Thursday, January 19, 2006

Kadai Paneer - Cottage Cheese Creamy Curry


Admist most of the curries I prepare,Kadai Paneer,is probably one of the most favourite North Indian recipes I have learnt.This is a recipe I learnt from amma who in turn learnt it from our Punjabi neighbours (who taught us many authentic Punjabi delicacies like Sarson ka saag,Makki ki roti,Baigan bhartha).Infact the Matar Paneer Parantha recipe I had posted earlier is courtesy our affectionate Punjabi friends.When hubby dear informed me that an old friend of his was visiting us tonight,the first thought that occurred to me was the fresh paneer I made this morning and was sitting in the refrigerator.Kadai Paneer with rotis..perfect!

Kadai Panner
,a typical Punjabi fare is a creamy curry dish where paneer (cottage cheese)cubes are cooked in a kadai(wok) with onion and tomato pastes and simmered with capsicum(bell peppers) and tomatoes and served in a small kadai(that's the way its served in Indian restaurants).The use of the herb Kasturi Methi (dry fenugreek leaves) as one of the ingredients imparts a strong aroma and flavour to this truly special and flavorful vegetarian dish.

Ingredients:

200 gms paneer (cottage cheese) cubed and sauté in a tbsp of ghee till golden brown and remove into a dish and add a cup of hot water to the fried paneer cubes and let them sit in it for 5 mts.Drain the water and keep aside.

1 big tomato (deseeded and diced)
1 big capsicum (bell pepper) diced

In the same kadai in which the paneer cubes were sauted,add the diced tomatoes and capsicum and sauté for 2-3 mts and remove from heat.

1 1/2 tbsp oil or ghee
3 medium sized onions (make a paste)
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
¼ tsp turmeric pwd
1 tbsp coriander pwd
1 tsp cumin pwd
1 tsp chilli pwd
1 cup tomato puree or paste
¼ tsp kasturi methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
¼ tsp garam masala (make a pwd of 3 cloves,2 green cardamoms and 1” cinnamon)
1 tbsp fresh cream(optional) for garnish
salt to taste


Heat ghee or oil in a kadai or vessel and add the onion paste and fry it well till oil separates.It should be well fried till the raw smell of onions disappears.
Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 3 mts.Add turmeric pwd,coriander pwd,red chilli pwd,cumin pwd and salt and mix well.
Add the tomato puree and mix well and cook for 5 mts.Add kasturi methi and the fried paneer cubes and let it cook covered for 2-3 mts.
Now add a cup of water,garam masala pwd and sauted capsicum and tomatoes and mix well.Cook for 5 mts covered.
Garnish with fresh cream and serve hot with rotis(Indian flatbreads)/naan or paranthas.

Note:You can prepare this dish without kasturi methi also.If you dont have kasturi methi,garnish with chopped coriander leaves.It tastes equally good.

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14 comments:

Stephanie said...

Another yummy dish, for sure!

I only wish I had nice, helpful, neighbors who could share recipes like this...looks delicious.

Anonymous said...

ooh-la-la....drool-worthy! :)

Priya

Anonymous said...

Sounds delicious ... you are inspiring me to try creating some Indian cuisine at home. We usually get take-away or go out at least once a weke to our excellent neighborhood Indian restaurant ... but your posts are really making me want to try cooking some myself!

Anonymous said...

What a delicious dish sailu ,I do have a weakness for this one in particular:)

Ashwini said...

Kadai paneer is my fave too and this is exactly how i make it.

sailu said...

Stephanie,it's wonderful to share recipes and the food we cook with our neighbours especially during special & festive occassions.

Thanks,Priya..:):)

Rorie,I'm glad I could inspire you to cook Indian cuisine at home..:)

You can say that again,Lera & Ashwini,my weakness too..:)

Ilva said...

Sailu, all I can say is mmmmmmmmmmmm!!

Patti said...

Sailu, that looks wonderful! You blog inspires me to try some Indian dishes at home. Does US cottage cheese work? You cannot cut it into chunks.

Anonymous said...

hey sailu,ur's is the first food blog i read everyday.i love trying out all the recipes uve given..i have a quick question though..how do u make paneer at home?i want2 try making some and am not sure how:(..so culd u pleaseeee let us knw which is the best way of doing it?..thanx again..
- Sudha

Priya said...

mmmmm they r delicious , tried it today and great results.hanx for sharing the recipe. DO u make paneer at home or, buy it ?

Anonymous said...

Sailugaru, meeru chakkati website petti, inka andam ga photos teesi, saraina font tho recipes ni publish chesthe meeku inka manchi peru vastundani naa abhiprayam. Website host cheyatam pedda pani kaadu. Intha talent ni inka baaga project chesthe chaala baguntundi. Mee recipes ante naaku chaala ishtam. Chaala baaga rastunnaru. India lo markets, manushulu and vantillu photos teesthe inka santhosha padatanu. Please do consider hosting a more professional looking website.
Naa peru Ammu. Maadi Hyderabad. USA lo untunnanu. Mee ulava charu, bobbattu vanti vantalanni ikkada try chestunnanu. Thanks for all your great work. Kudos to your patience and enthusiasm!

sailu said...

Ilva..:):)...lol.

Cj,best ready made curry pwd in US?I will make my enquiries and e-mail you.

Patti,I am glad you could draw some inspiration to cook Indian food at home.I cant talk about american cottage cheese as I havent seen it(I blog from India).But you can make Paneer at home.
Indira of Mahanandi has given the paneer recipe with pics here.Hope that helps,Patti.

Hi,Sudha,thanks for stopping by every day..:)This is the method I use to make paneer.Boil 2 lts of milk in a heavy bottomed vessel and once the milk begins to boil and look foamy,quickly stir it and and reduce heat and add 1 tbsp of lemon juice and keep stirring(approx 2 mts).You will notice that the milk separates and appears curdled and the residue(whey)is like a light liquid.Turn off heat.Drain into a colander and discard the whey.Now take a thin muslin cloth(cheese cloth) and place the paneer in this cloth and tie the ends of the cloth and hang it such that the remaining whey drips thru(about 20 mts or so).Remove and place something heavy to top of the paneer along with the muslin cloth and let it sit for 15 mts.Now remove the muslin cloth and cut the paneer into what ever shape you desire or refrigerate until further use.

Your welcome,Priya.I prepare paneer at home.If it's urgent I pick up from a lady who sells good quality home made paneer.

Ammugaru,chaala santhosham.Mee feedback nee positive ga consider chaysthaanu.Ipudu nenu na mobile cam tho photos theesthunnanu.Naaku enka kocham experience avasramu..ee blog start chaysi 2 months ayindi.Appreciate your kind words,Ammugaru.

Anonymous said...

This looks Sooo good! I'm vegan -- do you think tofu would work here?

sailu said...

Thanks for dropping by,Linda.Sure tofu can replace paneer.