Paneer Board

Inspired by all the butter boards; here is a protein packed paneer board for your parties.

Zero butter, healthy-ish ingredients and a whole lot of fun to make this with your favorite toppings!

Butter boards are all over social media! An easy appetizer made by spreading butter on a board and topping it with a mix of delicious crunchy ingredients, sauces, honey etc.

This served with toasted baguette slices or chips makes a great impromptu appetizer for sure.

While these boards look and sound super, I wanted to give it a healthy-ish twist. So instead of butter I made a Paneer Board.

A healthier fat Paneer, combined with high protein makes the board great but not super rich in calories. That way you can enjoy it on any day without being guilty.

What is Paneer Board

As the name suggests, this board is primarily made with paneer. Given that paneer cannot be spread out like butter, I whip it with some Greek yogurt to make it spreadable.

Once this whipped mix is ready, the board is so super simple.

Layer the mix on a parchment paper or plate. And enjoy 'decorating' your board with your favorite toppings.

For my board I have used a mix of veggies, chili oil, cranberries and chaat masala as toppings. This when served with naan makes a great Indian inspired appetizer.

The same board can be made with other toppings of your choice. Fruits, nuts, seeds and condiments like cilantro chutney, dates tamarind chutney and garlic chutney works well with the paneer yogurt mix.

This Recipe of Paneer Board

• This comes together in under 15 minutes. Once the whipped paneer mix is ready, it is only about adding the toppings and sauces.
• Comes handy for an impromptu get together or for a planned party.
• Is easy to customize with your choice of toppings, sauces, crunchy elements etc. Add your choice of veggies, sev, boondi on top.
• This board is easy to make ahead of time. Simply add ingredients that will lose crunch right before serving.

Make a large batch of this board for a party or make a small size one for the family. As it has zero butter and is full of high protein elements, it is on the health-ish side of appetizers. Plus, it is so simple to make.

This board is great for any weekend get together, Diwali party or for parties throughout the Holiday season.

Video Recipe

Ingredients

Paneer: The first ingredient in this recipe is paneer. I prefer to use store bought paneer as it is firmer and yields a great consistency of the mix. However, homemade paneer is an option too. Just ensure it does not have a lot of moisture.

It has to be just cool or at room temperature when you start preparing the recipe. Hard paneer will not yield a creamy mix.

Using flavored paneer is an option too.

Greek Yogurt: The ingredient to make the dip creamy is Greek Yogurt. It adds creaminess and moisture to the paneer and yet does not make it flowy.

Regular yogurt or heavy cream can be used. The proportion to paneer will definitely vary to get the right consistency.

Vegetables: While the board can be topped with anything you like, I have used finely diced veggies as one of the toppings.

I like to use pink onions, tomatoes and cilantro on top of the board. These are great for texture, color add a lot of crunch to the board. However, add more veggies if you like.

Chili Oil: A generous splash of chili oil adds so much flavor to the paneer board. It has the crispy bits along with the spicy oil. Together they make the board yummy.

Other toppings: The other toppings on the board include pomegranate, green chili, dried cranberries and chaat masala.

Moreover, adding marinated artichokes, pickled jalapeños, fresh grapes, rosemary etc is an option too.

The other ingredients used in the recipe are salt and pepper powder. Adding other seasoning mixes works too.

Step by Step Instructions to make Paneer Board

1- In a food processor add paneer and yogurt. Season with salt and pepper.

2- Whip them all till you get a creamy mixture. Set aside.

3- On a board place a parchment paper. Using a spoon add the mixture in small parts on the board.

4- Then sprinkle the onions, tomatoes and chili. Also add splashes of chili oil over the mix.

5- Add the other toppings like pomegranate, dried cranberries and chaat masala.

6- Serve with toasted baguette slices and naan. Or serve with chips of any kind.

Tips and Notes

• I like to add Greek yogurt with paneer to make it creamy. We can also use regular yogurt. Plus, heavy cream or sour cream instead of yogurt is an option too.
• Use a parchment paper or a serving plate to serve the board.
• The same ingredients make a delicious dip for chips, etc. Just mix all the ingredients in a bowl and serve.
• The board an be served right after making. Or refrigerate it for a couple of hours before serving. It stays well for about 10-12 hours.

Looking for more appetizers? Here are some popular ones from the blog:

• Basket Chaat: Full of sweet, spicy and tangy flavors, Basket Chaat is an explosion served in tiny baskets. This single serve snack is definitely going to be rocking on the dinner table!
• Dhokli Khandvi: An easy take on Gujarati Khandvi, this Dhokli Khandvi is a quick snack that is amazing with cilantro chutney and ketchup. Ready in under 30 minutes and simply amazing!
• Air Fryer Malai Paneer: Malai Paneer; a delicious appetizer made in the Air Fryer that is easy to make and tastes just like the one made on a grill.