Does the internet need another Paneer recipe? Between Palak Paneer, Paneer Tikka, Paneer Pulao (all can be found on our website), we’re never at a loss with what to do with paneer. Separately, we’ve always been a fan of Peri Peri sauce from Nando’s. So much so that we always stock up when we find it at the grocery store (pro tip, mix some with mayonnaise for your fries because its just like their perinaise!). Then we found Peri Peri sauce at our holy grail of all things yum: Trader Joe’s. Could this sauce dethrone our years long favorite? 
Yes and no. 

The Trader Joe’s sauce is more liquid and smooth – it doesn’t have the chunks of chili that we love in the Nando’s sauce. Our conclusion: Nando’s is great as a sauce sauce, like for fries, your burger etc. Trader Joe’s while works well as a sauce has the ability to be used in cooking!!!! What did we do with it first? Marinate paneer of course. DUH!  Mix the Peri Peri sauce with some buttermilk for your marinade and then pan fry the paneer and you have absolute magic – the spiciness offset with the tang of the buttermilk all in the vehicle of naan! 

This is our new paneer obsession. You’re welcome!

 

Tips & Tricks

• The flavors get better the longer you marinate the paneer, but at minimum let it go for an hour in the fridge 
• We pan fried the paneer in small pieces but you could easily cut bigger chunks and skewer them for a grilled version (let us know if you try it!)
• We opted for straight up paneer and onions – we’re kind of paneer purists, but this same marinade would work well with any veggies!

Recipe Information

• Prep time: 60 minutes
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 3-4 entrée servings 

Ingredients

• 1 block paneer
• 5-7 tbsp Trader Joe’s Peri Peri sauce 
• 7 tbsp buttermilk
• 1/2 red onion diced

Directions

1. Cut paneer into 1 inch thick cubes 
2. In a bowl combine Peri Peri sauce and buttermilk
3. Add paneer to the marinade and stir to combine; allow to soak for at least 1 hour
4. In a large flat plan, heat 2 tsp of olive oil and sauté onions till soft about 5 minutes
5. Spoon in paneer pieces and stir to combine
6. Cook on medium heat, in 5-7 minutes, turn paneer pieces 90 degrees and spoon extra marinade over the paneer
7. Let cook until marinade liquid soaks up and flip the paneer again 
8. Repeat the flipping and spooning over marinade until all sides of the paneer are crispy (takes about 20 min in total)
9. Serve with your favorite carb: ours is naan!