[Growster...]

While looking at various recipes, there seem to be more in favour of using Indian cheese, or paneer.

As my local supermarkets tend to stock very little cheese like this - which looks gorgeous, and I don't think our milk will work either if we want to make our own, has anyone any suggestions for substitutions please?

(Our Twongos has about a ton of Cheddar per shelf, but no Wensleydale or Cheshire! Apparently it's because of the thing in December)!

[mumofstig]

No suggestions for alternatives - thought of feta but that is much saltier, so I'm not sure it would work,

but you can make paneer so easily. You can even make it from UHT or powdered milk 

[compostqueen]

Paneer is so easy to make!  I wouldn't bother buying it as it's not right. It's a wierd texture that's not like paneer 

I have a recipe for paneer and a masala to go with it which is so fab I can't tell you. Easy to make though 

If you want it I'll pass it on 

[Lardman]

Paneer is so easy to make!

Even I've done it...  http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2008/05/24/how-to-make-paneer/

[Elvira]

Mmmmmm cheesy peas! That's put a curry on the menu for the weekend! 

I've found Asda keeps paneer?

[Annen]

That's just like cottage cheese! When I bought some paneer from my local medina it was vacuum packed and was like mild cheddar, nothing like that demonstration video that Lardman posted!

[sunshineband]

Was that you looking in my kitchen window about 2:30 pm Growster? 

We have paneer and pea curry tonight and it is all cooked and ready. I used one I bought in our local indian shop, vacuum packed like Anned mentioned and although it looks like cheddar it does not behave like cheddar at all, in that it does not melt and browns off just nicely to be quite light when you eat it.

Do you have any shops like this anywhere within a short drive?

I have found that the only way to get it even similar is to make what is essentially cottage cheese and press it overnight in muslin under a weight(like three of four tis of beans maybe), until enough whey has been extracted for the cheese to be dry enough to cut into cubes.

Halloumi doesn't melt and might make a decent substitute, although a bit salty