Kadai Paneer

A cottage cheese dish which is loaded with several Indian spices mixed together. It has the onion - tomato gravy, butter/oil and fresh Kadai masala made just then. We can add many vegetables like cauliflower, carrot and peas to it and turn it into Vegetable Kadai too. (the recipe I'm putting can cater to 6 to 8 people)

Ingredients :

for kadai masala

• 3 tbsp Coriander seeds

• 4 tsp Cumin seeds

• 8-10 Red Chili (depends on the spice you like, I added 10)

• 3 tbsp Peppercorns

for gravy

• 2 tbsp Oil

• 2 tsp Cumin seeds

• 1 inch Ginger, grated

• 2 Onions, chopped

• 1 tsp Turmeric Powder

• 1 tsp Chili powder

• 2 tsp Coriander powder

• 3 Tomatoes, puree

• Salt to taste

for the kadai paneer

• 2 tsp Ghee and 1 tsp Oil or just use 2 tsp of Oil

• 1 Medium onion cut into juliennes

• 1 Green Capsicum cut into juliennes

• 1/2 Red bell pepper cut into juliennes

• 1 Tomato cut into juliennes

• Salt to taste

• 400 grams paneer, sliced in cubes

• 1 1/2 tsp Chili powder

• 2-3 tbsp kadai masala

• Coriander chopped finely

Method:-

for kadai masala

• In a pan, add coriander seeds, cumin seeds, red chilies and peppercorn and dry roast them. (Add salt to avoid over roasting and it also helps to roast them equally. I didn't add)

• Once cooled grind it coarsely. (we should get coriander bites while we eat the kadai paneer)

for gravy

• In a pan heat the ghee and oil. (I only used oil).

• Add the cumin and once that sputters add the grated ginger and chopped onions. Sauté till raw smell goes off.

• Add turmeric powder, chili powder and coriander powder and mix well.

• Add the pureed tomatoes, salt and water and cook them all well.

for kadai paneer

• In a kadai shallow fry the paneer cubes till they start to show some golden color and remove them.

• If required put a tablespoon oil again and add the onion, capsicum, red bell pepper and the tomato slices. Add the salt, sauté and let it cook for a minute.

• Add the paneer cubes and gently mix to avoid any paneer crumbles and again leave it for a minute.

• Add chili powder, prepared kadai masala and the gravy to the kadai and mix gently till it all combines all together.

• Garnish with the chopped coriander.

Always keep in check the amount of oil or ghee added as the gravy and kadai vegetables both when combined together can make it overflow with oil.