Paneer Butter Masala

Paneer Butter Masala

 

Ingredients

200 gms Homemade Paneer (Cottage cheese) (or store bought)
2 medium Onions
3 large Tomatoes
1 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
6-8 Cashew nuts
1/3 cup Milk or 1/4 cup Cream
1 tsp Coriander powder
1 tsp Red chili powder
1/2 tsp roasted Cumin powder
1/4 tsp Home made Garam masala (or 1/2 tsp store bought)
a tiny pinch of Turmeric powder
2 tsp Kasuri Methi
1/4-1/2 tsp Sugar
1 small Green chilli,thinly slit
1 tbsp Coriander leaves,to garnish
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Oil
2 tbsp Butter

Method:
Cut paneer into triangle pieces of 1/2" depth.Immerse them in warm water until its usage.
Soak cashew nuts in warm milk for some time.Grind it to a smooth paste along with the
milk.If you want to use cream,grind the cashew nuts with a couple of table spoons of milk.
Make a cross on tomatoes and blanch them in hot water for 3-4 mins.Remove them and let
them slightly cool.Peel the skin and remove the eyes of tomato and chop into pieces and
grind it to a smooth puree.
Grind chopped onions with ginger garlic paste to a slightly coarse or smooth paste.
Heat oil and 1 tbsp butter and add slit green chilli,onion-ginger garlic paste mixture and
fry well until it turns slight brown and the raw smell goes away.
Add pureed tomato and fry constantly for 6-8 mins over medium heat until the mixture
becomes really thick and oil separates.This step is important to get a deep red color to
the gravy and also it enhances the taste of it.So fry the tomato mixture until it leaves
the pan and take care that you would not burn the masala in any stage.
Add roasted cumin powder,sugar,coriander powder,red chili powder and turmeric powder
fry well again for 2-3 mins.
Add 1 cup of water and boil it for 6-8 mins till the oil separates and the gravy dries up to
a thick masala gravy.
Remove the kadai from flame and add the ground cashewnut- milk mixture(if you are
using cream,add it now).Add kasuri methi,salt and garam masala and give a stir.
Return the kadai back on to the burner and keep mixing on low flame and let it come to a
boil for 2 mins.
Add butter and paneer slices (dipped in warm water) and cook for 2-3 mins stirring
continuously.
Serve hot with flat breads like Naan /Roti/Kulcha or Jeera rice/Bagara Rice.