Cottage Cheese Sticks Recipe

Ingredients

• 250 g (about 1 cup) fresh cottage cheese (paneer), firm
• 2 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch) or all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch slurry (optional, for extra crispiness)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional, for flavor)
• ¼ teaspoon paprika or chili powder (optional, for color and mild spice)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional, for slight tang)
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup breadcrumbs (or panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or dried herbs (optional)
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 large eggs, beaten (or substitute with milk for eggless version)
• 1–1.5 cups vegetable oil (for deep frying)
• ½ cup tomato ketchup
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce or chili flakes
• ½ teaspoon honey (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut the paneer into sticks about 1 cm × 1 cm × 5 cm. Try to make them uniform for even cooking.
2. Optional: If the paneer is very soft, freeze it for 15–20 minutes to make cutting easier.
3. In a bowl, mix paneer sticks with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cornflour, and lemon juice.
4. Gently toss the sticks so every piece is lightly coated. This helps the coating stick later.
5. Prepare three bowls: Bowl 1 with ½ cup all-purpose flour; Bowl 2 with 2 beaten eggs and 1 tablespoon water (or milk); Bowl 3 with breadcrumbs mixed with salt, pepper, paprika, and optional herbs.
6. Roll each paneer stick in flour, shake off excess.
7. Dip in egg wash, coating evenly.
8. Roll in breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to stick.
9. Optional: Let coated sticks rest for 10 minutes in the fridge. This helps coating hold while frying.
10. For Deep Frying: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat until it reaches 175°C (350°F). Fry 5–6 sticks at a time for 2–3 minutes until golden brown on all sides. Remove with slotted spoon and place on paper towels.
11. For Baking: Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F). Place coated sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spray or brush lightly with oil. Bake 15–20 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crisp.
12. For Air Frying: Preheat air fryer to 180°C (360°F). Place sticks in basket, spray lightly with oil. Cook 12–15 minutes, shaking basket halfway.
13. For Dipping Sauce: Mix tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, hot sauce or chili flakes, and honey well for a tangy-sweet dip.
14. Serve hot with your favorite dips. Optional garnish: sprinkle chopped parsley or grated parmesan for extra flavor.

Notes

Use fresh, firm paneer. Soft paneer may break during frying. Double coating makes them extra crunchy. Avoid overcrowding the pan while frying; sticks cook unevenly if crowded. Spice it up: Add cumin powder, chili flakes, or smoked paprika in the breadcrumb mixture. Leftover sticks can be reheated in an oven to maintain crispiness; microwaving will make them soft.