The very thought of scrumptious dry Indian gravies made out of paneer makes us drool. The most popular of them are paneer chili and paneer 65. But do you know how different paneer 65 vs paneer chili are? Most of us assume them to be the same.
But it is time to delve deeper and understand how different (or similar) these Indian dishes actually are. Let us find out!
1. An Introduction To Paneer 65 & Paneer Chilli
If you’re new to the world of Indian curries and gravies and have had some paneer dishes but are wondering what exactly paneer 65 and paneer chili are, we are here to apprise you of this world of Indian paneer dishes.
Paneer 65 is a Hyderabadi starter (or appetizer) that is tangy, spicy, and crispy. At its core, the paneer 65 recipe uses batter-fried paneer. This paneer is then further spiced up by tempering it with Indian curry leaves (order Indian grocery online here) and a unique spice mix.
Paneer Chilli, on the other hand, is a fusion of Indian and Chinese dishes. This recipe uses crispy fried paneer cubes as well. But this paneer is then fried further with Chinese sauces like vinegar, soy, and chili sauce.
Now, to understand the nuances when it comes to paneer 65 vs paneer chili, we have shortlisted some similarities and differences that will help you understand each better.
2. Paneer 65 vs Paneer Chilli: Taste
As discussed above, both paneer 65 and paneer chili have diverse tastes. While paneer 65 is a lip-smacking Hyderabadi snack dish, paneer chili is Indo-Chinese. Hence, paneer 65 tends to be spicier and hotter than paneer chili in general.
Paneer 65 ingredients include a tangy spice mix of Kashmiri red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and pepper, among others. Here, paneer pieces are also tempered with dry red chillis, chili powder, curry leaves, and chili sauce in yogurt for a spicy, zinging taste. The ginger-garlic paste might be more garlic heavy here.
Paneer chili’s taste, contrarily, is defined by the sauce mix that goes into the making. It can be made dry or semi-dry consistency using a combination of sauces for paneer chilies like red chili sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar which give it a sweet, spicy, hot, and sour taste.
3. Culture & History Associated With Paneer Chilli & Paneer 65
Again, as we have already discussed, the culture and history associated with each of these dishes are quite diverse and unique. While paneer 65 finds its origin in the popularity of Chicken 65, chili paneer is rooted in the burgeoning popularity of Chinese fusion dishes in India.
The origins of Chicken 65 have many theories associated with several South Indian states. But one thing is for sure, the popularity of this fiery dish gave birth to the popular vegetarian appetizer of Paneer 65, which replaced chicken as a source of protein. Paneer 65 price and recipe remain the same as Chicken 65, though.
Paneer Chilli finds its origins in the invention of Chilli Chicken. This includes a blend of Indian ingredients with Chinese sauces and spices. Just use Indian garlic, ginger, and green chilies, and instead of frying the chicken in Indian spices, use a mix of Chinese chili sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar to flavor chicken or low-fat vs full-fat paneer in this case.
4. What To Eat With Paneer 65 vs Paneer Chilli?
Although their flavor profiles are quite different, people prefer eating both of them with quite similar sides. The credit goes to the pungent and bold flavors in both these Indian entrees or starters that make them scrumptious to eat with basic sides like paratha or rice. But they are absolutely perfect for eating alone as well.
Paneer 65 is good to eat as a starter. But if you make a little thinner gravy, you can also eat it along with some naan, tandoori roti, or basmati rice or pulao. But drier recipes like the paneer 65 air fryer recipe can be made quickly and is a great snack to eat as is too.
Coming back to paneer chili. This is not as spicy as paneer 65 (we put a lot less chili powder here). So, paneer chili is great with rice or eaten alone as well.
5. Paneer 65 vs Paneer Chilli: Method of Preparation
Now, this is again a similar one. Both paneer chili and paneer 65 are generally made in a wok after deep frying crispy paneer cubes. The only difference is the spice or sauce mix of the dry or wet gravy used.
So, as we already discussed, paneer 65 is quickly fried with yogurt, chili sauce, cumin seeds, curry leaves, and water, among other spices. But paneer chili is fried with green chilies, tomato sauce, corn starch, vinegar, soy sauce, chili sauce, and water, among others.
Other than that, the method remains the same. We need to first dice paneer into cubes and crispy fry it as is or with some batter (preferably rice flour batter) until golden brown. And then we fry it with respective ingredients. Ginger garlic paste also remains common in both.
Both also taste awesome when garnished with fresh lemon juice, when we use only fresh paneer, and also shallow fry them well until super crispy.
6. Paneer 65 vs Paneer Chilli: Nutritional Value
Finally, both paneer 65 and paneer chili have different nutritional values. Both are rich in protein owing to the fact that paneer is the source of protein. But paneer 65 calories and fat content may differ from that of paneer chili.
Now, we can give you an average per preparation of both dishes. The nutritional value varies with the kind of recipe you follow. Here is a general idea:
Paneer 65 per plate: Energy 300 kcal, Protein 10 grams, Carbohydrates 16 grams, Fat 20 grams
Paneer Chilli per plate: Energy 320 kcal, Protein 10 grams, Carbohydrates 18 grams, Fat 18 grams
You can also find similar comparisons like paneer makhani vs paneer shahi or paneer Nanak vs Deep on our blog.
