Paneer Hot Dog Recipe
Golden buttery hot dog buns packed with charred paneer in a scrumptiously spicy, aromatic, and subtly sweet sauce — what could be better? This paneer hot dog recipe is a celebration of both American and Indian cuisine, and it delivers a true wow factor.
Fusion recipes are such fun. Coming up with new ways to combine unexpected ingredients, methods, or dishes from two cuisines is the easiest way to unleash creativity in the kitchen. It’s also the best way to stop mealtimes being boring.
If you’re tired of the same-old-same-old, this recipe is ideal for you: coriander-sprinkled, butter-glazed buns stuffed to the brim with a perfectly-spiced, tomato-rich, unbelievably easy-to-make curry.
Paneer is our star ingredient — a mild Indian cheese — and our meat replacement. It’s protein-packed and deliciously squeaky (if you like halloumi, you’ll love paneer).
I’ve been vegetarian from birth, so I never got to enjoy BBQs in the garden. Back then there weren’t any vegetarian sausages on the market, so I was never invited. Now, I host my own parties and BBQs with these paneer hot dogs as the centrepiece, and everyone returns for seconds.
This recipe post will cover everything you need to know: substitutions, tips, serving suggestions, and of course, the recipe!
🤤 Why This Paneer Hot Dog Recipe is One to Try
🌭 Paneer Hot Dog Ingredients
Oh boy. If you’re not used to cooking Indian meals, the sheer amount of ingredients here can seem overwhelming and intimidating.
Every single one of these ingredients is necessary for building a truly awe-inspiring depth of flavour. Most are store-cupboard essentials, although you may have to visit your local Asian grocery store (or online shop) for the spices and herbs.
If you break the list down into sections and understand why each ingredient is essential, it can be less formidable. That’s what we’ll do here!
- Paneer: The STAR of this recipe. Paneer is a mild 100% vegetarian (no rennet) non-melting cheese, making it ideal for recipes like these. For paneer hot dogs, it lends a creaminess to the filling, while the mild taste is the perfect carrier for all our gorgeous spices.
Here are some more paneer recipes you may enjoy:
- Oil: Any neutral oil will do. This is a flavour carrier for our aromatics and spices.
- Onion: Lends natural sweetness. I used yellow onions but red is good too.
- Ginger garlic paste: While punchy and peppery when raw, the cooked ginger garlic paste melts into the sauce, adding a buttery sweetness. I make homemade ginger garlic paste for these recipes.
- Green chillies: I use jwala chillies (an Indian variety). Green chillies are sharp and fruity, contrasting with the other hot spices we use.
- Tomatoes: These make our sauce lovely and jammy. Always use fresh (not canned).
- Ground spices: Red chilli powder provides a fiery heat, cumin powder adds sweet warmth, turmeric powder adds a slight hint of bitterness and earthy pepperiness, and finally garam masala rounds out the seasoning with complex notes.
- Ketchup: Adds a layer of umami with its salty, deep, and slightly sweet flavour. It’s a great hack to add an extra layer of depth with a store cupboard basic.
- Red bell peppers: Refreshing and crisp, red bell peppers add crunch and tangy sweetness.
- Fresh coriander: Provides a zesty lift to the paneer hot dog with citrusy herbiness.
Then, this wouldn’t be a paneer hot dog recipe unless our paneer curry was nestled in a soft, fluffy bun! You’ll only need two ingredients:
- Hot dog buns: The perfect carrier for our masala paneer curry. Brioche hot dog buns are my go-to for their golden colour and richness of flavour. White hot dog buns or potato hot dog buns are also great!
- Butter: For toasting our hot dog buns. Gives them a gorgeous shiny glaze.
Scroll down to the paneer hot dog recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
🥪 Ingredient Substitutions
Make paneer hot dogs vegan by substituting paneer for tofu. You can even make homemade tofu! Both paneer and tofu are great sources of vegetarian protein, and both have a similar firm texture with mild flavour, making it a great swap.
You’ll also need to check your hot dog buns are vegan, and use vegan butter for toasting (I like Miyoko’s or Flora).
Or, why not replace hot dog buns entirely and use sandwich bread to make a paneer hot dog sandwich?
🌽 Flavour Variations
Make it cheesy. Yes, paneer is cheese — but it’s not that gooey, melty cheese that we tend to crave. Double up on the cheese effect by adding cheese slices or freshly grated cheese to the hot dogs before layering on the paneer. The heat from the paneer will melt the cheese. So good!
Load up on vegetables. This recipe uses bell peppers, but why not go further? Sweet corn or peas are fantastic additions.
Play around with the sauces. I’ve added ketchup for umami, but what about BBQ sauce for a smoky sweetness? Chilli sauce for even more heat? This is so adaptable.
Adjust the heat. This recipe packs quite a punch, but there’s room for more spice. Just increase the quantity of either green chillies or red chilli powder (or both, if you’re brave!)
Alternatively, you can leave out the chilli or replace it with either Kashmiri chilli powder (milder) or paprika (completely mild) for kids.
