Paneer Butter Masala

Paneer/ Cottage cheese Butter Masala recipe-Restaurant style
Serves 3-4
(Padhus Kitchen)
Ingredients needed

Onion -2
Tomato puree - 1 cup
Ginger garlic paste -1 tbsp
Paneer - 200 grams (I used home made paneer)
Cashew nuts -2 tbsp
Kasuri Methi -3/4 tsp (dry fenugreek leaves)
Salt as required

Spice powder

Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Chilli Powder - 3/4 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

For the seasoning

Butter- 2 tbsp+ Oil -1 tbsp
Whole garam masala - ( Cinnamon -1 inch piece, cloves- 2, cardamom -1)

For garnishing

Fresh cream - 1/4 cup (dairy cream)Finely chopped coriander leaves

Preparation
Making paneer butter masala is a breeze if you keep all the 4 paste ready.

Onion Paste -Remove the skin, chop the onion into 4 pieces and boil them in water for 10 minutes. Drain the water and grind it to a paste

Tomato puree - Blanch tomatoes- (ie) put them in boiling water and close it. After 10 minutes, drain the water, remove the skin and puree the tomatoes.

Cashew nut paste - Soak 2 tbsp of cashew nuts in hot water for 15 minutes and grind it to a paste

Ginger garlic paste -1 tbsp

Cut paneer into cubes

Method

Heat 2 tbsp butter +1 tbsp oil, add whole garam masala, when it splutters , add onion paste and saute till it becomes golden brown, then add ginger garlic paste and saute for some more time.


Then add cashew nut paste and saute nicely for a few minutes till the raw smell goes.

Then add tomato puree and all the spice powder mentioned under spice powder.


Cook till the raw smell of the tomato goes and it starts leaving oil .

Meant time shallow fry the paneer in just 2 -3 tsp of oil till it becomes slightly brown.

Add the paneer cubes to the cooked tomato paste.


Add 1/2 cup of water, needed salt, kasuri methi and coriander leaves. Simmer and cook for a few minutes.

Garnish with fresh cream and serve with pulao or roti or chapati.

Hope you found it easy. So next time you can prepare restaurant style paneer butter masala at home itself and win the appreciation of family members.

Important tips for beginners

You have to brown the onions or onion paste well. Do not add tomato paste before that.

Do not add water without cooking the tomatoes well. You have to cook till the tomatoes starts leaving oil, only then, you should add water.

Adjust water according to the consistency required.