• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ministry of Curry logo

  • SHOP
    • The Essential Indian Instant Pot Cookbook
    • Amazon Store
    • eBooks
    • Cooking Classes
    • Meal Plans
  • RESOURCES
    • Instant Pot 101
    • Air Fryer 101
    • Indian Cooking Tools
    • Cooking 101
    • Essential Indian Spices
    • Guide to Beans and Lentils
    • Holiday Shopping Guide
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Oven Recipes
    • Stove Top Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Salad
    • Snacks
    • Drinks
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Vegan
  • ABOUT
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • Cooking Classes
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Indian

    Easy Paneer Kathi Roll

    Published: Oct 18, 2019 · Modified: Feb 8, 2023 by Archana · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 62 Comments

    35488 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Popular Indian street food, Paneer Kathi Rolls are warm, layered parathas filled with spicy paneer, mixed peppers, and sweet caramelized onions. Whether you make it for a quick weeknight meal or a leisurely gathering, these Kathi rolls are sure to be a hit!  

    Paneer Kathi Rolls

    This is a sponsored post. I’m partnering with Kawan to help share recipes and meal ideas. All opinions expressed are my own. 

    Traditionally made with skewered kebob filling, I love this quick and easy vegetarian version served with the crispy Kawan parathas that take it up a notch for a surefire winner amongst kids and adults alike. 

    Jump to:
    • What is a Kathi Roll
    • 30 Minute Vegetarian Meal
    • Best Parathas for Kathi Rolls
    • Ingredients 
    • How to Make Paneer Kathi Rolls
    • How to Serve Kathi Rolls
    • Storing
    • Drinks to Serve with Spicy Kathi Rolls
    • More Indian Curries
    • Recipe

    What is a Kathi Roll

    Epitomizing authentic Mughlai flavors; the Kathi Roll is one of India’s most popular grab-and-go street foods. The word Kathi or Kati means stick. Traditionally, the kebob meats were cooked on metal or wooden skewers and hence the word Kathi. These incredibly flavorful, succulent pieces of grilled meat (kebabs) or vegetables are rolled into a soft flaky flatbread topped with spicy-tangy green chutney, sliced red onion slivers, and a dash of lime to make mouthwatering Kathi rolls.

    I’ve had some of the best Kathi rolls on the streets of Mumbai, often way past midnight. A popular post-party food, these rolls never failed to delight even at that hour. The delectable aroma wafting through the bylanes lingers in my mind even to this day. 

    paneer kathi rolls

    30 Minute Vegetarian Meal

    Although Kathi rolls are usually made with a meat filling, I love this quick vegetarian version using zesty paneer cubes (cottage cheese) as the main ingredient. Bursting with an interesting mix of spices and flavors, this super easy-to-make dish is ready in under 30 minutes.

    kathi roll filling

    Best Parathas for Kathi Rolls

    I often turn to my freezer for Plain Kawan Parathas when I am making Kathi rolls. Kawan Parathas are pre-rolled to perfect thickness with layers of buttery dough. When cooked for just 2 to 3 minutes on a heated griddle, they turn into these flaky, crisp parathas filling your kitchen with wonderful aromas. And the best part... you do not need any additional oil or butter while cooking them. 

    paneer kathi rolls

    These delicious golden brown parathas can be rolled up with a layer of chutney, paneer and vegetable filling, and pickled onions. 

    Place the roll on parchment paper and they become a perfect on-the-go meal. For parties, I place the rolls on a baking tray and then reheat them in the oven just before serving. To serve as appetizers, cut them in half and they are sure to be a hit. 

