Simple Kadai Paneer

Simple Kadai Paneer

Kadai paneer is a north-indian dish which is used as an accompaniment with Rotis or chapathis or fried rice or Naan. It is a tomato-puree based semi-solid gravy with chunks of paneer and capsicum cooked with it. Tastes best when served hot!

Ingredients
1. Paneer/Indian Cottage Cheese - 200 grams

2. Capsicum/Bell Peppers - About 2 big bell peppers ( you can choose mix of green, yellow/red bell peppers)
3.Red Big Onion - 1
4. Green chillies - about 2 if they are long else 4-5 small chillies
5. Ginger piece - about an inch (peeled)
6. Ripe Tomatoes - About 3 to 31/2 tomatoes

7. Jeera/Cumin seeds - 1 Tea spoon
8. Butter - about 2-3 tea spoons
9. Oil - 2 table spoons
10. Cilantro leaves - About 1/2 a cup of chopped cilantro leaves
11. Water - As required
12. Salt- As required (approx. 1 1/2 tea spoons)
13. Chilli powder - 1/2 tea spoon
14. Coriander powder - 1 tea spoon
15. Cumin powder - 1/4 tea spoon

Procedure:

1. Cut the vegetables and paneer into cubes separately and keep aside.

2. Take the tomato pieces, ginger and green chillies ( also a handful of cilantro leaves - optional) in a blender , add about 1/2 cup of water and make into a fine paste and keep aside

3. Heat a wide pan and add 2 spoons of butter to it.

4. When the butter is hot, add jeera/cumin seeds to it and allow to splutter.
5. Add the paneer and fry it till it becomes lightly golden brown. Keep them aside on a paper towel on a plate.

6. To the same pan, add bell peppers and fry them till they are soft and cooked.Keep them on the paper towel along with the fried paneer cubes.


7. Now add the oil to the pan and fry the onion pieces till they are golden brown.

8. Once they reach golden brown colour, add the ground tomato puree and allow it to cook well.

9. When the mixture comes to a boil, add 1/2 tea spoon of chilli powder, 1 tea spoon of coriander powder and 1/4 tea spoon of cumin powder, salt and mix well. Keep the pan closed with a lid and stir occasionally till all the raw smell goes away and the mixture gets cooked well. This will take about 5-7 minutes.

10. At this point , add the remaining cilantro and butter and add the paneer, capsicum/bell pepper pieces to this mixture and stir gently till the mixture coats the paneer and capsicum pieces well.
11. Cook for 2-3 minutes with closed lid and stir again and turn off the stove.



Simple and Yummy Kadai paneer is ready to be served with hot Chapathis/Rotis/Naan/Rice.
Enjoy this recipe!