Recipe Encyclopedia

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Paneer Butter Masala

Ingredients
Paneer - 1/2 lb (250 gms)
Onion - 1 big/2 small (chopped)
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tblsp
Tomato - 3 small/ 2 big (pureed)
Cashew Paste - 2 tblsp
Chilly Powder - 2 tsp (or to taste)
Corriander Powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Kasoori Methi (dry) - 1 tsp
Cumin Seeds (Shahi Jeera) - 1/2 tsp
Butter - 2-3 tblsp
Oil - 1 tsp
Orage-red food colour - 1/4 tsp
Salt - to taste
Heavy Cream (Fresh Cream) - 1/4 cup
Cilantro - for garnish (finely chopped)

Method
1. Heat little oil in a pan, and saute the onions till it sweats and cooks nicely. You need not brown it.
2. Let it cool nicely and then puree the mixture.
3. In a different pan, melt the butter and splutter some cumin seeds.
4. Add the onion puree to this and fry for few minutes.
5. Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for another minute.
6. Add the turmeric powder, tomato puree, cashew paste, kasoori methi, chilly powder and corriander powder.
7. Reduce the flame and let the mixture cook for 5 minutes.
8. Add about a cup of water, food colour and required salt and let the gravy come to a boil.
9. Add the garam masala powder, paneer cubes and the heavy cream/evaporated milk and let the whole gravy cook for another 5 minutes till all the flavours blend together.
10. Garnish with finely chopped cilantro or freash cream and serve with naan, roti or pulav.



Tips
- You can fry the paneer cubes before adding to the gravy.
- To reduce the calories, you could add evaporated milk or fat free half and half or fat free milk instead of heavy cream. In that case do not add water.