Paneer butter masala

Paneer butter masala – soft succulent paneer – cottage cheese cubes

 in a creamy tomato based gravy.

Ingredients

• 200 or 250 gms paneer/cottage cheese, cubed or diced
• 2 tbsp cashew – soaked if you have time and then ground
•  with some water to a smooth paste. if less time, then just grind the cashews to a smooth paste.
• 4-5 medium size tomatoes – pureed
• 1 or 2 green chili, slit (reserve a few for garnishing)
• 1 inch ginger and 3-4 garlic – crushed or ground in a mortar & pestle
• 1 inch ginger – julienned (reserve a few for garnishing)
• 1 tbsp oil + 1 or 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp kasuri methi/dry methi leaves
• ½ tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp garam masala or tandoori masala
• 1 bay leaf/tej patta
• 1.5 cups water
• a few coriander/cilantro leaves for garnishing (optional)
• salt and sugar as required – check notes below for adding sugar

Instructions

1. heat oil and butter in a pan.
2. add bay leaf and fry for some 10-15 seconds or till the oil become fragrant.
3. add ginger-garlic paste and fry till the raw aroma disappears.
4. add the tomato puree and stir well.
5. add red chili powder after 2-3 mins and stir again.
6. saute till the oil starts to leave the sides of the tomato paste.
7. add cashew paste and stir well.
8. saute the cashew paste till the oil begins to leave the sides of the masala paste.
9. add water and stir.
10. simmer on a low flame.
11. add julienned ginger and green chilies, salt and sugar and simmer
12.  till the curry begins to thicken.
13. add the paneer cubes and cook them for 2-3 minutes till they become soft.
14. don’t cook for a long time as the paneer will become dense.
15. lastly add crushed kasuri methi/dry fenugreek leaves & garam masala. stir.
16. garnish paneer butter masala with coriander leaves and serve 
17. paneer butter masala hot with plain naan, garlic naan,
18.  rotis or steamed basmati or jeera rice. side accompaniments 
19. can be onion-lemon salad or some pickle