Paneer Butter Masala
Any Indian restaurants are sure to list Paneer Butter Masala on their menu. One of the favorites of any Indian, this North-Indian curry is rich, creamy and pleasing to the eye with its bright orange-red color.
Paneer Butter Masala
I usually prepare my own home-made Paneer at home. But occasionally I get it from the stores to simplify my work. The usual ready made brands that I trust and buy usually are Nanak and Mother dairy. Recently I had got Paneer manufactured under ‘Nanak’ brand name, and it was a totally bad experience for me. The paneer block had bits of egg-shell like pieces in it (which when I had later contacted their Manager, I was told that the pieces were scales of deposited calcium chloride from the surface of the tubes in which the coagulation of milk takes place, which look like egg shells, he also apologized for it and asked if he could replace the product). It was totally unpleasant, and I hence had to discard the curry I had prepared using it, as I did not like the feeling of a crunchy Paneer.
The following is my sisters recipe, which I thoroughly enjoyed eating along with fresh warm Methi wale Naan.
Butter Paneer Masala – Paneer in rich buttery tomato-cream sauce
Home-made Paneer block – 400 gms
Tomatoes – 4, medium sized, chopped
Long green chillies – 2, chopped
Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
Onion – 1, large, finely sliced
Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
Garam masala – 1 tsp
Red chilli powder – 2 tsp
Kasuri methi – 1 tsp
Tomato Ketchup – 1 tbsp (I used Heinz)
Canned Tomato puree – 2 1/2 tsp
Half and half cream – 1 cup
Salt – to taste
Cashew nuts – handful, whole
Unsalted Butter
Fried Paneer cubes (Paneer is Indian Cheese)
Method:
1. Cut the paneer block into rectangular bite size pieces. Heat Canola oil in a pan, and shallow fry the paneer pieces until lightly browned on all sides. Remove using a slotted spoon onto a paper towel lined platter. Keep aside. Also, fry the sliced onions and cashew nuts individually in the same oil until golden brown. Remove using a slotted spoon onto a platter and keep aside.
2. Add the chopped tomatoes and green chillies into a blender and blend into a smooth puree.
3. Heat 2 tbsp butter in a medium sized saucepan at medium heat and as soon as it warms up, add the ginger garlic paste. Fry for a minute. Add the fried onion and mix well. Pour in the pureed tomato+chilli paste. Add coriander powder, garam masala, red chilli powder, kasuri methi, tomato ketchup and tomato puree. Let cook for 5 minutes covered on simmer.
4. Pour in half and half cream and salt. Mix well. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Add the fried paneer pieces and let it cook for a further 3-5 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro and fried cashew nuts and serve.
Luv,
Mona
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October 5th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Wow just beautiful and so so delicous.
October 5th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Good Mona..u alerted me..I too bought Nanak brand paneer..some how i didn’t get an oppurtunity to make it..so discarded it..
Your PBM looks so delicious..guess it will be gr8 with any naan or simple pulav..
October 5th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Droolworthy dish, such a gorgeous click Mona!
October 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Yum, I’ve never head this dish before. I’d love to try it out. looks great…..
October 5th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
HAD this dish …Ooops…sorry
October 5th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Yum Paneer Butter Masala…! It’s all time fav. I abandoned to make Paneer at home. Your home made paneer (did check your archive) looks so firm and perfect.
I never had achieved good result with it so always end up with store bought one.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Great Color! Looks so delicious and tempting..
October 5th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Mona paneer looks delicious, nice colors
October 6th, 2009 at 1:22 am
mona its tasty i guess woooooooooooooooow i feel like having it with paratha….mona what is half and half cream means is it the brand name of half kg cream …….:(:(dont laugh at me plz
Nishat, Half and Half cream is a diary product available in North America. It is a mixture of one part milk and one part cream. ~Mona
October 6th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Love the color you have got. I always get Nanak Paneer if buy it from outside and never faced any problems here, instead its the best over here. but home made is anyday better and I prefer that at most times.
Medhaa, I also used to get the same brand always, but after the last very unpleasant experience, I am not willing to take any risks and hence avoiding that brand. ~Mona
October 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Certainly one of my favorites! Lovely presentation!
October 7th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Irresistible!Tomato puree really imparts a gorgeous color
October 7th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I love homemade cheese & use it a lot in my baking but never try to make it your way.
Looks very delicious & gorgeous photo mona
October 8th, 2009 at 9:18 am
wow awesome pics…n recipe to sounds so delicious..i have never tried paneer…looks lik i must giv tht a try soon
October 8th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Looks rich and perfect.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
OOOOOOOOOOOO! Paneer Butter Masala is so irresistable and lovely! I’m dying to taste those…
Well, actually it isn’t fried chana dal but it’s plain chutney dal. In tamil, it means pottukadalai and I didn’t know how to explain it.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Mona
This time I am going to make this recipe! It just looks so good! And my son (who is vegan) would love it too!
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:59 am
oooooh, this is looking so perfect, will be exquisite with some naan!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Mona, your website is just a delight for everyone. I visit your blog often.
Anupama