants.
Like, light grey yoga pants that I would otherwise not wear “out”–but to a two-person office and the otherwise anonymous Indian buffet, sure. Just a wee bit embarrassing, but he didn’t dramatically stop the wedding when our judge asked if anyone could think of any reasons why we should not be wed. So I guess he got over it.
Slash.. never noticed. Men.. am I right?! I mean, am I right?!
The point is.. I’m a frequenter of Indian buffets, and I am a hoarder of paneer. Let’s be real, at buffets, they totally skimp the saag paneer on the paneer, leaving it more of a “palak.”, no other ingredients deserving title status. So I dive like a kid fishing for rubber duckies at a carnival, sifting through the creamy greens, pinching out the creamy cubes and placing them daintily on my plate. The whole process might be a little stealthier than it sounds, but the point is.. I am about as about the paneer as Ms. Megan Trainor is about that bass.
I figured homemade would be even better and, considering that I couldn’t find any even at our Whole Foods, I gave it a whirl. Best. decision. of. my. life.
OK, that, too, might just be hyperbole, but the homemade paneer blew the “other” paneer totally out of the water! It’s painfully creamy and rich, dense and indulgent, flavorful yet simple. There’s only about four steps to the whole process and one of those steps is “stir lemon juice into milk”. Pretty complicated stuff, people! If you ever make vegetarian Indian dishes at home, you simply owe it to yourself to try this recipe. So worth it.
I might actually even be less of a paneer-hoarder at the buffets now, knowing what awaits me at home. Indian buffets, you’ve officially become my side piece.
Homemade Paneer
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon whole milk , not UHT pasteurized (organic is usually UHT so go for all-natural)
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice or vinegar
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
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In a large saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat. Bring the milk just barely to a simmer--about 200ºF, right under the boil. Use a kitchen thermometer with a probe and alarm to make this super easy. Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom to make sure it doesn't scald. The milk will look steamy and foamy when ready.
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Remove the milk fro mthe heat and stir in the lemon juice. The mixture will likely curdle immediately but if it doesn't, that's OK. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the mixture should be separated into curds and whey--the whey is the yellowy watery liquid. If the mixture has not yet separated, add another tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.
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Set a colander lined with cheesecloth over a mixing bowl or use a nut bag. Scoop the curds into the colander or nut bags and let the whey drain into the bowl underneath. Keep the whey for any of its awesome uses, including lactofermentation!
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Once most of the whey has drained, squeeze the curds in the cheesecloth or nut bag to help remove any excess whey. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, stir gently, and add another 1/4 teaspoon is desired.
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Place the curds--still in the cheesecloth or nut bag--on a large dinner plate and shape them into a rough square. Fold the cheesecloth around the curds to make a little rectangular package, then set a second place on top of the curds and weigh down with a weight, such as a large can of tomatoes or the bottom of a Vitamix (OK, so I don't actually recommend using the bottom of your Vitamix, but you get the idea.. use what you've got.. I just happen to usually have the bottom of a Vitamix). Let curds press for 15 minutes to an hour. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to two days.
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So with you. I could eat Indian buffet food every dang day and it’s the paneer I always go for. Making homemade cheese like this sounds like a fabulous idea!! I just love this recipe and can’t wait to slather it with various kinds of curry. Mmm.
Oh man, if you love it at the buffet, you will LOVE the homemade variety. It’s so much creamier and richer, I really can’t get over it! I actually even used it in a poutine I made at home.. ha!
Wow, it’s that easy!?! I had no idea!! I loooove saag paneer but have never even thought about making it myself cause I always thought the cheese making would be too complicated. Will give this a try next week, many thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Right?! It’s mostly just patience involved.. you should definitely try it! Let me know if you do 🙂
Uh, yes please!! I’m a huge fan of vegetarian indian meals and I’ve been eyeing your vegetarian meals girl!! Pinning this beauty. You and O need to take a wee trip here and you know…do some of this lovely cooking (I mean, bonding).
Oh, don’t even! Literally nothing would please me more. Nothing!!
