Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: main | Servings: 6
Difficulty level: moderate
Ingredients
For Kadhai masala
- 8 g Coriander seeds - whole / ground, whole seeds
- 4 g Cumin seed / jeera, whole seeds
- 2 g Dried chillies, whole dried
Paneer preparation
- 400 g Paneer, cubes, 3 cm
- 10 ml Cow Ghee, for light searing
- 1 g Salt, to season
For the gravy
- 15 ml Cow Ghee, for tempering
- 2 g Cumin seed / jeera, whole seeds
- 150 g Onion, sliced thick
- 10 g Garlic, paste
- 10 g Ginger, fresh, paste
- 250 g Tomato, hybrid, raw, chopped, deseeded
- 1 g Green chillies, sliced
- 1 g Turmeric / haldi, powder
- 3 g Salt, to taste
- 2 g Garam Masala, powder
- 1 g Kasuri methi, crushed
For serving
- 15 ml Cream, fresh, optional swirl
- 1 g Dried chillies, freshly ground
Instructions:
For Kadhai masala
- Dry roast coriander seeds, cumin seeds and whole dried red chillies in a heavy pan on low heat until aromatic. Cool completely.
- Coarsely grind the roasted spices. Keep texture slightly grainy, not fine powder.
Paneer preparation
- Heat ghee in a heavy kadhai. Lightly sear paneer cubes until edges are golden. Remove and reserve.
For the gravy
- In the same pan add ghee. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle.
- Add sliced onions and cook on medium heat until lightly caramelized but not dark brown.
- Add ginger paste and garlic paste. Cook until raw aroma disappears.
- Add chopped tomatoes and cook until reduced, glossy and thick.
- Add turmeric powder, salt and the freshly ground kadhai masala. Cook gently for 1 to 2 minutes on low heat.
- Add sliced green chilli if using. Stir well.
- Add paneer cubes and coat well in masala. Add 40 to 60 ml hot water only if needed for consistency. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add garam masala and crushed dry fenugreek leaves. Stir gently.
Serving suggestions
- Garnish with cream and kashmiri mirch if using.
- Rest covered for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavour integration.
Nutrition (Per Serving)
Calories: 230 kcal | Protein: 11.8 g | Carbohydrates: 12.5 g | Fat: 14.7 g | Fiber: 2.7 g