Source: https://jugti.com/kosh/words/paneer/ ਪ [Kosh](https://jugti.com/kosh/)/[Words](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/)/Noun Word # ਪਨੀਰ paneer Say it**puh-NEER, with the stress on the second syllable**Type**Noun** In short Paneer (ਪਨੀਰ) is a fresh, soft, non-melting cheese made by curdling hot cow or buffalo milk with an acid such as lemon juice and pressing the curds. It is cut into cubes for Punjabi curries, snacks and grills. The word comes from Persian panir, meaning cheese. ## How it's used 1. 1ਅੱਜ ਸਬਜ਼ੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਨੀਰ ਪਾਇਆ ਹੈ੤Paneer has been put in the vegetable dish today. _paneer in a sabzi_ 2. 2ਮਟਰ ਪਨੀਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਨਪਸੰਦ ਸਬਜ਼ੀ ਹੈ੤Matar paneer is my favourite vegetable dish. _matar paneer: peas with paneer_ 3. 3ਘਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਨੀਰ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਦੁੱਧ ਫਾੜਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ੤To make paneer at home, milk is curdled. _making paneer at home_ Show 1 more example 1. 4ਪਨੀਰ ਦੇ ਪਕੌੜੇ ਚਾਹ ਨਾਲ ਚੰਗੇ ਲੱਗਦੇ ਹਨ੤Paneer pakoras taste good with tea. _paneer pakora as a snack_ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ ਪਨੀਰ ਗਰਮ ਦੁੱਧ ਨੂੰ ਨਿੰਬੂ ਦੇ ਰਸ ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਤੇਜ਼ਾਬ ਨਾਲ ਫਾੜ ਕੇ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਤਾਜ਼ਾ ਅਤੇ ਨਰਮ ਪਨੀਰ ਹੈ੤ ਇਹ ਪਿੱਘਲਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ, ਇਸ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਟੁਕੜੇ ਕੜੀ, ਸਬਜ਼ੀ ਅਤੇ ਟਿੱਕੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ੤ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਘਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਟਰ ਪਨੀਰ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਲਕ ਪਨੀਰ ਆਮ ਬਣਦੇ ਹਨ੤ Paneer (ਪਨੀਰ) is the Punjabi word for a fresh, soft cheese made by curdling hot cow or buffalo milk with an acid such as lemon juice, then draining and pressing the curds. It does not melt, is not aged, and is cut into cubes for curries, snacks and grills in Punjabi homes. ## What does paneer mean in Punjabi? Paneer means this fresh cheese itself, not cheese in general. The word came into Punjabi and other South Asian languages from Persian panir, which simply means cheese. In a Punjabi kitchen the word is used for the white block bought from a dairy or sweet shop, or made at home, and for dishes built around it, such as matar paneer with peas, palak paneer with spinach, and paneer tikka grilled on skewers. Making paneer is quick and needs no rennet. An acid such as lemon juice, vinegar or dahi is stirred into hot milk so the curds separate from the whey. The curds are drained in muslin, pressed under a weight, and rested in chilled water. Pressing for only a short time gives a softer, crumblier cheese, while a longer press gives the firm block that cuts cleanly into cubes. ## Why does paneer not melt? Paneer does not melt because it is set with acid and heat rather than aged. It softens in a hot gravy and browns well in a pan or on a grill, but it keeps its shape instead of turning runny. That is why cooks can fry it, skewer it, or simmer it in a sauce and still serve it in recognisable pieces. ## How is paneer used in everyday Punjabi cooking? Paneer is the centre of many vegetarian meals because it is filling and takes on the flavour of the spices around it. Families serve it in gravies with roti or rice, crumble soft paneer into a quick bhurji with onions and tomatoes, and coat cubes for pakoras. Its exact history is debated, with Persian, Afghan and Portuguese routes all proposed, so this page makes no single origin claim. ## Is paneer the same as cottage cheese? It is often called Indian cottage cheese in English, but it is not the loose, spoonable cottage cheese sold in tubs. Paneer is drained and pressed into a block that can be sliced and cubed. The two start from curdled milk, yet their texture and cooking behaviour are quite different. ## Related words [ਦਹੀਂdahiCurd; set fermented milk](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/dahi/)[ਘਿਓgheeClarified butter; the Punjabi cooking fat](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/ghee/)[ਪਕੌੜਾpakoraChickpea-batter fritters, fried crisp](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/pakora/)[ਕੁਲਚਾkulchaa leavened Punjabi flatbread, usually stuffed with spiced potato or paneer and baked in a tandoor](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/kulcha/) Sources (1) 1. [Paneer | Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paneer) [Report a correction](https://jugti.com/corrections/) **Jugti is free and independent.