Kadai Paneer Recipe

Kadai Paneer Recipe

Prep Time : 5 mins
Cook Time : 25 mins
Total Time : 30 mins
 

Ingredients

For kadai masala

  • 5 to 6 kashmiri red chilies – broken and seeds removed
  • 1.5 tablespoons coriander seeds

Other ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons oil
  •  to ½ cup finely chopped onions – 90 grams or 1 medium-sized
  • 2 teaspoons ginger-garlic paste
  • 2.5 to 3 cups finely chopped tomatoes – 400 grams or 5 to 6 medium-sized)
  • ¾ to 1 cup thinly sliced capsicum or 1 large (bell pepper)
  • 1 to 2 green chilies or 1 small serrano pepper – slit
  • ½ cup water or add as required
  • ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 250 grams Paneer – cubed (cottage cheese)
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi – crushed (dried fenugreek leaves)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro leaves)
  • 1 inch ginger – julienne
  • salt as required
 

Instructions

Making kadai masala

  • In a spice-grinder or mixer-grinder or mortar-pestle take the coriander seeds and red chilies.
  • Grind to a semi-fine powder or fine powder and set aside.

Making kadai paneer

  • In a kadai or frying pan, heat oil. Add finely chopped onions and sauté them till they turn translucent. 
  • Then add ginger-garlic paste. Saute till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away. 
  • Now add the finely chopped tomatoes. Saute tomatoes for 3 to 4 mins. 
  • Then add the ground kadai masala to the tomatoes.
  • Saute the tomatoes till the whole mixture become like a paste and starts to leave oil. The mixture will also look glossy and you will see oil releasing from the sides.
  • Now add the capsicum julienne. Saute the capsicum for about 3 to 4 minutes. 
  • Then add green chilies and water.
  • Mix very well and saute till the capsicum is half-cooked.
  • Add salt and garam masala powder. Mix these well.
  • Next add the paneer cubes and gently stir to combine with the sautéed masala base.
  • Lastly add crushed frenugreek leaves, ginger julienne and coriander leaves. Mix again. 

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve kadai paneer, hot or warm with Indian flat breads – roti, paratha or naan. You can also serve it with a soft bread or fluffy dinner rolls. Remember to serve with a side of thinly sliced onions and lemon wedges.
  • You can make grilled sandwiches, toasties or a wrap or roll with the dry kadai paneer. Add some melting cheese when making these warm sandwiches or rolls.
  • Another idea is to make a pizza with the semi-dry kadai paneer and mozzarella cheese as toppings.

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