Matar paneer is a very popular North Indian dish prepared with paneer and peas. It is usually served with naan, roti, chapati and paratha but goes very well with rice and pulao also.This is one of my most favorite dish.Though I have posted matar paneer earlier, this is an improved version. I prepared this as a side dish for vegetable rice and the combination tasted great. Today let us learn how to make matar (peas) paneer (Indian cheese) following this simple recipe with step wise pictures.
Matar Paneer-How to prepare Matar Paneer
Prep Time : 15 mins
Cook Time : 30 mins
Serves: 3-4
Recipe Category: Side Dish
Recipe Cuisine: North Indian-Punjabi
Author:Padhu Sankar
Serves: 3-4
Recipe Category: Side Dish
Recipe Cuisine: North Indian-Punjabi
Author:Padhu Sankar
Ingredients needed
Paneer/Indian cottage cheese -150 grams
Fresh or frozen Peas – 1/2 cup
Onion – 1 cup very finely chopped
Ginger garlic paste -1 tsp
Tomatoes – 3 medium size (ripe ones)
Cashew nuts – 6-7
Dry Powder
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder – 2 tsp
Chilli powder – 1 tsp
Garam masala powder or Kitchen king masala -1 tsp flat
Salt to taste
For the seasoning
Oil/Butter -1 1/2- 2 tbsp
Cumin seeds/Jeera – 3/4 tsp
Bay leaf – 1
For Garnishing
Finely chopped coriander leaves – 1 tbsp
Fresh cream (optional) – 1-2 tbsp
Preparation
Put tomatoes in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Drain the water and allow it to cool. Remove the skin and puree it.
Soak cashew nuts in hot water for 15 minutes and then grind it to a paste adding less water.
Boil peas with a little salt till soft. Cut paneer into cubes. If your paneer is store bought, you can soak them in hot water with a little salt for just 5 minutes if required. Check out homemade paneer recipe.
Now the tomato puree, boiled peas, paneer and the cashew nut paste are kept ready.
Chop onions very finely.
Method
Heat oil in a pan /kadai, add jeera seeds, bay leaf, when jeera sizzles, add finely chopped onions and saute until light brown. Add a little salt to speed up the process. Stir continuously for even browning.
Add ginger garlic paste and saute for a few more minutes.
Then add tomato puree and all the dry powder including salt.
Cook on medium flame until tomatoes become mushy and oozes out oil. Stir in between.
Now add the cashew nut paste (I forgot to take that picture, but you don’t forget to add it ) and saute for a few more minutes until the raw flavor of the paste goes.
Then add the cooked peas and paneer.
Let the paneer and peas get mixed well with the masala.
Then add 1 cup of water and cook for some more time until everything gets blended well. You can adjust the consistency of the gravy according to your preferences. Check for salt.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and a tbsp of fresh cream.
Enjoy this most popular Indian (Punjabi) dish with any Indian bread or rice or pulao.
Variation – You can substitute paneer with tofu.
Check out a variety of side dishes for chapati
If you found this post useful, I would really love it if you pin it or share it with your Facebook fans or Twitter followers or Google+ circles today. All it takes is a simple click on the “pin it” “like,” “share,” “tweet,” or Google+ buttons below the post. It will keep me motivated. Thank you!
View Comments (41)
looks delicious and love the color of curry..
my all time fav again ! when i started my blog intially i prepared this ! would like to have with Rice :)
perfectly done looks delicious
wow! creamy gravy with paneer.....Good side dish for chapathi.
This is my one favorite recipe. so good and well presented
Oohhh so delicious n inviting
Who can resist to this beautiful bowl.
delicious with rotis..
Hi, Can you post some recipes with tofu also. Thx.
Looks yummy! Love your blog..keep up the good work!