A low calorie, guilt-free snack that is so delicious – Crispy Paneer Balls! Easy step by step picture recipe to make one of the easiest snacks using Paneer/Cottage Cheese.
There are some days when you feel like having something crunchy, crispy to go with your coffee/tea. I get this craving during weekends especially but along with it, comes the guilt of having high calorie snacks. I made these low calorie paneer balls quite by chance, during one such weekend.
At least once a week, I make something using paneer/cottage cheese, given what a rich source of protein paneer is for vegetarians. Couple of weeks back, when I had some left over Paneer, I made these crispy paneer balls. I usually use boiled potatoes to make Koftas at home, be it for curries or for kababs. In this recipe, in an impulse I used grated raw potatoes along with grated paneer. The spices are very basic – red chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam masala powder.
As with any of my low calorie snack recipe, I used my Appam/Appe Pan to make these low calorie paneer balls. This Appam Pan has to be one of the best inventions in the cooking world – I love how crispy and golden my koftas/balls turn out with so little oil. This recipe gets made in a short time and with ingredients readily available in the pantry and trust me, even those how love deep fried goodies will convert after trying these low calorie paneer balls!
How to make Low Calorie Paneer Balls
📖 Recipe
Low Calorie Paneer Balls
MEASUREMENT
1 cup = 250ml, 1 tablespoon = 15ml, 1 teaspoon = 5ml
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Grated Paneer
- ½ cup Grated Raw Potatoes
- 1 Small Onion
- 1-2 tablespoon Bread Crumbs
- 1-2 tablespoon Chopped Coriander Leaves
- ¼ teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- ¼ teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Oil + extra for making balls
- Salt as needed
Instructions
- In a pan heat a teaspoon of oil. Add finely chopped onions and fry until translucent. Add ginger garlic paste and fry until the raw smell goes off.
- Add grated potato and fry on low flame until it is half cooked.
- Add red chilli powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder and salt. Cook for 2-3 mins until the spice powders are cooked.
- Now add grated paneer along with finely chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Remove this mixture from heat.
- Once it is cooled down, add bread crumbs and mix them well. The mixture should be dry enough to form balls.
- Make 12 equal sized balls out of the mixture.
- Heat the appam pan and add few drops of oil in each mould. Carefully place the balls and cook them on low flame on each side for about a minute.
- When the balls are crispy and golden all over, remove them out.
- Serve them hot with tomato ketchup!
Detailed step by step picture recipe of making Low Calorie Paneer Balls
1. In a pan heat a teaspoon of oil. Add finely chopped onions and fry until translucent. Add ginger garlic paste and fry until the raw smell goes off.
2. Add grated potato and fry on low flame until it is half cooked.
3. Add red chilli powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder and salt. Cook for 2-3 mins until the spice powders are cooked.
4. Now add grated paneer along with finely chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Remove this mixture from heat.
5. Once it is cooled down, add bread crumbs and mix them well. The mixture should be dry enough to form balls.
6. Make 12 equal sized balls out of the mixture.
7. Heat the appam pan and add few drops of oil in each mould. Carefully place the balls and cook them on low flame on each side for about a minute.
8. When the balls are crispy and golden all over, remove them out.
9. Serve them hot with tomato ketchup!
Recipe Notes
- Add finely chopped nuts as desired.
- While making the balls, insert a piece of cheese to make cheesy paneer balls.
I would be delighted to know if you have tried this recipe, don’t forget to share your feedback and comments below. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me! I am also available on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter 🙂
sarahgiebens
Yumm this looks so good! Thanks for bringing them to the party 😀 Happy Fiesta!
Sruthi
It came out excellent. Very quick, easy and healthy recipe. thanks a lot
Ramya
Thanks so much 🙂
Sneha
Hey, recipe looks really good and am eager to try it out. Would this also work the same, if i just use a normal pan to cook, since i dont have the appam pan? Also, can i make the mix & refrigerate on the evening before the day i plan to serve?
Ramya
You can make it as patties on normal pan, not as balls. It should work pretty well when refrigerated too.
Sneha
Hi. Wanted to try this recipe and had a few questions. Would this turn out the same if cooked in a normal pan instead of an appam pan as I dont have one? Also can the batter be made a day before and refrigerated?
Ramya
Answered the same on your other comment. Hope that helps!