Paneer, Centuries-Old Indian Cheese, Takes Hold In America

Now a beloved Indian staple is making inroads in the U.S., even though it's been around since the 1500s. Paneer is the firm cheese that's the hero ingredient in the vegetarian dish saag paneer.

Given the current obsession with plant-based cooking, cheese might seem like a food in decline.

But curd consumption has risen 19% in the past decade, according to recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. It's the main catalyst of per capita dairy consumption. Last year was great for the dairy case, as sales increased $7 billion from a year earlier to $61 billion, according to Madison, Wis.-based International Dairy Deli Bakery Association.

At Kroger Co., the second-best-selling overall product of 2020 was four-cheese Mexican blend. (Zero-calorie soft drinks were No. 1.)

Now a beloved Indian staple is making inroads in the U.S., even though it's been around since the 1500s. Paneer is the firm cheese that's the hero ingredient in the vegetarian dish saag paneer.