Mutter Paneer

Mutter Paneer is a yummy, mildly spiced curry cooked with paneer (cottage cheese) and peas in a thick tomato and onion gravy. This is my mom's recipe. For vegan options, use tofu or any vegetable of your choice.

Serves: 4
Cooking Time: 30 to 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 250 grams of paneer, chopped
• 1 cup of green peas
• 1 large onion, 120 grams chopped
• 1 cup tomatoes chopped
• 1 teaspoon dry fenugreek leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1-inch cinnamon, broken into two
• 8 to 10 cashew nuts
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala or ground spices
• 3 tablespoon oil
• salt to taste
• 6 to 8 coriander sprig chopped

Procedure

• In a pan, add 1 tablespoon oil and once the oil has heated.
• Add one bay leaf, one broken cinnamon stick, 1/2 teaspoon dry fenugreek leaves and stir for a minute.
• Add the chopped onion and cook till they turn translucent.
• Add the chopped tomatoes and cook till tomatoes turn soft.
• Empty the content in a plate and let them cool down.
• Add cashew nuts and puree into a fine paste. (Remove the bay leaf and cinnamon stick if you don't prefer the strong flavour of the spices)
• For the curry, in a pan add the remaining 2 tablespoon oil.
• Once the oil has heated, add the mustard seeds and let them crackle.
• Add the cumin seeds and let them crackle.
• Add one bay leaf and one broken cinnamon stick, 1 teaspoon of dry fenugreek leaves and stir for a minute.
• Add peas and cook till peas are soft.
• Add the prepared puree to the peas.
• Add garam masala, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt to taste. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes. Keep stirring every now and then to ensure the curry doesn't burn.
• Add the chopped paneer and cook for 5 to 8 minutes.

Mutter paneer is ready, garnish it with chopped coriander and serve with rice or your favourite bread.

Tips

• For soft paneer, get the fresh paneer from the shop. Then boil paneer for 5 to 6 minutes. Then transfer the paneer to a bowl of chilled water. Remove from chilled water when you are ready to add it to curry.