Paneer, lemon-set home method
Paneer, a pressed fresh cheese, set by adding yogurt and then lemon juice a spoonful at a time to warm milk, strained, rinsed and lightly pressed.
Modern adaptation
Lemon paneer
Paneer
A half-gallon milk batch is coagulated with lemon juice, rinsed and pressed into fresh paneer for sweets or savoury dishes.
History
The inspected recipe is a modern household method; it does not establish origin or earliest attestation.
Ingredients
Scaling: source batch only
Milk
1.89 L½ gal as recorded
Lemon juiceMix with ½ cup hot water before adding.
59 mL¼ cup as recorded
Hot waterMix with lemon juice.
118 mL½ cup as recorded
Method
Risks and precautions · Elevated risk
Fresh dairy handling
CDC says soft fresh cheese and dairy products made with raw milk can carry Listeria; choose pasteurized dairy. This is general guidance, not process validation.
Hazard sourceCDC recommends choosing pasteurized milk and dairy products. This general advice does not validate the recipe.
Control sourceThe author states refrigeration for one to two days for dessert use and a few days for savoury use; no precise duration for “a few days” is provided. The article says freezing lasts months but does not specify duration.
- Mix lemon juice with ½ cup hot water and set aside.
- Heat milk in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, until it boils.
- Add the lemon mixture gradually while stirring gently. When curds separate from whey, turn off the heat.
- Drain through a strainer lined with cheesecloth or muslin. Wrap curds, rinse under cold water and squeeze.
- Press the wrapped paneer beneath a heavy pan for about one hour. For main-dish use, the author suggests kneading before pressing and pressing longer for a firmer block.
Conditions
Active time20 min
Places
Unknown
Documented preparation · Place not establishedThe source documents a method but does not establish a place of origin.
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Sources
Manjula Jain / Manjula’s KitchenProcess · Ingredients · Storage
How to make PaneerFull recipe card and notes, accessed 2026-10-26; this is a distinct written batch, not any assigned YouTube batch.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionSafety
How Listeria Spread: Soft Cheeses and Raw MilkCDC describes Listeria risk in soft fresh cheese and products made from raw milk and recommends pasteurized dairy.