You see Paneer in the menu and quickly glance away, searching for better dieting options. Mutter Paneer, your mom offers and your shriek “it’s too fattening!”
Stop blaming the poor Paneer for all the diet and health sins. There is more to it than just fats.
Paneer is prepared by curdling of milk, generally by adding lime juice to milk. For generations together, it was a part of Indian Cuisine; our ancestors weren’t wrong in using it, were they? Of course they didn’t have to worry about their waistlines either.
According to Nutritionist Dr. Shweta Iyangar, “Paneer is an excellent source of Protein for everyone. Paneer is made from milk but the Protein part of it and not the fat part. The protein which you get from the milk is as good as the complete source of protein.”
Also, Paneer is excellent source of calcium. So it helps in building strong bones and teeth. Thus, it is excellent for growing children. Children generally make a fuss while drinking milk, ever heard a child crying when offered Paneer? So you know what to do next time your kids refuse vegetables, add a bit of Paneer in it.
Before you pack all your kid’s tiffins with Paneer, remember it contains Protein so it is not that easy to digest. So a balance is also must.
Rushing to get Paneer packets from the supermarket? Remember that the Paneer you get at stores is Malai Paneer; which contains added milk cream to improve the texture and taste; thus more fattening. So it would be desirable if you make it at home or make sure to get the fat free variety.
For people who with high Cholesterol and who are looking for weight loss can opt for low fat Paneer, found in Super markets or Paneer made from Cow’s milk as it has less fat content. You could also try different varieties like Soya milk Paneer also called as Tofu and Bean Curd made from Soya bean or other legumes. They also have high protein and lesser fat than Paneer.
Another thing to remember is that we could destroy all the goods of Paneer by simply adding it to oily gravies or over cooking it. Paneer is such a product that it doesn’t need much cooking. So just grate it and add it to sandwiches and rolls. You could grill it or have Paneer tandoor with other vegetables. Another Simple dish is crushing it with hands and adding little spices, pepper and veggies.
So what are you waiting for, make your own Paneer dish and have it, this will definitely make mom happy!