I have never made paneer! You continue to inspire me Cheryl, each time I come to your blog… thank you. I’ve never had the great fortune of eating at an Indian buffet. That needs to change! Certainly I can find one in Seattle! I’d like to pick your brain about Indian food! Until then, I’ll just keep coming back to 40 Aprons for more! (LOL – light grey yoga pants – I could never… just sayin 😉 )
Oh man, you need to come visit just for the Indian food! We have some incredible buffets that totally pass the father-in-law’s test of authenticity. And now I have them on the brain and am BEGGING O to take me tonight! Alas, we’ll see how that ends… You would love homemade paneer! It’s truly so so simple and makes such a huge difference in the curry!
This paneer looks just perfect! I’ve made it using the exact same recipe and I loved it! So easy to prepare, creamy and delicious!Never been to an Indian buffet, so it feels like I’m missing out! Pinned 🙂
Right?! So easy and so, so delicious. Totally love it. And Indian buffets are the best! We have so many for some reason and they are always totally PACKED. Crazy.
In the name of all that is paneer, this looks like some of the best I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine what it tasted like homemade!! An to me it makes perfect sense to wear yoga pants to a buffet. I’m sure he didn’t even notice. Men are just like that. I’ll put on makeup for going out and ask my boyfriend “do you notice a difference?” and he goes “not… really…”
I guess it’s better that way 🙂
I really, really hope you’re right.. I mean, I am all about the yoga pants. ALL about them. I’d venture to guess I wear them approximately 12 times more than I wear regular pants but such is ze life of the entrepreneur. But light grey.. I just.. I wonder how flattering.. yeah..
OK Cheryl, you DEFINITELY perk my interest with your funny post and your paneer addict. I believe everything you said so you can expect me in the kitchen making your paneer very soon.
Love your sense of humour and your recipe, always 🙂
Haha! You are too funny, Pang. I don’t know if I’d go believing everything I say…. even I don’t do that! 🙂
hahaha YES! i am so with you on paneer-fishing!! this homemade version looks so, so good. it’s been on my to-do list forever (so that i can stop hoarding paneer too) and you’ve inspired me. so glad i found your blog recently, cheryl!!!
OK, so it’s very important we stagger our Indian-buffet attendance, so as not to endanger the supply. If we ever showed up at the same buffet at the same time, all bets would be totally off! I hope you try the paneer.. I know you’ll love it!
I’ve only had paneer once that I can think of and I thought it was so awesome! Good Indian food is really hard to find in Wisconsin – and in France. I’m pinning this for the next time I just have to have some, which will probably be this week now. It looks amazing!
Dude, yes, I went an entire 6 months without any Indian when I was in Paris. Found plenty of Thai and Chinese, though, surprisingly.. I actually found a tikka masala burrito but that was pretty much it. I actually used this recipe to make a super quick cheese curd for some poutine we made.. and I thought of you of course!! 😀
Haha! Honestly, nobody wears yoga pants here and I wear them all the time. I know they’re not really “real” pants perse – but they are just too comfy! Ha!
Um, I could eat at an Indian Buffet everyday too. I’ll hoard the naan and the Eggplant Bharta and you can hoard the paneer!! SO good! I can’t wait to go home to Toronto soon and go to my favorite EVER Indian restaurant! This paneer looks all kinds of lovely – Pinned!
Ceara.. don’t let ANYONE tell you that yoga pants aren’t real pants. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life! I rock those suckers every day but I know what you’re talking about.. they are a big no-no in France I know that! Um, we need to have an Indian buffet tour of the world don’t you think?!
I always make paneer at home…its taste and texture is unmatched! 🙂 Yours look lovely!
Right?! So good. Thanks Manali! 🙂
oh my gawd. . you made homemade paneer .. this is why I love you . . and hey, light grey yoga pants might be the next skinny jean craze . . you never know. you probably started the yoga pants fashion craze, yo. 🙂 and as for Indian buffets. . you would be fighting with me for the paneer. love!
I’m totally claiming that as my gift to the world.. and I mean come now, who wears *real pants* to an Indian buffet?! You have to try the homemade paneer, Alice.. you will love it! 🙂
I CAN MAKE MY OWN PANEER? I CAN MAKE MY OWN PANEER.
LIFE.
CHANGING.
Life, CHANGED. Seriously though.. it’s like 1/3 of the cost of regular paneer and like 400x better tasting. There is magic yet in this world!