Paneer Masala (Masala Malai Paneer included)

 

Date: 20-April-2020

Thought: This is my version of dhaba style paneer masala in this pandemic situation.

You can try this recipe with boiled eggs, chicken, tofu and even Soya chaap. To this recipe if you add some fresh cream while preparing it, you would end up having Masala Malai Paneer.

Ingredients:

• 250 gms of Paneer cut into cubes
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 3-4 tsp ginger garlic paste (1:3 ratio)
• 2 tsp roasted cumin-coriander powder
• 2 tsp chilli powder
• 1 small tomato paste
• 2 tsp of mustard oil
• Some chopped coriander leaves
• Some finely crushed Dried Fenugreek (methi) leaves a.k.a kasturi meethi
• 2 tsp of cashew paste
• 1 tsp of turmeric powder / paste
• 1 tsp of garam masala
• Salt and sugar as per taste

Method:

• Take a tsp of oil. Add the paneer pieces with a pinch each of salt and turmeric powder. Fry them till they are light brown on all sides.
• Take a bowl filled with hot water. Add a pinch of salt to it. Add the fried paneer pieces to it. (This keeps the paneer pieces soft and prevents from turning rubbery)
• Add another tsp of oil in the pan. Add the chopped onions. Add the chilli powder. Fry they are reddish brown.
• Then, add the tomato paste and some salt, sugar and turmeric powder.
• As soon as the mixture starts leaving oil, add the rest of the ingredients. Fry for another 8-10 minutes. Keep adding drizzles of water to avoid the mixture from burning.
• Finally add the hot water soaked fried paneer pieces and add water as per your gravy consistency requirement.
• Serve hot with bread of your choice.