Matar Paneer

Matar paneer is one of those thousands paneer recipe that very much famous in north India. Delicious gravy cooked together with fresh or frozen peas and indian cottage cheese, paneer. Matar paneer goes well as a side dish for chapati, indian flat bread or pilaf rice. I love the soft paneer dunked into creamy masala gravy. As i couldn't find fresh peas i made my matar paneer with frozen peas if you, could get fresh peas go ahead and make your own delicious matar paneer to serve your family


Ingredients

1/2 cup fresh /frozen peas
1 cup paneer,diced into 1/2 cm thick
3 tomatoes,chopped
2 onions,chopped
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
7 cashew nuts
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
2-3 tbsp fresh/cooking cream
1 cup water
Salt to taste


Methods


Soak the cashew nuts in hot water for 10 minutes. Grind to paste by adding little water

Blanched tomatoes in boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and remove the skin once cool. Mash the tomatoes till puree


Melt butter in a pan, add bay leaf and cumin seeds. Once cumin seeds starts to crack add onion and stir till the onion turns golden

Add ginger garlic paste and stir for a minute. Reduce flame to medium,  add tomato puree,turmeric powder,coriander powder,chilli powder and garam masala powder and cashew paste. Cook for 10 minutes till oil separate

Add peas and paneer and stir till the masala mix well with the paneer and peas. Add cream and water. Season with salt and cook for 10 minutes.

Matar paneer ready to be served.


Notes

Once paneer been added to the gravy do not over stir the mixture as paneer tends to break easily

You can subsitute paneer with tofu