Mutter Paneer

What do you do when you have just gotten over a "limbo" by treating yourself to a gorgeous hair-cut? You make mutter paneer! :D

I had a packet of paneer sitting in my freezer for quite sometime now. Given the fact that I'm off to China for two weeks and then to Germany for another 4 months for my internship, I decided NOT to shop anymore and just cook all the leftover grocery at home. So the debate of palak paneer or mutter paneer began and VJ finally won with his pleas for mutter paneer.

I found this recipe online on some website around 2006 I guess. Not sure. I tried searching it again and did not find the link. I know its somewhere in my home computer desktop, but that's back home in India. I've always followed this recipe for mutter paneer although its very different from the other ones I found yesterday. If you are the kind soul who posted this, a million thanks to you and please send me your name so that I can reference you for due credit :)

Ingredients:

Onions - 2 medium

Cloves - 4

Cinnamon (dalchini) - 3 inch piece

Turmeric powder - 1/4 to 1/2 tsp

Oil - 3 tbsp (you can also use ghee)

Ginger - 2 inch piece (crushed)

Garlic - 3 to 4 cloves (crushed)

Green chillies - 2 spicy hot (slit)

Tomatoes - 2 medium (pureed)

Red chilli powder - 1 tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tsp

Green peas - 4 cups

Paneer - 1 or 2 cups

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Add 1 tbsp oil and first fry the cloves and cinnamon lightly in it. Then add the onions and fry well. Let it cool and grind it to a fine paste in a blender. Set aside.

2. Now add the remaining oil in a pan, splutter jeera in it and then add the green chillies, ginger and garlic. Fry until the raw smell of garlic and ginger fades off.

3. Add the onion paste and mix well. Then immediately add the tomato puree and cook until the oil seperates.

4. Add the spices (chilli powder and coriander powder) and let it fry for another minute.

5. Then add water as needed, green peas, paneer and salt and cook on medium until it is all well blended. It takes about 15 - 20 mins for me.

You can add some freshly chopped coriander to garnish it or also use some garam masala along with the other spices. I used frozen peas here and not fresh ones, so if you are using fresh peas you may need to add more water to cook it in the gravy. Pre-cooking it is also another option. You can use ginger - garlic paste too instead of the crushed ginger and garlic.

Source:

I don not have the link with me now. But please leave a comment if you are the one who put up this recipe.