** Reader support keeps the Kosh growing. [Support](https://jugti.com/support/) ## More words [ਮੁਟਿਆਰmutiyara young woman who has grown up, the heroine of Punjabi songs](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/mutiyar/)[ਗੱਭਰੂgabrua young man in his prime, a dashing lad](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/gabru/)[ਪਟੋਲਾpatolaslang for a beautiful, stylishly dressed woman; a compliment in Punjabi songs and speech](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/patola/)[ਝੂਮਰjhumarslow, graceful Punjabi folk dance of the harvest, traditionally danced by men](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/jhumar/)[ਗਿੱਧਾgiddhaPunjabi women's folk dance](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/giddha/)[ਚਿਮਟਾchimtamusical tongs with jingles, a folk percussion instrument](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/chimta/) [ੳ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%B3)[ਅ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%85)[ੲ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%B2)[ਸ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B8)[ਹ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B9)[ਕ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%95)[ਖ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%96)[ਗ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%97)[ਘ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%98)[ਙ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%99)[ਚ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9A)[ਛ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9B)[ਜ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9C)[ਝ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9D)[ਞ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9E)[ਟ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9F)[ਠ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A0)[ਡ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A1)[ਢ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A2)[ਣ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A3)[ਤ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A4)[ਥ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A5)[ਦ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A6)[ਧ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A7)[ਨ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A8)[ਪ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AA)[ਫ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AB)[ਬ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AC)[ਭ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AD)[ਮ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AE)[ਯ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AF)[ਰ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B0)[ਲ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B2)[ਵ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B5)[ੜ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%9C) On this page[In short](#in-short)[How it's used](#how-used)[ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ](#pa-meaning)[What does paneer mean in Punjabi?](#s-b002)[Why does paneer not melt?](#s-b005)[How is paneer used in everyday Punjabi cooking?](#s-b009)[Is paneer the same as cottage cheese?](#s-b011) Related words[ਦਹੀਂ dahiCurd; set fermented milk](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/dahi/)[ਘਿਓ gheeClarified butter; the Punjabi cooking fat](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/ghee/)[ਪਕੌੜਾ pakoraChickpea-batter fritters, fried crisp](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/pakora/)[ਕੁਲਚਾ kulchaa leavened Punjabi flatbread, usually stuffed with spiced potato or paneer and baked in a tandoor](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/kulcha/) [A Punjabi wordਨਾਨਾnanaMother's father; maternal grandfather](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/nana/) Browse words by letter [ੳ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%B3)[ਅ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%85)[ੲ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%B2)[ਸ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B8)[ਹ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B9)[ਕ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%95)[ਖ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%96)[ਗ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%97)[ਘ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%98)[ਙ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%99)[ਚ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9A)[ਛ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9B)[ਜ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9C)[ਝ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9D)[ਞ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9E)[ਟ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9F)[ਠ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A0)[ਡ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A1)[ਢ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A2)[ਣ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A3)[ਤ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A4)[ਥ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A5)[ਦ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A6)[ਧ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A7)[ਨ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A8)[ਪ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AA)[ਫ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AB)[ਬ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AC)[ਭ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AD)[ਮ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AE)[ਯ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AF)[ਰ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B0)[ਲ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B2)[ਵ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B5)[ੜ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%9C) ## Keep exploring Everything in the Kosh, with sources. 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