🧑🍳 How to Make Paneer Hot Dogs, Step-by-Step
30 minutes. That’s all you’ll need before you have these golden-brown, buttery, spicy delights in front of you.
If you’re familiar with the process of making Indian curries, the paneer hot dogs will be ready in even less time. Making the saucy paneer is the only real cooking you need to do … and even if you’re a beginner cooking with spices, my easy instructions will walk you through it, easy-peasy.
- Step one: Heat oil in a large, deep-sided frying pan (or kadai). Once hot, add the green chillies and onion. Cook until the onion is soft and aromatic.
- Step two: Add ginger garlic paste to the pan and stir until it no longer smells raw.
- Step three: Next, add chopped tomatoes along with salt, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder, and red chilli powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes become jammy.
- Step four: Add ketchup and mix into the sauce.
- Step five: Add chopped paneer and red peppers to the pan. Stir to coat the paneer in the thick, spicy sauce. Turn off the heat.
- Step six: Season with garam masala and chopped coriander (optional). Stir again.
- Step seven: Cut the hot dogs and stuff the paneer mixture into the slits.
- Step eight: Heat butter in a large, flat pan or tawa. Once melted, add the stuffed hot dogs. Gently toast the bottom, then carefully toast the top (where the paneer is). Cook until hot and gently charred.
As always, you can find more detailed instructions in the recipe card.
Cookware You Need
❓Frequently Asked Questions
🍟 Serving Suggestions
I always have plenty of condiments on hand for recipes like these. A drizzle of mayonnaise (egg-free or vegan mayonnaise if you prefer) cools down the spice, but you can get creative, too; try green chutney, avocado cilantro sauce, tamarind sauce, and even mango chutney!
When working out what to pair with paneer hot dogs, classic American side dishes are top of my list.
- Panko-breaded onion rings (featured in my photos!) taste phenomenal and offer a nice crispy bite, contrasting the softness of the paneer hot dog.
- You can never go wrong with potato chips (crisps in the U.K.) — they taste delicious either store-bought or made at home. If you want something with a bit more impact, vegetable chips are just as flavoursome — if not more so — and offer a colourful, healthy option.
- Talking of healthier options, I love whipping up a fresh side salad. It’s the least time-consuming (ready in less than five!) and the crisp lettuce plus lemony dressing are to die for. Salads are never boring when they’re Oh My Veg-style!
- Fries (chips) or potato wedges are a surefire crowdpleaser. Spice them up with a seasoning blend, make them cheesy by melting over cheddar or mozzarella, or just add a simple dusting of salt — so many choices.
Serving this paneer hot dog recipe at a party? Pair it with other fusion appetisers or fun recipes like pani puri shots, chaat bombs, onion bhaji burgers, and more.
If you tried this paneer hot dog recipe — or any other recipe on my website — please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know your thoughts in the ✍️comments at the bottom of the page. Thanks for being a part of my community!
Paneer Hot Dogs
This paneer hot dog recipe is the best of fusion: buttery golden hot dog buns stuffed with a spicy paneer curry.
Ingredients
For the Masala Paneer
- 1 tablespoon Neutral Oil
- 2 Green Chillies, sliced
- 1 Small Onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 120g Tomatoes (1.5 Medium Tomatoes)
- Salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
- 1 tablespoon Tomato Ketchup
- 200g Paneer, cut into cubes
- 120g Red Pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Garam Masala
- Fresh Coriander, to taste (optional)
For the Hot Dogs
- 4 Brioche Hot Dog Rolls*
- 1 tablespoon Butter
Instructions
Make the Masala Paneer
- Add neutral oil to a large, deep-sided pan (or kadai) over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the green chillies and onions to the pan and saute until the onions become translucent and soft.
- Next, add ginger garlic paste to the pan. Stir and gently saute for a few seconds, or until the paste no longer smells pungent and raw.
- Add chopped tomatoes along with salt. Then add your dry spice powders: coriander, cumin, turmeric, and red chilli powder. Stir to mix and cook for around 5-10 minutes, or until the tomatoes become jammy and the oil separates from the sides.
- Squeeze ketchup into the pan and mix into the sauce.
- Add the chopped paneer and red peppers. Stir to coat the paneer in the thick, spicy sauce. Let the sauce thicken for a few minutes, then turn off the heat.
- Season the paneer masala with garam masala and chopped coriander. Stir to combine the mixture.
Make the Hot Dogs
- Cut each hot dog in the centre, without severing the two halves.
- Split the masala paneer into four portions and carefully spoon one paneer portion into each hot dog.
- Melt butter in a large, flat pan (or tawa) over medium heat.
- Once the butter melts, add the stuffed hot dogs to the pan. Gently cook the bases, then carefully flip the hot dogs so they're paneer-side down. Cook the hot dogs until the paneer and bun barely char, then remove from the heat and serve immediately.
Optionally, serve with a squeeze of mayonnaise drizzled over the paneer hot dogs.
Notes
* Any hot dog buns are acceptable, but the subtle sweetness of brioche is particularly good with the spicy masalas.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 539Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 969mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 3gSugar: 11gProtein: 18g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
