Home
/
Recipe
/
Paneer chettinad

Paneer Chettinad

Serves 4

55 mins

570 Kcal

Paneer Chettinad's bold flavours of Tamil Nadu are now back on your plate. This vegetarian dish draws inspiration from the traditional Chettinad cuisine, used for flavoursome and spicy dishes. Here, this classic paneer curry is given a delectable twist using aromatic spices and herbs. Fragrant and flavourful - a spice lover's delight. The paneer chettinad recipe starts with a fresh spice mix, the heart of the dish. It produces a savoury aroma when ground together from toasted fennel seeds, cumin, coriander, and black pepper. Saut onion, garlic, and ginger in a pan until golden, and let tomatoes soften. The ground spice mix is added with turmeric, red chilli powder, and a small pinch of salt for seasoning. Once the spices are well mixed, cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese) are added to the mixture, absorbing all the flavours of the spices. It can be adapted to yield a creamy texture by adding a small pinch of coconut milk or yoghurt to offset the heat emanating from the spices. The paneer chettinad recipe may be customised to your taste for spice since the Chettinad cuisine is mainly known for its fiery flavours. For a complete meal, serve the paneer chettinad with steamed rice, chapati, or naan. This dish is perfect for those wanting to venture into the rich, spicy world of South Indian food.

Ingredients required for Paneer Chettinad

400 gms paneer cubes
5 tbsp cooking oil
2 bay leaf
1 tbsp black pepper powder
1 tbsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp fennel
1/4 cup coriander seeds
6-8 dry red chilli
2 javitri
5-8 cardamom
5-8 cloves
2 cinnamon
1/2 lemon
Curry leaves
1 1/2 cups grated coconut
1/4 cup oil
2 cups onion
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp coriander powder
Salt
3 cups tomato

Cooking steps for Paneer Chettinad

1
Brace yourselves, spice enthusiasts—Paneer Chettinad is here to take your taste buds on a whirlwind tour of Tamil Nadu's boldest and most flavorful cuisine.
2
This dish is the hero of paneer recipes, with its rich, spicy, coconutty gravy that clings to tender cubes of paneer like a well-fitted coat.
3
First things first, we assemble the spice squad.
4
Heat up a pan with a little oil and toss in bay leaves, black pepper, cumin, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, cloves, and mace (javitri), plus the superstar spice duo: dry red chilies and stone flower (yes, that's a thing, and it's amazing).
5
Toast everything until it smells like your kitchen just won an award, then add grated coconut for a warm, nutty twist.
6
Let it cool, grind it into a smooth paste, and voilà, you've got your masala base.
7
Now, the action moves to the curry.
8
Heat more oil, toss in fennel seeds and onions, and saut until those onions are caramelized perfection—sweet, golden, and ready to party.
9
Add ginger-garlic paste and curry leaves because the aroma game is strong here.
10
Stir in the masala paste and let it cook down with turmeric, chili powder, and coriander powder, creating a thick, flavorful concoction that's basically gravy gold.
11
Next, chopped tomatoes enter the mix, simmering until they're soft and blended into the gravy.
12
Add water to adjust the consistency, then let it simmer like a slow burn.
13
Finally, in goes the paneer, soaking up all the spicy, coconut-infused goodness.
14
Let it simmer for a few minutes, garnish with fresh coriander and a squeeze of lemon for a tangy finale, and you're done!
15
Pair it with steamed rice, roti, or paratha, and prepare for a flavor explosion.
16
This recipe of paneer Chettinad is spicy, aromatic, and downright irresistible—a true MVP of Indian cuisine.

Shop Ingredients

FAQs

What sets Paneer Chettinad apart from other paneer recipes?

Paneer Chettinad is unique due to the flavour of its rich, bold, and aromatic spices, which are a feature of Chettinad cuisine from Tamil Nadu, India. While regular paneer curries use simpler spices, Paneer Chettinad is loaded with a rare mixture of roasted spices such as fennel seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and dry red chillies. Combining all these spices with tangy, spicy gravy made from tomatoes, onions, and coconut makes Paneer Chettinad a flavourful and aromatic dish with a scintilla of heat.

Can Paneer Chettinad be done without coconut?

Technically speaking, you could omit coconut altogether and prepare this Paneer Chettinad, even though the authentic version has grated fresh or dry coconut to add the creaminess and depth of flavour. You can substitute cashew paste or ground almonds for a coconut-free version to mimic the richness. Alternatively, yoghurt can introduce a creamy texture while keeping the dish tangy. While the absence of coconut will affect the smoothness to some extent, the robust Chettinad spice mix will make the dish flavourful nonetheless.