Paneer

You can buy fresh paneer online at Velspices.com.au. We stock village paneer, malai paneer, low-fat paneer, and organic paneer, all made fresh and available for delivery across Australia.

Village paneer (also called desi paneer or fresh paneer) is made in small batches using traditional methods, often from full cream or buffalo milk. It has a slightly grainy, firm-yet-moist texture that holds up well to grilling, frying, and cooking. Regular packaged paneer is typically mass-produced, firmer, and less flavourful.

Malai paneer is a softer, creamier variety of paneer made with cream or high-fat milk (malai means cream in Hindi). It's ideal for rich paneer dishes like paneer makhani, shahi paneer, and paneer pasanda, where a silky, melt-in-the-mouth texture is desired.

Fresh, high-quality paneer is more likely to hold its shape. To prevent breaking: cut paneer into larger cubes, add it to the curry at the end of cooking (rather than cooking it from the beginning), and avoid stirring too vigorously. Lightly frying paneer cubes before adding them to curry also helps them hold their shape.

Yes! Buffalo milk is the traditional choice for homemade paneer — its higher fat content produces a richer, creamier paneer with a firmer texture. Simply heat buffalo milk, add an acid (lemon juice or vinegar), allow the curds to separate, then strain and press. Velspices stocks buffalo milk for exactly this purpose.

Fresh paneer typically lasts 5-7 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container submerged in water (change the water daily). If you don't plan to use it within a week, fresh paneer can be frozen for up to 3 months — though the texture may become slightly more crumbly after thawing.

Yes, Velspices delivers fresh paneer Australia-wide. Paneer is packed chilled for transit. Orders over $50 ship free in Melbourne metro. Nationwide shipping rates apply for customers in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and other areas.

Paneer and cottage cheese are both fresh cheeses made by curdling milk with acid. However, paneer is pressed and drained until firm — it holds its shape and doesn't melt when cooked. Cottage cheese is not pressed and has a soft, lumpy, spreadable texture. They are not interchangeable in South Asian cooking.

Yes! Velspices stocks a range of paneer masala powders — including paneer tikka masala, paneer butter masala, and shahi paneer masala — perfect to use with your fresh paneer. Browse our Masala Powders section to find the right blend.

Yes, paneer is an excellent source of high-quality protein, making it one of the most important protein sources for vegetarian South Asian households. It also provides calcium, phosphorus, and healthy fats. A 100g serving of paneer typically contains around 18-20g of protein.