Paneer Butter Masala

Prep Time: 20 mins I Cooking Time: 1 hr I Serving: 2-3

Ingredients :-

For Wet Masala :-

2 tbsp/30 ml Veg Oil

2 Red Chilli (whole and dried)

1 inch Cinnamon Stick

3-4 Green Cardamom

2 tsp Coriander Seeds

10 Black Peppercorns

1 inch Ginger (roughly chopped)

10 Garlic Cloves (peeled)

4 Onion, medium sized (roughly sliced)

3 Tomatoes, medium sized (roughly sliced)

15-20 Cashews Nuts(broken)

¼ cup/60 ml Water

For Gravy :-

70 g Butter (salted)

350 g Paneer /Cottage Cheese (cut into 3 inch pieces)

Salt to taste

1 tsp Sugar

1.5 tsp Red Chilli Powder

¼ cup / 60 ml Milk

Fresh Cream for garnishing

Method :-

For Wet Masala :-

Heat 1 tbsp of veg oil in a non-stick pan. Add paneer to the pan and shallow fry on low medium flame till light golden in colour. Keep changing sides to cook both sides. When done dish out on a plate, cover it and set aside for later use

Add 1 more tbsp of veg oil to the same pan. Add whole red chillies + cinnamon stick + green cardamom + coriander seeds + black peppercorns. Roast the whole spices for 3-4 minutes on low-medium flame until fragrant

Next add chopped ginger + garlic cloves to the pan and sauté for 3-4 mins on low medium flame.

Add sliced onions to the pan and sauté for 3-4 mins.

Next add chopped tomatoes to the pan and sauté for 5-7 minutes, till soft on low-medium flame. Switch off the gas and let the masala cool down

When cold add the wet masala to the grinder jar and grind to a smooth paste

Next add broken cashew nuts + water to the jar. Grind again and set aside

For Gravy :-

Heat butter in a non-stick pan. Add the grinded wet masala paste to the pan and keep stirring for 4-5 mins on low-medium flame

Add salt + sugar + red chilli powder to the pan and mix well

Add milk to the pan. Mix well and keep stirring for next 3-4 mins on low medium flame

Add shallow fried paneer to the pan and mix gently. Cook for 1-2 mins and switch off the gas

Transfer to the serving bowl and garnish with fresh cream

Time to taste :)

Enjoy with chapati/laccha paratha/ garlic naan or any bread of your choice

Note : turn off the flame immediately after adding malai/fresh cream