How To Make Cottage Cheese At Home: Your Guide To Fresh Paneer

By Garima Johar

January 5, 2026

Cottage cheese, aka paneer, is a staple in all Indian households. Accounting for a major chunk of the protein requirements in a vegetarian’s diet, here’s how you can make paneer from scratch at home.

Ingredients

6 cups full-fat milk 2 to 3 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice

Step 1

Heat the full-fat milk till it boils. Keep stirring to avoid scorching.

Step 2

When the milk boils, add lemon juice or vinegar to the pan, and you’ll see the milk curdling.

Step 3

Stir to separate the curds from the remaining liquid.

Step 4

Strain the curds using a cheesecloth and squeeze out the extra water.

Step 5

Place the cheesecloth on a flat surface and put a heavy weight on top till the paneer sets.

Step 6

Once the paneer is set, cut it into cubes and use it for any of your recipes.