Indian-style cheese chili, Paneer Chili

Indian-style cheese chili is a flavorful and spicy dish made with paneer (Indian cottage cheese), bell peppers, and onions in a spicy chili sauce. It's a popular Indo-Chinese fusion dish that's both delicious and easy to make. Here's a recipe for Indian-style cheese chili:

Ingredients:

• For the Paneer Marination:200 grams of paneer (cottage cheese), cut into cubes
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (corn flour)
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (Maida)
• 2 tablespoons water

For the Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1-2 green chilies, finely chopped (adjust to your spice preference)
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
• 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Chopped green onions for garnish

Instructions:

Marinate the Paneer: 

• In a bowl, combine the red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, cornstarch, all-purpose flour, and water to make a thick paste.
• Coat the paneer cubes with this paste and set them aside for about 15-20 minutes.

Fry the Paneer: 

• Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
• Fry the marinated paneer cubes until they turn golden brown and crispy on all sides. Remove them from the pan and set them aside.

Prepare the Sauce: 

• In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed.
• Add minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for a minute until fragrant.
• Add the sliced onions, green bell peppers, and red bell peppers. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until they start to soften but still have a crunch.

Add the Sauce Ingredients: 

• Add the chopped green chilies, soy sauce, tomato ketchup, red chili sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to the pan. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

Combine with Paneer: 

• Add the fried paneer cubes to the pan and toss them in the sauce. Make sure the paneer is well coated with the sauce.

Garnish and Serve: 

• Garnish the dish with chopped green onions.
• Serve the Indian-style cheese chili hot as a side dish with steamed rice or as an appetizer.

Adjust the level of spiciness by altering the number of green chilies and red chili sauce according to your preference. This dish is known for its bold and spicy flavors, making it a favorite among those who enjoy Indian-Chinese cuisine.