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4 MINS delivery
Paneer Kadai Masala
Serves 4
35 mins
280 Kcal
Paneer Kadai Masala is a richly flavoured North Indian curry combining paneer-Indian cottage cheese's creaminess with bold spices to create a richly soothing dish. "Kadai" refers to a special wok-like pan used for this preparation, which provides an unbeatable smoky flavour, while "Masala" is the colourful spice gravy that coats the paneer. The Paneer Kadai Masala recipe makes a flavourful dish. The dish starts with aromatics in saut ing onions, ginger, garlic, and a blend of whole spices, including cumin, coriander, cloves, and cardamom. Then add fresh, ripe tomatoes, which break into a tangy and flavourful sauce. This is followed by adding the paneer cubes into the masala, soaking up all the rich sauce. The bell peppers (capsicum) add crunch and a slightly sweet note to the savoury, spicy gravy. It's intense at a spice level. It is topped with a hint of cream or yoghurt, making the curry rich and smooth yet creamy. Naan or roti accompanied with steamed rice is the best to be enjoyed with Paneer Kadai Masala. The recipe of Paneer Kadai Masala offers a rich flavour.
Ingredients required for Paneer Kadai Masala
- 1/2 cup capsicum
- 1/2 cup paneer
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 onion
- Ginger garlic paste
- Red chilli powder
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- Salt
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tomato
- Cooking oil
Cooking steps for Paneer Kadai Masala
- 1Here is an easy recipe of paneer kadai masala, with packed flavours and spices that perfectly harmonise with the colourful and delicious vegetables, complementing the soft, creamy texture of the paneer.
- 2Take 250 gms of paneer. Cut into small cubes and set it aside.
- 3Heat two tablespoons of oil in a kadai or wok on a medium flame.
- 4Once it gets hot, add one Tsp of cumin seeds to the oil. Now, let these seeds splutter until you can sense the earthy taste of cumin.
- 5Once the cumin seeds pop, add one finely chopped large onion to a pan. Saut the onion till it turns brown.
- 6As the onions begin to brown, add a tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste to the pan and saut for one more minute to cook the paste.
- 7Now add two chopped tomatoes to the pan. Cook the tomatoes for about 5 minutes till they soften and become mushy.
- 8Now add spices to the boiled tomatoes. Sprinkle in 1 Tsp red chilli powder, 1 Tsp coriander powder, 1/2 Tsp turmeric powder, and 1/2 Tsp garam masala.
- 9Mix well with the tomato mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes. The spices will release their oils and fragrances that thicken the gravy and imbue it with all that vibrancy of colour and depth of flavour.
- 10Add 1/2 cup of cubed chopped capsicum (green bell pepper) and 1/2 cup of chopped onion. The latter adds crunch and a slight sweetness to the curry, aside from texture.
- 11Toss these vegetables in the gravy and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes till they become soft. The capsicum and onion add freshness and a 'burst of colour' to this dish, making it more inviting to the palate.
- 12Now is the time to add the cubes of paneer. Mix the paneer gently with the gravy. The cubes need to be coated with the flavourful spice mixture.
- 13Add 1/2 cup of water to thin the curry so the paneer absorbs the spices. Cook for 5-6 minutes so that the paneer absorbs all the flavours and becomes soft.
- 14Finally, season the curry with salt, as per taste.
- 15Mix everything and finish it with two tablespoons of chopped fresh coriander leaves. Coriander leaves add freshness to the food along with its colour, both in taste and presentation.
- 16This paneer kadai masala is now ready to be served. It goes very well with steamed rice, naan, or even roti.