The quick paneer (in little oil ) recipe || Cottage Cheese In Indian gravy

  This is a preparation of paneer which turns out to be a spicy gravy but actually it is cooked in very little oil.This quick preparation is a must in my place any time I have guests and it is never disappointing .So lets get started straight away.


Related posts- Chilli Paneer
                     -Making paneer at home
                     -Paneer cheesy
                     -Paneer bhurji roll for kids lunch box
             

 

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Serves 4 people


Ingredients
1-Paneer -250 grams(cut in cubes)
2-Onion -2 medium,(roughly chopped)
3-Ginger-1 inch(roughly chopped) 
4-Garlic-8 to 10 cloves
5-Tomatoes-4 medium sized(blanched and skinned and roughly chopped)
6-Cinnamom-1 inch
7-Cardamom-2
8-cloves-2
9-Coriander powder -2 teaspoon
10-Cumin powder-1 teaspoon
11-Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon
12-Chilli powder_1 teaspoon 
13-Khus khus(poppy seeds)-1 teaspoon
14-Cashewnuts-4 to 5
15-oil -1 tablespoon
16-salt -as per taste
17-sugar-half teaspoon (optional)
18-Kasturi methi powder-1 teaspoon
19 Wheat flour -one teaspoon
20-Coriander leaves chopped
21-Green chillies-3 to 4 (slit)




Procedure-  Do follow the sequence carefully

1-Add oil to the pan
2-Add the onion
3-Add the ginger and garlic(whole)
4-Add the salt and turmeric
5-Saute in low to medium flame till the onions become translucent
6-Add the Cashew nuts and the poppy seeds(you can use magaz or melon seeds alternatively)
7-Saute for some time (1min)
8-Add the  chopped tomato now with the green chilies
9 -Add in the spices ,the cumin ,coriander and the chilli powder
10-Add in the whole spices of cinnamon,cardamom and cloves
12-Saute till oil oozes out of the tomatoes and the mixture reduces in volume
13-Switch off the flame
14-Let it cool completely
15 -Blend everything to a fine paste without water.
16-Pour the paste back to the pan
17-Add in water mixed with the wheat flour
18-Simmer for another 5 minutes
19-Add in the  paneer pieces ,kasturi methi powder,sugar and the coriander leaves
 20-Simmer for another 2 minutes
21-Done ,switch off the flame
22-Serve with fried rice ,roti or naan

Do not simmer the gravy for long after adding the paneer,or the paneer will turn rubbery.

Ghoogni (White peas in gravy,the Bengali way)

  You will find this sold everywhere in West Bengal.You can find them by the road side,,you can find them sold in trains,or you can even find them where we had the  tastiest fare in our lives,I am sure you will all agree,that is in front of school gates.
But I have a different memory attached with ghoogni,This is actually the preparation I would wait for when I went to visit all my neighborhood aunts for the customary visit after Dussehra.This would be the only saving grace after we as children were forced to eat all the plateful of sweets served after Dussehra in Bengali households.




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 Related posts-Dum Aloo
                      -Potatoes cooked in curd

Serves -8 people


Ingredients
White peas-250 grams(soaked overnight )
onion-2 large(ground to paste)
garlic-one whole (ground to paste)
ginger-one inch piece(ground to paste)
cumin powder-2 teaspoon
coriander powder-4 teaspoon
chili powder-2 teaspoon
oil(preferably mustard)
salt -as per taste
turmeric powder-1 teaspoon
Bengali garam masala-1 teaspoon Click here for recipe
 Cumin seeds -1 teaspoon
bay leaves-2


Ingredients for garnish
1-Finely chopped onions
2-Green chutney  Click for recipe here
3-Tamarind chutney Click for recipe here
4-Chopped coriander
5-Sev
6-Lemon juice 


Procedure
1- Cook the peas in pressure cooker till two whistles (reserve the water after straining it).
2- Add the cumin seeds and the bay leaves to the heated oil in a pan.
3-Add in the onion paste 
4-Add the ginger and garlic paste 
5-Add the salt and turmeric powder.
6-Saute for some time till oil oozes out
7- Add the cumin ,coriander and chili powder mixed in a little water
8- Wait till the oil oozes out 
9-Add the boiled peas 
10 -Mix well and fry for 2 minutes in high heat  
11-Add the water reserved after boiling the peas
12-Simmer in low heat for about 5 minutes.
13-Add in the garam masala powder
14-Switch off the flame 
15-Garnish well and serve hot

Important note-
One has to be very careful in cooking the peas.They should not be completely mushy neither too hard.Though I have mentioned two whistles,the number of whistles and the quantity of water for cooking can vary as the hardness of water varies from place to place.

When switching off the flame one should take care that the water in the gravy is on the higher side as it tends to soak up the gravy after cooking.

Ideally it should be served as an evening snacks ,but also goes very well with bread ,paratha or chapati