Where to buy Paneer in Cambridge/Somerville?

[davis_sq_pro]

Trader Joe's used to sell fresh blocks of paneer, but they haven't had them in stock for ages. I tried the frozen cubes-in-a-tub sold at the Indian market in Davis Square and discovered them to be freezer burned, dry, and bland (all at the same time! Ugh!) Any sources in the area for the fresh stuff?

[tazia]

Any updates on where to get paneer in the Cambridge/Somerville area? Russo's doesn't stock it regularly and the version at Whole Foods I found was $9 for a relatively small amount. Looks like Shalimar might be the best option, but I'm hoping there might be a few more options now.

[smtucker]

The Indian market next to the Somerville Market Basket always has paneer.

[fesenjan]

Yes, I second this -- over to the back right of the Market Basket at 400 Somerville Avenue. I've always found it there, reasonably priced. I think it's called Little India Market.

[dulce de leche]

They've got a couple of brands, but both are $4.99 for the same size (unfrozen) block--I can't remember how big, but I think 1 lb.

I think the prices are about the same at the store in Central.

[Bob Dobalina]

I think there is an Indian market on Mass. Ave. maybe across from Pemberton Farms - not sure if they have it, but a candidate for further inspection.

[FoodDabbler]

Foodland. It's a Bangladeshi store and it carries frozen paneer. I haven't seen fresh. Their frozen foods are iffy, I've found, but I've not tried their paneer.

[emannths]

There's also Nimah Market at the corner of Mass Ave and Rindge. I've never been inside, and many of the reviews on Yelp seem to indicate that it's relatively expensive.

[sweetfern]

If you can get to Waltham....Moody Street has excellent Indian stores, prices are the lowest around, makes spices sold at other stores look exorbitant.

sweetfern

[another_adam]

Shalimar (indian market in central square) has it in the refrigerator case (vacuum-packed blocks, I can't remember the size offhand). I personally don't find them necessarily better or worse than making it at home--which is indeed easy, but not as easy as slicing up a premade one! If I'm going to use it in a sauce, homemade is nice because it's softer; if you're going to fry it, the premade block is easier, because it's firmer (at least more so than when I make it)

[davis_sq_pro]

Thanks!

[peregrine]

Go out Mass. Ave to Arlington Center, where Chai Cafe has paneer blocks as well.

[davis_sq_pro]

Perfect, and I can eat at the Indian restaurant across the street (I can't remember the name, but last time I was there it was pretty good -- not as good as the place in Lexington, though).

[peregrine]

The restaurant, which also runs the Cafe, is Punjab. They have moved a few doors further out on the same block into a larger space and added several items to the menu. It's definitely competitive with Kushboo now.

Bon appetit, or however you say that in Hindi/Punjabi.

[bear]

Whole Foods sells paneer. It's also actually pretty fun and easy to make it yourself, and a lot cheaper! It really doesn't take too long, either.

[davis_sq_pro]

Thanks; I'll check out Whole Foods. I tried making it myself once, but the result was ultra-crumbly, even after being pressed in some cheese cloth. Not at all what I was expecting. I'm not sure if I did something wrong, but I'll have to try again at some point!