Description
Matar Paneer is a delicious dish made with paneer (Indian cheese) and matar (green peas) cooked in a flavorful tomato-onion sauce. Inspired from the highway dhabas, this version is known for its creamy, bold and satisfying flavors. It's great with roti, paratha, naan or rice, bringing comfort in every bite.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- Paneer 1 1/2 cup
- Peas 1 1/2 cup
- Oil 2 tbsp
- Butter 2 tbsp
- Cream 1/2 cup
- Melon(Magaz) 1 2/2 tbsp
- Poppy (Khus Khus) 1 1/2 tbsp
- Hot Milk 3 tbsp
- Diced Onions 1 1/2
- Quartered Tomatoes 3 medium size
- Ginger chopped 2 inches
- Garlic pods 12
- Fresh Chillies 3
- Coriander powder 2 tbsp
- Turmeric 1 tsp
- Red chili powder 1 tbsp
- Bay leaves 2
- Cumin seeds 1 tsp
- Kasuri methi crushed 2 tbsp
- Salt to taste
- Water 1/2 cup
- Cilantro 3/4 cup
Instructions
- Start by soaking poppy seeds and melon seeds in hot milk. The poppy seeds need time to swell before you grind them.
- If you're using frozen paneer, soak the cubes in hot water until you're ready to add them. If you're using fresh homemade paneer, you can shallow fry the cubes to keep them from falling apart, but you can skip this step like I did if you want to avoid the extra calories from frying.
- While the seeds are soaking, blend tomatoes, cilantro, fresh red chilies, ginger, and garlic into a puree.
- Heat oil in a deep pan or wok. Add butter and let it melt. The oil helps prevent the butter from burning.
- Once the butter melts, add cumin seeds and bay leaves.
- Next, add finely chopped onions and cook them until golden brown.
- Then add spices—turmeric, red chili powder, and coriander powder—and stir until they smell fragrant.
- Add the tomato puree, salt, and kasuri methi, and cook for a few minutes until the oil separates.
- While the puree is cooking, make a paste from the soaked poppy seeds, melon seeds, and milk.
- Once the oil separates, add the paste, then water, and let the mixture boil.
- Drain the water from the paneer and add the paneer cubes, peas, and cream.
- Cook until the gravy starts to boil.
- Serve in a bowl and enjoy this creamy Matar Paneer with naan, roti, or paratha!
Notes
Refer to the Common Mistakes to Avoid Section in the post
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Additional Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Cuisine: Indian