Shahi Paneer

Ingredients

• 1 and ½ cups Paneer, cut into small cubes (cottage cheese)
• 1 cup finely chopped Onions
• 1 cup finely chopped Tomatoes
• 3 finely chopped Green Chilli (use any chilli)
• 2 cloves Garlic (small)
• 1 teaspoon grated Ginger
• 6 Cashew nuts (or blanched almonds)
• 1 Black Cardamom (moti elaichi), broken to get the seeds out
• a small stick of Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
• 2 teaspoons Garam Masala Powder
• 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• Salt taste
• a pinch of Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Tomato sauce (or 1 teaspoon tomato paste)
• 1 cup WARM Milk (or cream) {important - use fresh, warm milk}
• Cilantro / Parsley / Coriander leaves for garnish

Method

• Heat 2 Tablespoons of oil in a pan with high sides. Add the onions, garlic, ginger, black cardamom (moti elaichi), cinnamon, green chilli.
• Sauté (Fry) for 1-2 minutes until the onions start to turn pink
• Add in the cashew nuts. (break them roughly)
• Fry for a further 3-4 minutes till the onions turn slightly brown and cashews have some color on them
• Add the finely chopped tomatoes
• Cook (mix & stir occasionally) for 8-10 minutes or until the mixture is reduced to a mush and oil starts to come out from the sides of the onion-tomato mixture.
• Switch off the flame. Let it cool for about 5 minutes (or until you can handle the heat). Add the entire veggie mixture to a blender / grinder / food processor. Grind to a smooth paste
• In the same pan, heat 2 Tablespoons of Oil and add the paste to the oil. (If there's some paste in the blender that doesn't come out, add some water to the blender, swirl it around and pour into the pan)
• Let it cook for 6-9 minutes on medium heat stirring frequently to avoid burning. Cook / Fry till the mixture reduces and turns a bit dry and oil starts coming out from the sides.
• Add all the spices : Red Chilli Powder, Garam Masala, Tomato Suace, Black Pepper Powder, Salt and a pinch of sugar
• Mix well and cook on low for 2-3 minutes
• Add warm milk (or cream). Gently incorporate the milk into the paste to form a smooth gravy. Taste and adjust for seasoning
• Add the chopped up Paneer cubes. Mix well and let that simmer for 5-6 minutes
• Switch off, garnish with cilantro leaves & serve with any kind of bread or rice

Important Tip

       When you add milk to the mixture you may notice that it splits. To avoid splitting, use fresh milk. Make sure to use warm milk. Incorporate the milk in batches instead of all at once.

Pictorial View-

Heat 2 Tablespoons of oil in a pan with high sides. Add the onions, garlic, ginger, black cardamom (moti elaichi), cinnamon, green chilli.


Saute (Fry) for 1-2 minutes until the onions start to turn pink add in the cashew nuts


Fry for 3-4 min and add chopped tomatoes


Cook for 8-10 min or untill tomatoes cooked. switched off the flame and let it cool.


Grind it to a smooth paste.


In the same pan, heat 2 Tablespoons of Oil and add the paste to the oil.


Let it cook for 6-9 minutes on medium heat


Add all the spices : Red Chilli Powder, Garam Masala, Black Pepper Powder, Tomato Sauce, Salt and a pinch of sugar and cook for 5 min


Add warm milk (or cream)




Add Paneer cubes.


Mix well and let that simmer for 5-6 minutes


Switch off, garnish with cilantro leaves