Mattar paneer

Mattar paneer, the most common north-Indian side dish recipe served with naan, phulkas, paratha or simply with a jeera rice or ghee rice.

Paneer recipes are always rich gravy. When you are trying to recreate any restaurant style recipe, it's not necessary to add flavor spices or any additives to the dish. With the ingredients we have in our home we can recreate restaurant style recipes. Some tricks need to be followed in cooking.

Most of the time when we cook paneer, either it breaks down or it's not soft. A simple trick is there in making any paneer recipes, try to follow in your cooking.  This recipe is a delicious combination of soft paneer and boiled green peas in a mildly spicy gravy.

For Soft Paneer : 

1. Cut paneer into cubes, try to cut into equal size
2. Deep fry the paneer cubes for 2-3 minutes (Don't fry it too much) 
3. In a separate bowl, keep hot water and put 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder 
   
4. Add the fried paneer into the hot water and leave it for 15 minutes. 
5. This makes the paneer retain its shape and softness 

For any paneer gravy, you can follow this step 

Ingredients : 

• Paneer cubes - 1 cup 
• Chopped onion - 1 no 
• Tomato puree- 1 cup 
• Butter - 2 tsp 
• Boiled green peas - 1/2 cup 
• Red chilli powder - 1 tsp 
• Yogurt - 2 tsp 
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp 
• Garam masala - 1/2 tsp 
• Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp 
• Cream  - 1 tsp 
• salt to taste 

For Gravy : 

1. Take a pan and add 1 tsp of butter 
2. Add chopped onion and saute it 
   
3. Once they are brown in color put them in the mixer 
4. Add red chilli powder, yogurt, ginger garlic paste, garam masala, coriander powder and salt
5. Blend it to a fine paste 
    
   
6. In the same pan add butter and add the onion and curd paste. Stir it.
7. Add tomato puree 
   
8. Let the gravy boil for 5 to 6 mins in low flame 
9. Add 1/4 cup of water and stir well.  
   
10. Add boiled green peas and fried paneer 
    
11. Cook it for a few minutes
12. Before you remove the gravy from flame add cream and stir it
13. Serve hot