Paneer makhani / Paneer makhanwala

                                                         

Paneer makhani (makhanwala)

Paneer makhani or Paneer makhanwala recipe is a dish where paneer in simmered tomato cashew gravy, topped with milk cream. One of the simplest & popular Indian paneer recipes that can be made easily by a beginner. It can be served with naan, roti, paratha or with biryani rice or jeera rice.

This recipe is made with very few ingredients and uses no onion making it distinct from the butter paneer or paneer butter masala. This makhani dish becomes rich with an addition of few cashews and cream. Cashews can be optional and doesn’t affect the taste much since cream is used. To get the right taste i suggest sticking on to the quantities mentioned.Fully ripened red tomatoes and a good quality chilli powder that is not very hot contribute to the best color of the gravy.

       Ingredients (serves 4)

• 8 to 10 cashews
• 2 cups tomatoes (around 250 Gms)
• 200 Gms paneer
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 2 green cardamoms
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 1 green chili slit
• 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• Salt as per taste
• ½ tsp sugar
• 1 tsp garam masala
• ¼ tsp kasuri methi (crushed)
• 2-3 tablespoons milk cream.

      Method of preparation

• Soak cashews in hot water for 5 minutes. Meanwhile chop the tomatoes.
• Add tomatoes and cashews in a blender. Blend to a smooth puree.
• Heat butter in a frying pan. Add slit chili, cardamoms, cloves and small cinnamon stick.
• When they begin to sizzle, add ginger garlic paste. Saute for a minute or two.
• Pour the tomato puree in the pan. Cover the pan and continue to cook until the tomato puree thickens.
• Now add red chili powder and salt. Stir and cook until it begins to leave the sides. You can adjust more or less chili powder as per your taste.
• Next is the time to add garam masala.Mix well then add about 1 cup water, sugar and mix.
• Cover and cook on a medium flame until the gravy thickens.
• Add paneer to the gravy. Sprinkle crushed kasuri methi over it.
• Gently stir, cover and cook on a medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Lastly add milk cream to the dish and stir gently.
• Serve hot with rice or Indian bread.

       

        Happy cooking!