Pleasing Paneer

November 26th, 2009 Mona Posted in Black Peppercorns, Canned crushed tomatoes, Canola Oil, Cardamom/Elaichi, Cashewnuts/Kaaju, Cinnamon/Dalchini, Clove/Laung, Coriander seeds, Ginger-Garlic paste, Kasuri methi, Milk and Milk Products, Paneer, Red Chilli powder, Salt/Namak, Turmeric/Haldi, Yellow Onion/Pyaaz, Yogurt/Dahi 16 Comments »

During days when I do not feel like having any non-vegetarian meal, I treat myself with some Paneer in a creamy gravy curry. The non-melting attribute and meat like texture of Paneer is favored by vegetarians and is a very good substitute for meat.

Shallow fried Paneer cubes

To add a shahi touch/richness and thickness to the gravy, paneer is simmered in a cashewnut+milk puree along with yogurt and tomatoes. I have used milk instead of using cream, you can go ahead and use cream for the gravy if you want. You will definitely fall in love with this delightful paneer curry which is one my favorites.

You can use home-made Paneer,or store-bought~ easily available at Indian stores in the cold sections. Store brought ones has additives and lacks freshness, but saves time.

Shahi Paneer Masala – A Royal Cottage Cheese Curry

Ingredients:

Yellow Onions – 2, large, roughly chopped
Canola oil – 5 tbsp
Home-made Paneer – 400 gms, cut into cubes (if using store bought, I recommend Mother-dairy brand)
Cinnamon stick – one 2″ stick
Cardamom – 2
Cloves – 2
Black peppercorns – 5
Ginger-Garlic Paste – 1 tbsp
Cashewnuts – 1/4 cup, soaked in 3 tbsp warm milk for 30 minutes and pureed to a smooth paste
Yogurt 2% – 1/2 cup
Canned Crushed tomatoes – 185 ml (or you can also use 5 medium sized pureed tomatoes)
Salt – 1 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder – 2 tsp
Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
Dry roasted Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Karuri Methi – 1/4 cup
Milk 2% – 1 1/2 cup

Shahi Paneer masala

Method:

1. Grind the roughly chopped onions in a blender and make a fine paste. Transfer to a bowl and keep aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the canned crushed/pureed tomatoes and yogurt and keep aside.
2. Heat oil in a kadhai. Cut paneer into small cubes. Shallow fry over medium heat until light brown on all sides. Using a slotted spoon transfer the fried paneer pieces aside to a bowl.
3. In the same oil, add the cinnamon stick, peppercorns, cardamom and cloves. Fry them for a minute and add the onion paste and fry for a few minutes until the raw smell wards off and oil starts separating. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry it along for a minute. Add the cashewnut+milk paste, tomatoes+yogurt mixture, salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder. Saute for 1-2 minutes. Add kasuri methi to the gravy and mix well. Add the fried paneer pieces and mix gently. Pour in milk and mix well, bring the gravy to boil. Reduce the heat and cook until the gravy becomes thick and oil separates. Serve.

This goes to JFI-Paneer being hosted by Trupti at her blog ‘The Spice Who Loved Me‘.

Luv
Mona

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Tamatar Murgh

November 20th, 2009 Mona Posted in Canned crushed tomatoes, Canola Oil, Cumin seeds/Zeera, Curry leaves (fresh), Fenugreek/Methi seeds, Garam masala powder, Hyderabadi special, Mustard seeds/Rai, Nigella seeds/Kalonji, Quick fix meals, Red Chilli powder, Salt/Namak 12 Comments »

Tamatar Murgh

Today was one such day when I was out of ideas to prepare a chicken curry. Thats when suddenly I recollected the video that I had posted on my blog a while back where Rani Kulsum Begum was dishing out a delicious Tamatar Murgh curry. I tried her recipe today with a few changes of my own here and there and it was one ambrosial yet a simple curry to prepare.

Tamatar Murgh – Chicken simmered in crushed tomato sauce

Ingredients:

تيل/Canola oil – 3 tbsp
ثابت کلونجی/Nigella sativa seeds – 1 tsp
ثابت زیرہ/Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
میتھی دانہ/Fenugreek seeds – 1/2 tsp
رائی/Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
ادرَک لہسن مسالہ/Ginger-garlic paste – 3 tbsp
کری پتہ/Curry leaves – 2 sprigs, fresh
زیرہ پاوٴڈر/Dry roasted Cumin seed powder – 1 1/2 tsp
دھنیا پاوٴڈر/Dry roasted Coriander seed powder – 2 tsp
سرخ مرچ پاوٴڈر/Red Chilli powder – 2 1/2 tsp
پساہوا ٹماٹر ٹين والا/Canned Crushed tomatoes – 400 ml
نمک/Salt – 2 tsp
مُرغ/Whole Chicken with bone – skinned and cut into pieces (around 1.5 kg)
گرم مسلہ پوڈر/Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp

Method:

In a large non-stick saucepan or a saute pan at medium high heat, pour in oil and as soon as it warms up, add the nigella seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds and mustard seeds. As they begin popping and spluttering, add the ginger-garlic paste and fry for a minute. Add the curry leaves and fry them along for a few seconds. Add the dry roasted cumin and coriander seed powders as well as the red chilli powder and mix well. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and mix well, let cook uncovered for 2 minutes. Add salt and chicken and mix well. Spread the chicken so that it is in a single layer. Cook uncovered at medium heat for 5 minutes. Then, cover with a lid and let cook for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is tender and well cooked, stirring it gently occasionally. Uncover the lid and cook until the oil is floating on top and the tomato masala is dry and clinging to the chicken, around 8-10 minutes. Add garam masala powder and mix well. Serve warm.

Note: If you like to have a saucy masala instead of a dry clinging masala, do not cook uncovered furthur in the last stages.

Luv,
Mona

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