Happy Cooking: Fried Paneer in Masala Gravy....Indian Masala

Dear single,

I am to prove to you that simple dish too can be EXOTIC. Paneer itself as a food item is so versatile that it can be prepared in any flavour, it will always turn out to be a winner. This preparation does entail a few steps,but, the end product is worth the effort.

This dish can be had either with Nan, Chapati,paratha or Jeera & Onion fried rice.

For TWO servings you will require:

1. 400 gms Paneer-cut into 1'' cubes.

2. 200 gms tomato-liquidise in a blender without adding water.

3. 100gms curd-beaten.

4. 01 bay leaf, 04 cloves, 6-8 pepper corns, 01 tps kasturi methi(optional), 01 turmeric powder, 3-5 green cardamom-seeded and powdered & 01 tps garam masala. 2'' cinnamon stick.

5. Paste of 02 green chillies, 05 pods of garlic and 2'' ginger.

6. 100 ml cooking oil.

7. 15ml thick cream.

8. Salt to Taste.


Method

Step One

1. In a wok/kadai put in the cooking oil on low flame and heat. Put in, few at a time, the paneer cubes and fry them till they are light brown all over. Remove, and immerse these cubes in a bowl of water just sufficient to drown all the fried cubes. Remember we will be using this water later for our cooking.


Step Two

1. After having fried the paneer, in the same oil put in the green chilly, ginger & garlic
paste and fry.

2.When the paste starts to brown, add the bay leaf and rest of the dry masala and stir fry for a minute. Mix in half of the beaten curd and fry, till the curd gets fried and vanishes.

3. Put in all of the fried paneer cubes, but retain the water. Stir fry, add the rest of the curd. Add salt to taste. Stir gently and put in the blended tomato. Stir fry for a minute.

4. Now estimate and put in the water left in the bowl. When it starts to boil, cover to cook for two minutes. Uncover and see the gravy and adjust if not serving with rice.

Remove to serving dish and garnish with fresh coriander leaves and fresh cream.


Step Three


Jeera & Onion rice:

1. Wash three times 01+1/2 cup rice and then keep aside drowned in water for at least 15 mts.

2. In the rice cooker or vessel you are using to boil the rice, put in 02 tps of oil. As it heats, on low flame, put in 01 tps jeera. On it getting golden put in sliced 1/2 small onion. Fry till the onion gets to be transparent.

3. Add the drowned rice, with a little salt, stir and pour in twice the amount of water(OR as indicated by the rice cooker manufacturer) and boil, till it is almost cooked. Stir to ensure the rice grains separate and cover to cook till all of the water is soaked up. keep it covered for 10 mts and serve.


YOU MAY TO COMPLETE THE MEAL, PREPARE A SIMPLE SALAD ( As previously listed) AS ACCOMPANIMENT.