Hariyali Masala Cottage Cheese/Paneer..step by step, & New winner of Only Snacks & Starters

Hi all!

Sorry for disappearing suddenly, was not keeping well for a while..

I'm trying to complete my entry for the Magic Mingle #5 hosted by Kalyani, using Cottage Cheese and Mint as the main ingredients.

Ever since Kalyani had announced the theme I had wanted to make the Masala paneer as my kid loves it. While living in Delhi, I would make it a point to buy masala paneer from Gopala. His paneer was extremely soft, flavorful and I used to use it for making sandwiches and tikkas.

Ever since I've moved to my current city, I tend to make Cottage Cheese at home, which turns out much better than available outside, which is quite chewy.For a change instead of making the regular cottage cheese I made the Gopala version of Masala Paneer which turned out very tasty. This paneer is not only flavorful but has greens in it, which makes it healthy too. I have used toned milk to make a low fat cottage cheese as I'm on a strict diet regime, but one is free to make use of  full fat milk for a creamier cottage cheese.

Hariyali Masala Paneer

Serves-3

Preparation Time:5mins

Cooking Time:15mins

Setting Time:30mins

Ingredients

1l toned milk

half lemon's juice mixed with 2tbsp water

salt to taste

1/4tsp crushed black pepper

1tsp roasted cumin

2-3tbsp each chopped cilantro & Mint

1 green chili, finely chopped

Method

Bring the milk to a boil.

Slowly add the diluted lemon juice and let the milk curdle. Diluting the lemon juice, ensure even spreading and curdling.

Remove the whey and collect the cottage cheese in a sieve.

Quickly mix salt, greens, chili and spices. (The pic I took at this step got shaken up as I was working v.fast, will try to add again, later)

Transfer into a cottage cheese mould.

Cover with a lid and put weight on it. Let it stand for half an hour.

Un-mould and cut into cubes.

Sprinkle chaat masala and serve or make a sandwich.  One can also try my Colorful Bell Pepper and Cottage Cheese Cubes, which are not only beautiful but tasty too....

Unfortunately, the Cookbook sent to Fathima was returned back by the courier company saying the address was incorrect, so I've picked another winner by random method which is No. 70, Urad dal laddoos by Hema of Aromatic Cooking.
Hema, congrats, please mail me wihin two days, your correct address in India with a proper landmark, pincode and cell number to cookingoodfood@gmail.com, to ensure that the book gets delivered in time.