A delicious vegetarian twist on a Philly classic packed with spices and flavors!
So I got some delicious paneer from Sach Foods and of course I had to think of something creative to make with it. I always make the usual paneer makhani or palak paneer so I was really trying to think of something different to make. I happened to be craving some sort of sandwich when I thought this might be the perfect time to test out a paneer cheesesteak recipe! I didn’t really know how it was going to come out and I didn’t really know what to use to flavor up the paneer so this was really a game of trial and error. I tried it with their Habanero flavored paneer and with their original paneer and it came out absolutely delicious both ways! This recipe is definitely a game changer for all my vegetarian friends because you can now totally enjoy a “Philly Cheesesteak” without it needing to be meat! I got a ton of feedback on some of the pictures that I posted on my Instagram stories of this recipe and it seemed to be super popular, so here it is! My Paneer Cheesesteak recipe that will have you going for seconds! It’s cheesy, jam-packed with flavor, and absolutely delicious!
The paneer itself was super soft and creamy and really easy to work with. It actually gave me the perfect consistency and didn’t become too dry like a paneer bhurji when I made it, which also helped absorb the spices to achieve the perfect flavor and texture for this dish. I used Indian spices to give it that fusion twist on the classic cheesesteak and it really worked well. I also played around with making this on a french baguette and hoagie rolls, and honestly, it tasted equally delicious on both! My husband loved this so much he went in for seconds and I promise you will too! This is a quick and easy dish, perfect for lunch or dinner and great for a casual get together as well!
Here are a few quick tips to achieving the most yumminess out of this dish:
- Make sure your paneer is properly shredded with no big chunks
- I used Amul cheese because it’s so creamy and perfect for this Indian fusion cheesesteak and I highly recommend it
- You can use any color bell pepper but just make sure to dice it up into small pieces
- Make sure to toast your bread with a little bit of butter, it will help give it a little color and a nice bite
- Feel free to top with some hot sauce for a little extra spice
I hope you guys will give this one a try and love it as much as I did! Trust me, this is one you won’t want to skip out on! It’s a treat for the whole family to enjoy! Don’t forget to take pictures and tag me in all your recreations! And as always, happy eating fam!
Paneer Cheesesteaks
Ingredients
- 3 6 inch hoagie rolls
- 6-8 oz paneer grated
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1/2 bell pepper (any color) diced
- 1/2 onion diced
- 2 green chilies diced finely
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tbsp butter plus extra for the rolls
- 1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- salt to taste
- 3 slices Amul Cheese
- Coriander/Green Chutney
- Tamarind Chutney
- 1/3 cup cilantro chopped plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Cut your hoagie rolls down the center and remove a little bread to create a pocket easy for stuffing the mixture and set aside
- In a pan, heat oil on medium heat and then add cumin seeds and allow to splutter
- Then add onions and peppers and cook for a few minutes until they start to soften followed by the green chili
- Once the veggies have softened, add in the coriander powder, cumin powder, red chili powder, and salt and mix thoroughly. Add in the butter to help deglaze the pan and combine the spices with the veggies
- Once combined, add in the shredded paneer and mix well until all ingredients are well combined, followed by cilantro. Use a spatula to help break up the paneer so it doesn't clump together
- When all the ingredients are combined properly, turn the heat off and start to toast the rolls on another pan with butter for a few minutes
- Turn the heat back on low for the paneer mixture and arrange it in a long rectangle shape flat on the pan and cover with three slices of Amul cheese side by side to cover all the paneer. Then cover the pan with a lid and let the cheese melt
- While cheese is melting, spread coriander and tamarind chutney on either side of the bun
- Separate the cheesy paneer mixture into three sections and use your spatula to spoon it into the roll
- Garnish with coriander and serve hot!
Notes
- I used Sach Foods paneer for this recipe but feel free to use any
- If you don’t have Amul cheese slices, you can replace with pepper jack or white American slices
- I made this on a hoagie roll and on a baguette, and they both worked great, so feel free to use any bread roll of choice if you don’t have access to hoagie rolls
