WHAT IS MATAR PANEER?
Matar paneer is a popular North Indian dish, loved by one and all. Paneer and peas are cooked in an onion tomato based gravy seasoned with aromatic spices. To add to its richness, cashew nut paste and cream are usually added, however, I skipped the cream and just added the cashew nut paste.
Paneer was rarely cooked in my household. I always ended up ordering a paneer vegetarian dish whenever we visited restaurants, I began liking it and still do. On days when I’m in no mood to cook a non-vegetarian meal, paneer comes to my rescue. The fact that it has no taste of its own and absorbs the flavors and blends well in the curry, makes it a great choice to use it in any dish.
MUTTER PANEER INGREDIENTS
Punjabi paneer peas curry | paneer mutter curry calls for the most basic ingredients used for day to day Indian cooking. You will need some cumin seeds, whole spices, ginger, garlic, green chillies, onions, tomatoes, along with spices like chilli, cumin-coriander, turmeric, garam masala powders and some kasoori methi too. Cashew nut paste and creams lend a nice, rich taste making this matar paneer taste just like the ones served at the restaurants, or even better I’d say! This tasty paneer recipe is mildly spiced with a hint of sweetness. However, you can always increase the heat levels if you like it really spicy.
HOW TO MAKE MATAR PANEER | MUTTER PANEER AT HOME?
Flavor up the oil, butter or ghee with aromatics like whole spices and ginger garlic. Next, saute onions until golden brown, followed by spice powders. Cook that well. Add tomato puree, cook till you see oil oozing from the sides of the pan. Next, add the cashew paste, cook it well. Add some water and the peas, let the peas cook well. Add paneer along with garam masala, kasoori methi, salt, and sugar. Sugar is added to balance out the tartness from the tomato puree. You may skip it if you wish. Let this simmer for about 5 minutes. Drizzle the cream if using, mix it in gently, dish out and enjoy delicious matar paneer with rice or flatbread.
For this matar paneer restaurant style, it is important to cook the onion-tomato masala really well. The base of this dish is this masala, and if it’s not cooked well you will get a raw taste. You will know the masala is ready when you see oil oozing out from the sides of the pan. You can then proceed with the next steps. Other than that, there is nothing much to this really simple paneer recipe. You can also add other veggies, like potatoes or soya chunks etc. Matar paneer is one of my many favorite paneer dishes. The green peas give a great texture from the contrasting melt in the mouth, creamy paneer. It is perfect with rice or any flatbread, some onions rings sprinkled with lime juice and chaat masala, and you have an absolutely drool-worthy meal. I actually prepared this for dinner, as I had a late and real heavy breakfast, I was in no mood for lunch. But as this dish was nearing completion, my tastebuds awakened with the tantalizing aroma that filled my kitchen, and I automatically ended up having some with pilaf. Yumm!!!
HOW TO MAKE MATAR PANEER WITHOUT ONION AND GARLIC | JAIN MATAR PANEER?
For a niramish paneer curry (i.e without onion and garlic) simply skip the onion and garlic in the recipe. It is quite similar to this no-onion and no-garlic paneer makhani. For a vegan matar paneer, you can swap paneer with tofu and make tofu matar.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS MATAR PANEER | MUTTER PANEER, YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE INDIAN PANEER DISHES
Paneer Makhani/Paneer butter masala Paneer Nazakat Shahi Paneer Paneer Kali Mirch Methi malai paneer matar Paneer jalfrezi Paneer malai kofta Palak Paneer Paneer Tikka Paneer paratha Chilli Paneer
Do try out this easy matar paneer recipe. It is the best that I’ve ever tasted, and you will definitely enjoy it as much.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE PUNJABI I MATAR PANEER | MUTTER PANEER | PANEER AND PEA CURRY
1.Heat oil/ghee/butter, in a heavy bottomed pan, add cumin seeds, bay leaf and black cardamom.
2.Once the cumin seeds splutter, add coarsely crushed ginger garlic paste, saute until fragrant.
3.Add finely chopped onions, saute until golden brown. Add a little salt to help the onions sweat faster.
4.Now add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin, and coriander powder. Saute until the masala oozes oil.
5.Add tomato puree, cook till it starts leaving oil. You can cover the pan and let it simmer, but stir occasionally to prevent anything from burning at the bottom.
6.Add cashew paste, mix it well, and cook for another minute. The masala will start to clump and oil will start to ooze.
7.Add about 1 & 1/2 cup water, mix it well. Add green peas, let the curry come to a boil.
8.Add paneer pieces, mix well.
9.Season with remaining spices i.e salt, sugar, crushed kasoori methi, and garam masala. Mix well. Cover and let it simmer for 5 more minutes. Add cream (if using), mix, and switch off the heat. Garnish with finely chopped cilantro leaves. Serve matar paneer gravy hot with jeera rice/pulav/ tandoori roti/naan or any other flatbread.
NOTES
HOW TO MAKE MATAR PANEER?
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