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    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Matar Paneer ~ Healthy Lunch Box Recipe for Kids

    Matar Paneer ~ Healthy Lunch Box Recipe for Kids

    Published: Nov 3, 2014 · Modified: Sep 23, 2020 by Srivalli · 13 Comments

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    If I have to confess about one thing that I love to do, it would surely be a packed lunch. Even when we lived relatively closer to school and my brother used to go home for lunch, I always insisted on packing one.

    It always used to be a tiffin, mostly what Amma makes for breakfast and if you happen to remember my likes, it mostly revolves around breakfast dishes. I love Dosas and I love Chutneys. Of course, Amma used to sometimes pack some kurmas along with it. So that used to be my favorite thing and mostly it ended up being Dosas.

    Later in my college days my friends, who were all mostly North Indians, loved my South Indian Lunches that I used to carry. We were a group of seven, other than my family friend who was also in my batch, others were all from different states. Just imagine the different cuisines we used to get to eat on daily basis.

    To a far extent, this period was the time when I was exposed to the delicious home food from North Indian cuisine. Needless to say, all my friends' moms were awesome cooks and each lunch would be devoured with so much enthusiasm. I don't really remember eating my own lunch. It was always exchanged.

    Naturally, after knowing that my friends used to love my lunch, Amma used to pack so many different dishes. Apart from those times, the other most exciting thing to plan about packing lunch boxes has always been packing for a journey.

    Since we have traveled to many places during our summer holidays, which also involved packing food for either dinner or for a lunch, I always used to have these talks with Amma. Mostly it used to involve mixed Rice or sometimes with Rotis and Subzis.

    There was also the time when we had traveled and seen some gujju families traveling with us and their interesting huge lunch boxes. The mother mostly will be in charge of getting out the food and so many dishes used to come out, we used to be awestruck by the sheer planning they used to have.

    I know I have digressed a lot here, I am only packing a lunch box for a kid and not for a journey. I suddenly remembered and wanted to share my memories as I had planned a lot for the picture. I know it ended up being simple.

    This yet another Matar Paneer is a delicious twist to a gravy with peas, cashews, and paneer. I am sure your kid would love this!

    Matar Paneer Recipe
    Dry Peas - 1 cup
    Paneer, cubes - 2 cup

    For Paste

    Onions - 2 medium
    Ginger - 2"
    Garlic - 3 - 4 cloves

    For the Gravy

    Tomatoes - 2 medium, finely chopped
    Salt to taste
    Turmeric powder a pinch
    Red chili powder - 1 tsp
    Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
    Cumin powder - 1 tsp
    Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
    Oil - 2 tsp
    Milk - 1/2 cup
    Cashew paste made with 5 -6 whole
    Kasuri Methi - 1 tsp, crushed.
    Coriander leaves for garnish

    How to make Matar PaneerSoak the Dried Peas overnight and pressure cook till softly cooked.

    Cube and toss the paneer in ghee.
    Grind the onion, ginger, and garlic to smooth paste.
    Heat a nonstick pan with oil, saute the paste till it gets cooked. Then add finely chopped tomatoes and continue cooking.
    Now add salt, turmeric and simmer for 5 mins. Next add the cooked peas, red chili powder. Cook with lid covered for 5 mins
    After the chili powder is cooked well, add coriander powder, cumin powder, continue cooking.
    When the gravy comes together like a well cooked one, with oil separated, add paneer, milk, cashew paste along with 1 cup water.
    Bring to boil, then simmer, with a final sprinkling of garam masala and crushed Kasuri methi. Cook till the gravy becomes thick.
    Finally, add chopped coriander leaves.
    Serve with Chapati.

