Paneer is one of India’s most popular cheeses, and in recent years, its popularity has grown worldwide. In 2024, the global market for paneer—a fresh cheese made from cow or buffalo milk—was valued at over $10 billion. For those who avoid dairy, vegan paneer is easy to make using plant-based ingredients, like tofu. Semi-firm tofu, in particular, closely mimics the taste and texture of paneer. When cubed, it even looks the same. Here’s how to create flavorful Indian paneer recipes using tofu instead.
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What is a vegan substitute for paneer?
Paneer is a fresh, non-melting cheese made with milk curdled with either lemon juice or vinegar. It has a soft, firm, slightly crumbly texture, and the flavor is mild, which makes it the perfect ingredient for curry sauces. Semi-firm or firm tofu is the closest vegan alternative to paneer in terms of texture and mild flavor. When cubed, it closely resembles paneer and absorbs spices well.
“Tofu and paneer are both good sources of protein and are commonly used in vegetarian dishes,” writes Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD for Healthline. “They also contain some of the same micronutrients in varying amounts.” These nutrients include calcium and potassium, although it’s worth noting that tofu outperforms paneer in several areas of nutrition.
Madeleine Olivia
Tofu is a source of fiber and iron, for example, and also likely has more protein per serving than paneer. “Keep in mind that you may be more likely to consume paneer in 1-ounce (28-gram) servings and tofu in ½-cup (126-gram) servings,” says Streit. “Your normal portion of tofu likely has more protein than your typical portion of paneer in a dish.”
If you don’t want to use soy tofu, other plant-based paneer alternatives include cashew cheese, almond cheese, or even tofu made from ingredients like hemp seed or chickpeas.
5 vegan recipes with paneer
Below, we’ve gathered five tasty vegan recipes with tofu paneer. They’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and totally dairy-free.
Holy Cow Vegan
1 Vegan Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer butter masala, which likely originated in New Delhi in the north of India, is a rich, creamy curry typically made with tomatoes, cashews, spices, cream, onions, butter, and, of course, paneer. But in this version of the dish, Vaishali Honawar of Holy Cow Vegan will walk you through how to make an equally delicious version with ingredients like vegan butter and tofu. “The only thing we have to cut out from this dish is the unwelcome cholesterol,” says Honawar. “And we get to keep all the flavor.”
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Vegan Richa
2 Vegan Paneer Lababdar With Tofu
Originating from Punjab, paneer lababdar is similar to butter masala, but it’s a little chunkier in texture. Like masala, it’s easy to make with plant-based ingredients, including tofu, diced tomatoes, and spices like coriander, fenugreek, and garam masala. According to recipe creator Richa Hingle, this dish is “delicious, luscious and freezer friendly.”
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Madeleine Olivia
3 Vegan Palak Tofu Paneer
Another favorite from North India, palak paneer is a rich, thick dish made with puréed spinach, alongside ingredients like onions, spices, and herbs. Like all of the curries on this list, it’s easy to make plant-based by swapping in tofu. This version from Madeleine Olivia is not just tasty, it also has an appealing vibrant green color, too.
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Upbeet Anisha
4 Vegan Shahi Paneer
Shahi paneer is a popular Mughlai dish made with tomatoes, cream, onions, ground cashews, and clarified butter. This version from Anisha Chandra of Upbeet Anisha, which swaps in tofu and plant-based yogurt, is just as full of rich texture and flavor. “It has all those comforting, rich flavors of classic shahi paneer,” she says.
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Vegan Richa
5 Kadai Paneer Tofu and Peppers
This simple North Indian dish usually combines paneer and bell peppers, but in this version, Hingle achieves all the same taste and texture with hemp seed tofu. “This easy entree is full of flavor and comes together with about 20 minutes in the kitchen,” the recipe creator writes.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
