Paneer Peas Masala

Stir Fried Cottage Cheese with green peas and Indian spices in delectable creamy cashew nut and Saffron gravy.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Serves: 04

Course: Main –Vegetarian

 

Ingredients and Quantity:

Paneer, cut into cubes – 250gm.

Green Peas, boiled- 125 gm.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 01 tbsp.

Shahi Jeera- ¼ th tsp.

For the gravy:

Butter / Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 01 tbsp.

Cashew nuts – 60 gm.

Boiled Onion paste– ½ cup

Green Chilli , chopped – 01 no.

Ginger Paste- 01 tsp.

Garlic Paste – 1 tsp.

Tomato puree – ½ cup

Salt – To taste

Kashmiri Powder – 01 tsp.

Turmeric powder – ¼ th tsp

Coriander powder – 01 tsp.

Cumin Powder – ½ tsp.

Kasoori Methi, broiled and crushed – ½ tsp.

Water – as required

Fresh Cream- 01 tbsp.

Saffron, broiled- 01 gm.

For the Garnish:

Fresh Coriander leaves, finely chopped – 1/4^th Bunch

Method:

In a heavy bottomed pan, add butter / olive oil, stir fry the paneer cubes, each side till they become crispy and light golden in colour. Keep in salted lukewarm water.

Pour Olive oil in a pan, add the cashew nuts and sauté till it is light golden in colour. Add the boiled onions paste and chopped green chillies and sauté till they become translucent. Add the ginger and garlic paste, cook till the raw aroma disappears. Add the tomatoes puree, cook till the oil oozes out. Add salt to taste.

Allow this to cool. Blend all the ingredients into a smooth creamy paste.

Heat butter add the shahi jeera let it crackle, add the blended paste and stir.

Add the Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and cumin powder.

Stir well & sauté till the masala cooks well, add the water and mix well. Sauté till the butter / oil oozes out.

Add the boiled green peas, broiled Kasoori Methi, broiled saffron,  fresh cream, water and simmer for 02 minutes. Adjust salt and consistency if required. Switch off the flame.

Serve hot garnished with finely chopped coriander leaves.

Chef Tips:

The fried paneer is steeped in lukewarm salted water in order to remove excess of oil / butter in which it is fried also so that it becomes much softer in texture and absorbs salt.