Butter Paneer Masala

June 16th, 2007 filed under Paneer (Indian Cheese)
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Butter Paneer Masala is a rich entre made with Indian cheese and a creamy sauce. This dish is tasty when served over white rice or with Naan or Tandoori Roti.

Serves 2 to 4.

Butter Paneer Masala

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb. paneer (cubed)
  • 2 medium tomatoes
  • 1 green chili
  • 1/4 inch piece ginger
  • 1/2 cup green peas (optional)
  • 1/2 cup yogurt, whipped
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • Pinch of asafetida (hing)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander powder (dhania)
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (lal mirch)
  • 2 bay leaves (tajpat)
  • 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (Green coriander)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

Method:

  1. Deep-fry the paneer on low-medium heat until the paneer has a little golden- brown color. Set aside.
  2. Blend tomatoes, green chilly and ginger to make a puree.
  3. Heat the oil in a saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to oil; if seed cracks right away oil is ready.
  4. Add hing and cumin seeds.
  5. After the cumin seeds crack, add the tomato puree, coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder and bay leaves. Cook for about 4 minutes on medium heat.
  6. Tomato mixture will start to leave the oil and will reduce to about half in quantity.
  7. Add the whipped yogurt into the gravy. Stir occasionally for about 3 minutes on medium heat.
  8. To thicken the gravy, dissolve the cornstarch in 3 tablespoons of water and add to the gravy.
  9. Add the green peas and paneer. Let it cook for a few minutes until the peas are tender.
  10. Add the garam masala and cilantro. Add a little sugar if the gravy is sour.

Variations:

  1. You can substitute the yogurt with heavy cream for a richer flavor.
  2. 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried methi leaves (Fenugreek leaves) can be added at the end.
  3. Add in the yogurt powder of 4 to 5 cashews to make it creamier.
  4. This gravy can be used in any combination of vegetables you desire.
  5. This recipe is only a method – feel free to be creative and experiment!

126 Responses to “Butter Paneer Masala”

  1. Sophia says:

    This looks amazing, I will try it tonight, thank you so much!!!

  2. shazia says:

    easy way ,to make a hydrabadi biryani

  3. Katy says:

    HI
    I wanted to know what can i buy if i Can’t get Paneer.. I live in UK and I tried looking into supermarkets for Paneer.. Will any Hard, drained Cottage cheese will do the same??

  4. indu says:

    yoghurt…..can v use normal curd?

  5. indu says:

    is bay leaf essential??

  6. ozash says:

    thanks for your recipes which look so easy to make/

    But why dont you use Onions and garlic. Could you please specify

    Thanks

    • sarah says:

      she’s jain, and in jain cuisine, onions and garlic are not used – …i don’t know, but I’d estimate anywhere between 4-6 cloves of garlic, minced finely and 1 onion, minced finely…especially for recipes like rajma, shahi paneer, etc. You would fry them initially with the oil, after adding the jeera (cumin), and before the tomatoes.

      • TQ says:

        Onions & garlic are not used in Buddhist cooking either, and I believe in orthodox Hindu, as well. They are considered impediments to meditation. Usually asafatoeda (hing) are used as a substitute. In my experience, the other spices make up for them not being used in that the food is delicious without it.

  7. vilo says:

    Thanks a lot for your all wonderful recipes. I tried this recipe and it turned out absolutely delicious.

  8. shalaka says:

    Hello Manjulaji, I tried this receipe and we loved it. Thank you so much for making cooking such a easy job. Regards, Shalaka

  9. Smruti says:

    Thank u MANJULA JI for being JAIN! because we also don’t eat ONION n GARLIC.I’m so thankful to u to open such a lovely website.After my daughter found this website and we discovered that you are not using onion and garlic I was so HAPPY I was not able to controll my HAPPINESS !!!!!!!! Now I open your website to know more and more RECIPES!!!!

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