Oct, 18 2025, 0 Comments
English name for paneer cheese - what to call it?
Discover the proper English name for paneer cheese, its differences from cottage cheese and queso fresco, and how to use each in recipes.
Read MoreFresh Cheese: Best Indian-Inspired Pizza Toppings and Uses
When you think of fresh cheese, a soft, unaged dairy product used in cooking and topping dishes. Also known as soft cheese, it's the secret behind many Indian-inspired pizzas that stay creamy, melty, and full of flavor. In India, fresh cheese isn’t just mozzarella—it’s paneer, a non-melting, high-protein cheese made by curdling milk with lemon or vinegar. It’s firm enough to grill, crumble, or slice, and it soaks up spices like a sponge. That’s why it’s the star in pizzas that blend Italian technique with Indian taste.
Most pizza places use mozzarella because it melts smooth, but paneer gives you something different: texture, protein, and that unmistakable Indian kitchen flavor. You don’t need to choose one over the other—many of the best pizzas here use both. A slice with spiced paneer, bell peppers, and cilantro chutney hits different than plain pepperoni. And if you’re avoiding dairy, some recipes even use tofu or cashew-based cheeses as substitutes, though they’re not traditional. Fresh cheese matters because it’s not just a topping—it’s a bridge between two food cultures. It holds up under high heat, doesn’t turn greasy, and adds body without overwhelming the spices.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real recipes, real mistakes, and real fixes. Some show how to make paneer from scratch using milk and lemon juice. Others explain why your cheese turns rubbery when baked too long. There’s even a post on how to tell if your fresh cheese is still good to use, because no one wants a spoiled topping ruining their pizza night. You’ll learn which cheeses pair best with tandoori spices, how to drain excess water from paneer so your crust doesn’t get soggy, and why some Indian households skip cheese entirely and use yogurt-based sauces instead. This isn’t about copying Italian pizza—it’s about making it your own, one fresh cheese slice at a time.
