PANEER BUTTER MASALA

Paneer butter masala! A typical Punjabi dish which is now familiar anywhere in Indian restaurants and appears as one of the first items in menu card; loved by everyone too. What makes people to go for this particular item !!? The temptation created by its rich creamy texture… buttery and paneer cubes floating in a thick gravy with the aroma of methi … (I can just feel the smell and taste while typing 😂😁😋)  and another main reason for my liking towards this dish is that it goes well with roti, naan, fried rice, pulav and acts as the best side dish for many other main dishes. It is very simple to make and the recipe follows.

CUSINE : North Indian

SERVES : 2 - 3

TIME      : 30 Mins

INGREDIENTS :

• Paneer cubes            - 200 gms
• Tomato                     - 1 medium sized
• Onion                       - 1 Large Chopped
• Garlic                       - 3-4 nos
• Coriander Leaves     - 1 fistful   
• Kasuri methi            - fistful
• Butter                       - 1 spoon
• Oil                            -1 spoon
• Fresh cream (Or ) thick milk - 1 cup
• Turmeric powder     - ½ tsp
• Chilly Powder          - 1tsp
• Bay leaf                    - 1 no
• Cardamon                 - (2-3) nos
• Cloves                      - 2 nos
• Cinnamon                 - small piece
• Sugar                        - a pinch or 2
• Salt as needed

METHOD :

1. To a heavy bottomed pan or kadai , add oil / butter and temper with half of the cinnamon, cardamon and cloves.
2.  Add the onions, tomato and garlic. Sauté the mixture.
   
3. Add turmeric and chilly powder, stir well and continue to Sauté. Once the raw smell fades blend it in a blender and keep aside.
4. Now add butter to the same kadai and temper it with bay leaf and rest of the cardamon , cloves and cinnamon.
5.  Add the ground paste of onion, tomato, garlic and spice powders to the kadai and cook it well with little amount of water.
6. In the mean time, take a pan and start  frying the paneer cubes in oil.
7. Once it turns golden, put those paneer cubes into the kadai.
8. Add required amount of salt to the kadai.
9. Add fresh cream or thick milk to it, mix well.
10. Crush dry kasuri methi and add to the kadai.
11. Finally garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

 Yummy yummy paneer butter masala is ready ! 😋😋


METHOD IN PICTURES :