Easy Mutter(Peas) Paneer curry with light gravy for special moments

How to make Paneer curry with light gravy at home

FINAL RESULT

~Family friendly for a Friday night or to enhance a special moment. 

Serve	4
Cooking Level	Intermediate

Ingredients

• Paneer  - 250-300​ ​gm
• Green​ ​peas(Mutter) - 1​ ​cup
• Cumin​ ​seeds(Zeera)- 1/2​ ​tsp
• Turmeric​ ​powder(Haldi) - 1/4​ ​tsp
•  Red​ ​chilli​ ​powder(Lal​ ​mirch​ ​powder) - 1/4​ ​to 1/2​ ​tsp
•  Garam​ ​masala​ ​powder-1/4 to1/2​ ​​​tsp
•  Onion-1​ ​large
•  Cloves(Lavang)-2
•  Black​ ​paper​ ​corns-4-5 
•  Cinamon(Dalchini)-1/2​ ​inch
•  Coriander​ ​seeds(Saboot​ ​dhania)-1​ ​tsp
•  Bay​ ​leaf(Tejpatta)-1 leaf
•  Water-as​ ​per​ ​required
•  Coriander​ ​leaves(Dhania​ ​patta)-for​ ​garnishing 
•  Salt-as​ ​required
•  Oil-For​ ​Cooking​ ​and​ ​Frying

Ingredients​ ​for​ ​Masala​ ​Paste (Homemade spice for gravy)

• Tomatoes-2/3​ ​medium​ ​sized (Ripe​ ​and Red)
• Onion-1​ ​large
• Green​ ​chilli (Hari​ ​mirch)-1-2
• Ginger (Adrak) - 1/2​ ​inch 
• Garlic (Lahsun) - 2-3 cloves
• Coriander​ ​leaves - 2​ ​tsp

In​ ​a​ ​grinder​ ​or​ ​blender​ ​take​ ​all​ ​the​ ​ingredients mentioned​ ​above ( for paste) and keep aside.

**No​ ​need​ ​to​ ​add​ ​water​ ​while​ ​grinding.

Method

1.  Heat​ ​oil and  light fry​ ​the​ ​paneer​ ​cubes​ ​ for 2-3 mins
2. In​ ​another​ ​deep pan​ ​or​ ​kadhai​ ( You can use the same pan to make fry the paneer cubes too) ​heat oil
3. Add​ ​​cumin seeds, bay​ ​leaf, coriander​ ​seeds, cloves, black​ ​paper​ corns​ ​and​ ​cinnamon. Sauté​ ​them​ ​till they​ ​splutter. Then​ ​add​ ​​chopped​ ​onion
4. After​ ​the onion​ ​turns​ ​into​ ​golden​ ​brown​ ​colour​ ​add​ ​the ground​ ​masala​ ​paste.​Take​ ​care​ ​while​ ​​if it splutters, if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​too​ ​much spluttering, then​ ​cover​ ​it​ ​partly​ ​with​ ​a​ ​lid​ ​till​ ​the spluttering​ ​stops. Saute​ ​for​ ​10-15​ ​minutes​ ​or​ ​more on​ ​a​ ​low​ ​to​ medium​ ​flame​ ​till​ ​the​ ​oil​ ​separate​ ​from the​ ​past
5. Add​ ​the​ ​dry​ ​spice​ ​powders-Turmeric​  ​powder, Red chilli​ ​powder,Garam​ ​masala​ ​powder​ ​and​ ​salt (or as per taste) ;Stir​ ​well . If​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​add​ ​Cream​ ​or​ ​Malai, you​ ​can add​ ​now ( it is optional
6. Then​ ​add​ ​the​ ​peas​ ​or​ ​mutter. Stir​ ​again.
7. Cover​ the​ ​pan​ ​and​ ​cook​ ​the​ ​peas​ ​till​ ​they​ ​become soft then​ ​add​ ​the​ ​fried​ ​paneer​ ​cubes​ ​and​ ​stir.
8. If​ ​the​ ​curry​ ​appears​ ​thin, then​ ​simmer​ ​till​ ​it reaches​ ​the​ ​desire​ consistency. The​ ​consistency should​ ​be​ ​medium thick (Neither​ ​thick​ ​nor​ ​thin) .When​ ​the​ ​paneer​ ​cubes​ ​get​ ​cooked, garnish​ ​it​ ​with chopped​ ​Coriander​ ​leaves. Don't​ ​​​over-cook​ ​as​ ​the​ ​paneer​ will become​ ​hard.

 Serve​ ​this​ ​dish​ ​with​ ​Roti/Chapatis, Paratha, Naan​ ​or Rice as​ ​you​r ​choice.

CONTRIBUTED BY : SASMITA PRADHAN ( A DFF Member~Yoga Therapist~A Proud Homemaker )