    Recipe

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    Matar Paneer ~ Healthy Lunch Box Recipe for Kids

    Course Main Dish - Gravies
    Occasion Kids Lunch Box
    By Diet Vegetarian
    Dish Type Paneer Dishes
    Author Srivalli

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Dry Peas
    • 2 cup Paneer cubes

    For Paste

    • 2 medium Onions
    • 2" Ginger
    • 3 - 4 cloves Garlic

    For the Gravy

    • 2 medium Tomatoes finely chopped
    • Salt to taste
    • A pinch Turmeric Powder
    • 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
    • 1 tsp Coriander Powder
    • 1 tsp Cumin Powder
    • 1/2 tsp Garam Masala
    • 2 tsp Cooking Oil
    • 1/2 cup Milk
    • Cashew Paste made with 5 - 6 whole
    • 1 tsp Kasuri Methi crushed
    • Coriander Leaves for garnish

    Instructions

    How to make Matar Paneer

    • Soak the Dried Peas overnight and pressure cook till softly cooked.
    • Cube and toss the paneer in ghee.
    • Grind the onion, ginger, and garlic to smooth paste.
    • Heat a nonstick pan with cooking oil, saute the paste till it gets cooked. Then, add finely chopped tomatoes and continue cooking.
    • Now, add salt, turmeric powder and simmer for 5 mins. Next, add the cooked peas, red chili powder. Cook with lid covered for 5 mins.
    • After the chili powder is cooked well, add coriander powder, cumin powder, continue cooking.
    • When the gravy comes together like a well cooked one, with oil separated, add paneer, milk, cashew paste along with 1 cup water.
    • Bring to boil, then simmer, with a final sprinkling of garam masala and crushed Kasuri Methi. Cook till the gravy becomes thick.
    • Finally, add chopped coriander leaves.
    • Serve with Chapati.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cooking4all or tag #cooking4all!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Srividhya says

      November 03, 2014 at 7:08 pm

      Always up for anything with paneer. 🙂

      Reply
    2. Varadas Kitchen says

      November 03, 2014 at 7:35 pm

      All variations of matar and paneer are yummy and this one is no exception. Will be great as packed lunch.

      Reply
    3. Harini-Jaya R says

      November 04, 2014 at 2:15 am

      My oldre one loves this and it has been a while since I made this at home.

      Reply
    4. Usha says

      November 03, 2014 at 10:00 pm

      Matar paneer is always a nice curry to serve with chapati and makes a nice lunch box dish.

      Reply
    5. vaishali sabnani says

      November 04, 2014 at 11:59 am

      Mattar paneer is a routine dish and I love it. .love the way you have presented it and the kasoori methi lends it a wonderful aroma and flavour.

      Reply
    6. The Pumpkin Farm says

      November 04, 2014 at 3:03 pm

      even i am a bit of picnicky types, pack lunch enjoy with friends...be surprised and give surprises...this one in the tiffin looks very tempting

      Reply
    7. Priya Suresh says

      November 04, 2014 at 7:58 pm

      Am ready to die for a bowl of matar paneer, who can resist to it.

      Reply
    8. Pavani N says

      November 04, 2014 at 11:03 pm

      Mattar paneer is such a versatile dish -- make it fancy for parties or tone it down to pack for kids. It''s still everyone's favorite 🙂

      Reply
    9. Manjula Bharath says

      November 05, 2014 at 3:29 am

      looks very tempting ands luscious matar paneer !!

      Reply
    10. Padma Rekha says

      November 05, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      Love that lunch box Valli. mutter paneer looks so yumm....

      Reply
    11. Jayanthi Sindhiya says

      November 07, 2014 at 6:25 pm

      Who can resist paneer and peas?? Looks delicious!!

      Reply
    12. Sreevalli E says

      November 24, 2014 at 8:52 pm

      Irresistibly good curry. My most favorite dish.

      Reply
    13. veena krishnakumar says

      November 30, 2014 at 6:23 am

      Paneer!!!!The paneer curry is inviting valli!!!

      Reply

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    srivalli

    Hi! Seasons change, yet there are some timeless recipes you can enjoy anytime. If you are sport for it, you are in the right place!

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