These crispy paneer fingers are a fun, flavourful and fantastic recipe made in the air fryer! You can serve this delicious paneer appetizer with mint chutney or Indian mint sauce or in a wrap for a wholesome meal!

crispy golden air fryer paneer fingers served on a blue plate with Indian mint sauce, chutneys and salad.

Crispy Paneer Fingers in the Air Fryer

Many people have heard of “veggie fingers” but have you heard of paneer fingers?

These wonderful bites are bursting with delicious flavours and incredible textures – and will truly make your mouth water!

You will love how simple and quick it is to make this scrumptious paneer appetizer! Plus, this recipe uses an air fryer as a healthier alternative to cook the paneer fingers to give you delicious and crispy paneer fingers (without using excess oil).

I have enjoyed these paneer fingers on numerous occasions – and this dish always serves me well!

Paneer is a great source of protein and other nutrients (including calcium) and brings a wholesome element to any dish! Whether you want a pick-me up snack, a paneer sandwich or paneer wrap, these paneer fingers are excellent!

crispy air fryer paneer fingers drizzled with Indian mint sauce, served in bowl with salad.

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Crispy Paneer Fingers in the Air Fryer
Notes on Recipe Ingredients
Equipment
How to make crispy paneer fingers in the air fryer
Tips for making perfect paneer fingers
Storage
How to serve
Related
Fresh drinks
Crispy Paneer Fingers (Air Fryer Recipe)

Notes on Recipe Ingredients

To make paneer fingers you will need:

Paneer: also known as cottage cheese. This is the star of the show and I recommend using fresh paneer blocks which you can slice into long strips.
Green chillies: for spice (optional, but recommended). You can use fresh red chillies if preferred – however red chillies tend to be spicier than green so adjust accordingly and as preferred.
Fresh coriander/cilantro: fresh coriander or cilantro is used for its refreshing taste and to enhance the spices in this recipe.
Garlic and ginger: use fresh garlic cloves and ginger for maximum flavour
Spices and seasoning: including turmeric powder, red chilli powder (or paprika), coriander powder, garam masala, salt and black pepper. Optional - you can also add a pinch of ground fenugreek (methi) in this recipe.
Olive oil: I recommend using extra virgin olive oil – as a healthier alternative to vegetable or sunflower oil, however you may use regular olive oil for this recipe. This is added to the marinade and also used to spray onto the paneer fingers to help them cook evenly and become crispy and slightly golden.
Lemon juice: for a refreshing taste, you can add fresh lemon juice or use bottled lemon juice if preferred.

Equipment

I recommend the Ninja Foodi wide air fryer. This air fryer has variable fan speed and comes with a wide crisper basket so you can cook the paneer fingers in one batch.

You can use any air fryer with the “air fry” function - just make sure the paneer fingers have space to cook and crisp up. If you have a smaller air fryer you may need to cook the paneer fingers in batches.

How to make crispy paneer fingers in the air fryer

Prepare paneer and make the marinade. Use a knife to cut the paneer into strips and then use a fork to scratch the paneer and place into a bowl. Add all the marinade ingredients into a small blender and blend until a smooth paste is formed, for about 2-3 minutes (intermittently stopping to mix the paste).
Marinate the paneer by coating the paneer strips with the marinade paste. Allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes for more flavour (optional).
Coat the marinated paneer in breadcrumbs. Tip: place breadcrumbs in a plate and dip each paneer strip into the breadcrumbs, turning the paneer so each side is coated with breadcrumbs (image 4).
Air-fry the paneer fingers. Preheat air fryer to 200°C/392°F. Transfer the breaded paneer fingers onto the air fryer tray and spray each paneer finger evenly with olive oil (image 5). Air fry for 10 minutes at 200°C/392°F, flipping the paneer fingers halfway to cook evenly, or until golden and crispy (image 6).

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numbered collage showing how to make air fryer crispy paneer fingers.

Tips for making perfect paneer fingers

Allow paneer to marinate for at least 15 minutes: for maximum flavour, I recommend the extra 15 minutes to allow paneer to marinate. This extra time helps the paneer absorb more of the marinade flavour. You can skip this for a quicker version.
Scratch the paneer: use a fork to scratch the paneer before coating in the marinade. This helps the marinade stick to the paneer more.
Coat paneer generously with breadcrumbs: this helps the paneer become crispier. It helps to press the breadcrumbs gently into the paneer to help them stick more easily. Optional – you can double coat the paneer fingers with breadcrumbs for extra crunch – by spraying a little oil on the breaded paneer and topping with more breadcrumbs.
Flip halfway: flip the paneer fingers halfway through cooking to allow the paneer to cook evenly
Avoid stacking and serve hot: for best results serve the paneer immediately whilst hot. Using a spatula transfer paneer from the air fryer onto a plate lined with kitchen towel and avoid stacking – this helps the paneer stay crispy and prevents them from becoming soggy.

crispy golden paneer fingers served on a blue plate with Indian mint sauce, chutneys, salad leaves and tortillas.

Storage

Fridge: You can store these paneer fingers in the fridge for up to 1 day. To store, transfer into an airtight container once cooled and place in fridge.
Reheat from the fridge: for best results, use the reheat setting on your air fryer to reheat paneer fingers and keep them crispy. (Tip: you typically need 5-6 minutes at 190°C/374°F to reheat the paneer fingers – you may need longer depending on quantity. Make sure the paneer fingers are hot before serving).

stacked air fryer paneer finger appetizers served with salad leaves, chutney and tomato salsa.

How to serve

These paneer fingers can be served as an appetizer or snack with a selection of chutneys including mint chutney, tamarind chutney or Indian mint sauce (green yogurt chutney). You can also serve with coconut chutney or peanut chutney.
Alternatively, you can add these into a sandwich or make paneer wraps with salad leaves, guacamole, chutneys and blender salsa or pico de gallo!
Serve alongside other appetizers including aloo tikki chaat and dhokla!

Looking for other Indian recipes? Try these:

Fresh drinks

Serve with delicious fresh juices and smoothies:

Crispy Paneer Fingers (Air Fryer Recipe)