Paneer Butter Masala

I was craving paneer, so we made some inspired by Simple Indian Recipes. The dish smelled and tasted great, but it needed more heat. I think next time we will thrown some homemade ground chili in instead of using store bought chili powder.

Ingredients:

- Paneer - 1/2 lb (250 gms)

- Onion - 1 big/2 small (chopped)

- Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp

- Tomato - 3 small/ 2 big (blanched and pureed)

- Cashew Paste - 2 tbsp

- Chili Powder - 2 tsp (or to taste)

- Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

- Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp

- Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

- Kasoori Methi (a.k.a. Dried fenugreek leaves) - 1 tsp

- Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp

- Butter - 2-3 tblsp

- Oil - 1 tsp

- Salt - to taste

- Whipping cream - 1/4 cup 

- Cilantro - for garnish

Method:

Tomato purée:

1) boil water

2) wash and make a cross slit on the bottom of the tomatoes

3) boil tomatoes for 5-10 minutes

4) drain and pour cold water in the pot

5) once cool, quarter tomatoes and purée in food processor

Ginger Garlic paste

1) mash three cloves of garlic

2) grind three cm of ginger

3) mix with a dash of oil

Cashew paste

1) soak cashew nuts in warm water for 15 minutes

2) grind in food processor

Masala Sauce:

1) Heat a little oil in a pan, and saute the onions till it sweats and cooks nicely. You need not brown it.

2) Let it cool nicely and then puree the mixture.

3) In a different pan, melt the butter and splutter some cumin seeds.

4) Add the onion puree to this and fry for few minutes.

5) Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for another minute.

6) Add the turmeric powder, tomato puree, cashew paste, kasoori methi, chilly powder and corriander powder.

7) Reduce the heat and let the mixture cook for 5 minutes.

8) Add about a cup of water and required salt and let the gravy come to a boil.

9) Add the garam masala powder, paneer cubes, vegetables and the heavy cream/evaporated milk and let the whole gravy cook for another 5 minutes till all the flavours blend together. You may fry the paneer and vegetables in another pan first.

10) Serve in ride and garnish with cilantro.