Homemade Paneer Kulcha | Tasty & Healthy & Nutritious Snack

Paneer Kulcha is one of my favourite snacks. In India, it is a regular shelf item at any good bakery, easily available whenever you have a craving for it. And if by chance you can’t lay your hands on a Paneer Kulcha, then the ready-made Kulchas, more commonly available, can be purchased and used to make paneer kulchas. You can just stuff these pre-prepared kulchas with paneer stuffing and they are ready to be eaten.

However, when you are overseas, you tend to miss out on these small luxuries of life. You value them when you can’t have them. #truestory

So the other day I was missing these yummy paneer kulchas and decided to make them myself at home. The experiment was successful as they turned out to be great. Another successful recipe added to my weight loss menu list.☺

Paneer is rich in protein and calcium and is excellent for Weight Loss as it has Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), which aids in weight loss by increasing the fat burning process in the body.

Paneer Stuffing Recipe

Ingredients for Paneer Stuffing:

• Paneer (Cottage Cheese): 100 grams, grated
• Green Capsicum: 1 medium size, thinly sliced
• Red Capsicum: 1 medium size, thinly sliced
• Onion: 1 medium size, thinly sliced
• Garlic: 1-2 clove finely chopped
• Ginger: 1/2″ finely chopped
• Green Chilli: 1-2 thinly sliced (optional)
• Cilantro (Hara Dhaniya): 1/4 cup
• Salt: to taste
• Red Chilli Powder: 1/2 teaspoon
• Coriander Powder:  1-2 teaspoons
• Cumin Powder: 1/2 teaspoon
• Oil: 1 tablespoon

Preparation for Paneer Stuffing:

1. Heat the Oil in a pan,
2. Add Sliced onions to it and sauté until transparent.
3. Add Ginger, Garlic and Green chillis. Sauté for half a minute.
4. Add both Green & Red Capsicum. Sauté for a minute.
5. Add spices – Salt, Red Chilli Powder and Coriander Powder
6. Add the grated cottage cheese (paneer) and mix well.
7. Sprinkle cumin powder and garnish with Cilantro.
8. Simmer for a minute. Switch off the gas and keep the stuff aside.

Kulcha Recipe

The Kulcha recipe I am going to share with you is with yeast in it. But many times I make it without yeast. Of course, the kulchas don’t come out as fluffy as they usually do with yeast, but I like it anyways. You may take your pick.

Ingredients for Kulcha:

• All Purpose Flour (Maida): 3 cups
• Yogurt: 1/2 cup mixed with water as necessary
• Instant Yeast: 1/2 teaspoon
• Sugar: 1/2 teaspoon
• Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
• Oil: 1 teaspoon

Preparation for Kulcha:

1. Take 1/2 cup normal water and put sugar & yeast into it. Keep it aside for 10 minutes.
2. After 10 minutes, you will see some movement in the water. This shows that the yeast has been activated.
3. Now pour the yeast-activated water into the bowl that contains the all purpose flour, along with oil & yogurt. Then knead it into a dough.
4. Cover the dough with a plate and keep this dough aside for 2 hours.
5. After 2 hours, the dough will double in size. With soft hands, kneed it again so that all air is removed from the dough.
6. Now make small balls of it & roll these round & flat. Keep these aside for 15 minutes.
7. Heat a flat pan and put one rolled dough on it. Cook on both sides, till you see little brown spots.
8. Prepare Three kulchas.

You can also keep this kulcha dough into the oven and bake them (Like Bread).

Preparation for Paneer Kulcha

1. Take one Kulcha & put a layer of paneer stuffing on it.
2. Top it with the second kulcha and put another layer of paneer stuffing.
3. Top it with the third kulcha.
4. Now cut this in half and it is ready to be eaten.

One half of the paneer kulcha actually serves as one meal for me. It is so filling.

To store the kulchas to be eaten later, you can wrap them in a cling wrap and refrigerate them. Later when you want to eat them, just heat them in the microwave and you are good to go.

XOXO, CJ