SHAHI PANEER

As the name suggests this is a recipe that was extensively used by the royals in India. The rich creamy curry is  made with fresh cubes of cottage cheese. Its an all time favourite for vegetarians and very popular in restaurants.

Preparation Time 30 mins

Serves 2 to 3

INGREDIENTS

Paneer (cottage cheese) 200gms
Onion 1 medium
Green Chilly 1slit
Tomatoes 3 medium sized

Ginger 2 inch Piece

Garlic Clove 2

Water half cup

Green Cardamom 2

Butter 1 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Sugar a pinch

Red Chilly Powder 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander Powder 1/2 teaspoon

Garam Masala 1/4 teaspoon.

3 tbsp Cream or Milk (1 cup)

Kastoori Methi (Optional)

Chopped fresh coriander for garnish.

METHOD

Roughly chop the onions and tomatoes. In a cooker add the chopped onion, tomatoes, green Chilly, ginger, garlic and cardamom and half cup of water.

Pressure cook for 10 minutes, then open the cooker and blend all the ingredients to a puree. Then strain this gravy through a sieve.

In another pan add butter and this gravy bring to a boil, simmer and add red chilly powder, coriander powder, garam masala, sugar and salt. After 5 minutes add 2 tablespoons of Cream or Milk and simmer and cook for another 5 minutes. Your curry is ready now.

Add the paneer just before serving and heat for 2 -3 minutes. Add Kastoori Methi.Serve hot with Roti, Naan or Lachha Paratha.

TIP - If using frozen Paneer, after defrosting, put paneer in boiling water for about 10 mins.This will make it soft.

PALAK PANEER

This is a popular North Indian  dish

INGREDIENTS

A bunch of spinach
Green chilly 2
Ginger garlic paste 2-3 tsp
Cottage Cheese (paneer) 200gms  cut in cubes
Tomatoes 4 finely chopped or pureed
Chilly powder 1/2 tsp
Oil 1 tbsp
Bay leaf 1
Garam masala 1/2tsp
Salt to taste

METHOD

Steam the spinach for 5 minutes along with green chilly  & using a blender puree it.
Put the oil in a pan, add bay leaf & ginger garlic paste,saute for 2 mins &  add chopped tomatoes ,red chilly powder ,garam masala ,fry for another 5 mins or until oil separates.
Now add spinach & paneer cubes . Heat it for another 3-4 mins
Your palak paneer is ready.Serve  hot with naan or roti

Chef's Tip - It is a very healthy dish, as spinach is full of vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients

MALAI KOFTA

INGREDIENTS

MALAI KOFTA

Preparation Time 30 mins

Serves 2 to 3

FOR THE KOFTA

Cottage Cheese (Paneer) 1 cup grated

Boiled Potatoes 2

Green Chilly 1 chopped

Cornflour 1 teaspoon

Green Cardamom Powder a pinch

Almonds 4 

Salt to taste

FOR THE CURRY

Onion 1 Medium sized

Tomatoes 3 medium sized

Green Chilly 1slit

Ginger 2 inch Piece

Garlic Clove 2

Water half cup

Green Cardamom 2

Butter 1 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Sugar a pinch

Red Chilly Powder 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander Powder 1/2 teaspoon

Fennel (Saunf) Powder 1 teaspoon

Garam Masala 1/4 teaspoon.

Cream or Milk 3 tablespoons

Kastoori Methi (Optional)

Chopped fresh coriander for garnish.

METHOD

In a bowl Mash the potatoes and mix it with cottage cheese, green chilly, almonds, salt and cornflour. Make it into small oval shape as seen in the picture.

Heat the oil in a pan, once the oil is hot deep fry these koftas on medium heat till golden brown and take them out on an absorbent paper.

Roughly chop the onions and tomatoes. In a cooker add the chopped onion, tomatoes, green Chilly, ginger, garlic and cardamom and half cup of water.

Pressure cook for 10 minutes, then open the cooker and blend all the ingredients to a puree. Then strain this gravy through a sieve.

In another pan add butter and this gravy bring to a boil, simmer and add red chilly powder, coriander powder, saunf powder, garam masala, sugar and salt. After 5 minutes add 2 tablespoons of Cream or Milk and simmer and cook for another 5 minutes. Your curry is ready now.

Add the koftas just before serving and heat for 2 -3 minutes. Serve hot with Roti, Naan or Lachha Paratha.

TIP : You can make the same gravy and just add cottage cheese for a quick recipe of Shahi Paneer.