    Ingredients 

    1. Paneer - This Indian Cottage cheese can be made at home using just 2 ingredients - milk and lemon juice. Here is my homemade paneer recipe. Although, oftentimes I find myself using store-bought paneer (Gopi or Haldiram brand) for convenience. It is sold in Indian grocery stores, Wholefoods, and Costco.
    2. Mixed Bell Peppers - I like red and green as they offer a nice contrasting color with sweetness from red and a mildly bitter flavor from green. You can use any peppers you have on hand
    3. Red Onions -  In addition to the sweetness of sauteed red onions, I love the beautiful red hue it adds to the filling.  I also love adding thinly sliced raw red onions while serving for some crunch
    4. Spices - Kashmiri red chili powder, ginger, garlic, garam masala, turmeric, Kasoori methi, and salt 
    5. Green Chutney - Homemade or store-bought green chutney
    Ingredients for paneer kathi rolls
    Paneer Kathi Roll Ingredients

    How to Make Paneer Kathi Rolls

    • Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add paneer and mix well (photos 1 - 2).
    marinating paneer
    • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan. Add onions, peppers, and ½ teaspoon of salt and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add marinated paneer and mix well. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the heat off and garnish with cilantro (photos 3 - 6).
    process shots showing how to make paneer kathi roll filling
    • Blend all the chutney ingredients using 2 tablespoons of water to make a smooth sauce. Note: Add more water as needed, a little at a time (photos 7 - 8).
    photos showing how to make mint cilantro chutney
    • Heat a non-stick griddle pan. Remove the Kawan paratha from the plastic wrapping and place it on the griddle. Cook on medium-high heat for about 1 to 1-½ minutes on each side or until both sides are golden brown, pressing gently with a spatula (photos 9 - 10).
    cooking kawan parathas

    How to Serve Kathi Rolls

    Spread 2 teaspoons of chutney on the cooked paratha.  Add 2 to 3 spoonfuls of the filling in the middle. Add a few sliced onions and cilantro on top. Love spicy? Add a few slices of pickled jalapenos. Roll the sides up to the middle. You can use small toothpicks to hold them together (photos 11 - 14).

    photos showing how to assemble and wrap kathi rolls

    Storing

    Leftover Kathi Roll filling can be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days making it a great make-ahead recipe. I often make the filling as meal prep for weeknight meals and it also makes for a perfect vegetarian dish to take for Indian potluck parties.

    The chutney can also be made ahead. I recommend freezing any leftovers in small silicone ice cube trays. They can be quickly thawed as needed.

    Drinks to Serve with Spicy Kathi Rolls

    • Mango Lassi - Cooling yogurt drink with mango is a perfect pairing with spicy foods
    • Ginger Lemonade - favorite homemade lemonade
    • Watermelon Juice - a quick 5-minute recipe for a refreshing drink
    • Rose Falooda - This drink and dessert recipe makes a delicious pairing with Kathi roll for a Friday night get-together or a game night
    • Masala Doodh - Steamed sweetened milk with nuts, cardamom, nutmeg, and saffron

    Love this easy Indian meal idea? Check out Chicken Kathi Rolls and Punjabi Chana Masala recipes that I love to serve with Kawan Parathas.

    More Indian Curries

    Here are some Indian curries that pair well with Kawan Parathas:

    • Easy Palak Paneer – The restaurant-favorite palak paneer ready in 15 minutes 
    • Dum Aloo – Quick and easy Instant Pot curried baby potatoes
    • Batatyachi Bhaji – Maharashtrian spicy potatoes with ginger and green chilies
    • Aloo Gobi Masala – Another restaurant fav recipe with curried cauliflower
    • Daal Makhani – Authentic Creamy lentils
    • Love curry? Check out my best Indian Curries

    Recipe

    Tried this recipe? We love your feedback.Please click on the stars in the recipe card below
    Paneer Kathi rolls
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    4.79 from 136 votes

    Paneer Kathi Rolls

    Popular Indian street food, Paneer Kathi rolls are warm, layered parathas filled with spicy paneer, mixed peppers, and sweet caramelized onions
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Appetizer, dinner, Entree
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 271kcal
    Author: Archana Mundhe

