Paneer
Paneer is an Indian fresh cheese, usually made from cow's or buffalo milk.1,2,3 It is not aged and does not melt when heated, so it can even be deep-fried.1,2,4,5
Also known as Indian cottage cheese
Paneer is a fresh cheese from South Asia, usually made from cow's or buffalo milk.1,2,3 The milk is heated and curdled with an acid such as citric acid, lemon juice or vinegar, and the curds are pressed in cloth into a firm block.1,2,3,4,5 Unlike most cheeses, paneer is not aged and does not melt when heated.1,2,4,5,6 So it keeps its shape in cubes, whether in palak paneer and matar paneer or deep-fried as a snack.1,2,4,5 The word is Persian for cheese, and paneer probably came to India with Persians and Afghans.1,2,4,5,7
What is paneer called in English?
In English it is usually just called paneer, a word borrowed from Hindi and Urdu panīr, meaning cheese. The Hindi word itself comes from Persian.1,7
What is paneer made of?
Milk, usually cow's or buffalo milk, heated and curdled with an acid such as citric acid, lemon juice or vinegar. The curds are drained in cloth, pressed into a firm block and often cut into cubes.1,2,3,4,5
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Sources
- Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). paneer. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
- Khan, S. U. & Pal, M. A. (2011). Paneer production: A review. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 48(6), 645–660. DOI: 10.1007/s13197-011-0247-x
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. (2025). Chapter 2: Food Product Standards, 2.1 Dairy Products and Analogues.
- Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. (n.d.). Paneer. Wisconsin Cheese. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
- Jana, A. (n.d.). Technology of Paneer. In Technology of Milk and Milk Products. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
- Farkye, N. Y. (n.d.). Melt-controlled cheese and process of making. California Polytechnic State University. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
- Platts, J. T. (1884). panīr. In A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi, and English (p. 275). Digital Dictionaries of South Asia, University of Chicago.
Cite this entry
MLA
“Paneer.” Indian Culture Glossary, Indian Culture, https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/paneer.
Chicago
Indian Culture Glossary, s.v. “Paneer,” https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/paneer.
APA
Indian Culture. (n.d.). Paneer. In Indian Culture glossary. https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/paneer