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups paneer cut into 1 inch cubes
    • 1 small red pepper thinly sliced
    • 1 small green pepper thinly sliced
    • 1 medium red onion thinly sliced

    Marinade Ingredients:

    • ¼ cup plain yogurt
    • 1 teaspoon ginger grated
    • 1 teaspoon garlic pressed
    • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder add 2 teaspoons for spicy
    • 1 teaspoon garam masala
    • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 1 tablespoon kasoori methi
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

    To Serve:

    • 6 to 8 kawan parathas ** cook per package instructions
    • 1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
    • ½ cup cilantro chopped

    Mint Cilantro Chutney

    • ½ cup cilantro
    • ¼ cup mint leaves
    • 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut frozen or dry
    • 1 garlic clove
    • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 1 to 2 small green chiles
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon sugar

    Instructions

    • Marinate the paneer- Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add paneer and mix well.
    • Make the filling- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan. Add onions, peppers and ½ teaspoon of salt and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add marinated paneer and mix well. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the heat off. Add cilantro.
    • Chutney - Blend all the chutney ingredients using 2 tablespoons of water to make a smooth sauce. Note: Add more water as needed, little at a time.
    • Cook the Parathas- Heat a non-stick griddle pan. Remove the kawan paratha from the plastic wrapping and place it on the griddle. Cook on medium-high heat for about to 1 to 1½ minutes on each side or until both sides are golden brown, pressing gently with a spatula. Enjoy hot!
    • Assemble Kathi Roll- Spread 2 teaspoons of chutney on cooked paratha. Add 2 to 3 spoonfuls of the filling in the middle. Add few sliced onions and cilantro on top. roll the sides up to the middle. You can use small toothpicks to hold them together.

    Video

    Notes

    The nutrition info does not include the calories and carb count for the parathas. For a Low Carb option substitute Kawan Parathas with low carb tortillas. Misson brand makes many varieties of soft low carb tortillas and are available in most US grocery stores  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 835mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1063IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 387mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @ministry_of_curry or tag #ministryofcurry

    ♥ Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for tasty and easy video recipes. Looking for more Instant Pot recipes? Check out our delicious Instant Pot Recipe board on Pinterest.

    Author: Archana

    Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
    Twitter Facebook Linkedin

    More Indian

    • Instant Pot Spinach Dal
    • Ginger Tea {Adrak Wali Chai}
    • Pav Bhaji Khichdi
    • Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Prasanna Raja says

      April 17, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      Another family favourite from Archana. It took me so long to try this delicious recipe. Bought Kawan parathas as I have been wanting to make for a long time. Right from marinating the paneer, preparing green chutney and assembling on parathas every step was so enjoyable.

      It was like a party in the mouth right from the first bite. Thoroughly enjoyed the lunch. This will go in my regular menu list. Thanks so much for this absolutely delish recipe..Nothing can wrong with a paneer recipe.5 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        April 17, 2022 at 4:53 pm

        Thank you for the lovely feedback!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Archana: a former software engineer, now a full-time blogger. I am a mother of two boys who share my love for food and cooking. Words I love to hear are, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” The same words I say to my mom every time we speak. I live in the greater New York City Area with my husband and sons.

    Learn More About Me!

    Archana's Essential Indian Instant Pot Cookbook

    SHOP

    Popular Posts

    • Mumbai Pav Bhaji
    • Instant Pot Chicken Biryani
    • Mushroom Masala
    • Homemade Pomegranate Juice

    Footer

    AS FEATURED IN

    ↑Back to Top

    Ministry of Curry

    Shop
    About
    Privacy Policy
    Accessibility
    Contact

    Food and Recipes

    Recipe Index
    Cooking 101
    Instant Pot 101
    Cookbook

    MOC Pro

    Dashboard
    Meal Plans
    Virtual Cooking Classes
    Tips & Tricks

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Ministry of Curry

    35488 shares
    • 374