Paneer Makhani is a rich Indian Cottage Cheese in buttery sauce that makes a wonderful side dish with roti or naan.
How many ways do I proclaim my love to thee? Well this is another way to Ok, this is yet another way to show my love for Paneer. And this is indulging in extremes. I normally make Paneer Butter Masala every other week as Konda is very fond of it. Though I personally can't make much difference between the dish term Paneer Makhani and Paneer Butter Masala, I do mark a difference in not adding cream in PBM. While this dish is not something I make regularly as I use both butter and Cream. Well I guess once in a while we do need to indulge, though this becomes a regular fare at home. I am trying to reduce all these rich dishes on weekdays. One, its difficult to prepare these back from work, other, its too rich to sleep on it!
But, special occasion needs special dishes. Happy Cook and I have exchanged many mails and chat often. She is one of those good friends I have through blogging. So I was looking froward to meet her when she said she was visiting India and it was a great pleasure finally meeting her. Though she was not sure if she will visit my city, finally they were able to make it. They were here for couple of days and I managed to invite them home for dinner. It was so wonderful meeting her and her family. They are such wonderful people, so lively and entertaining.
The kids got to them so fast. In fact, HC got them to her side, when she dug the Cadbury's Gems out of her bag and offered them! So I planned to make Jeera rice, Paneer Makhani and a Chicken fry for the main course. As the time was short and it was really hectic that day, as just that day the twins decided that they wanted me to carry them all the time. Still we managed to get things done on time and had a great time spending with them. I only hoped they also enjoyed their visit. Konda was so taken in with her daughter that she kept asking about them later too.
Also, I wanted to make something that's not on my blog already, and her hubby was teasing me saying that they were about to become testers. I was only happy to assure him that though this never got around featuring in the blog, it was prepared often. I quickly asked hubby dear to click some pictures, so other dishes are missing!
Before I go on with the recipe, check out the new post on Mini Breakfast Ideas in my Spice Your Life blog!
Paneer Makhani
Preparation Time : 10 mins
Cooking Time : 20 - 30 mins
Serves : 4 - 5
Ingredients
250 gms Paneer
1 cup Onions paste
2 cups Tomato Puree
1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
3 tbsp Cashewnuts Paste
1 cup Cream
1 Bay Leaf (opt)
Salt to taste
3 tsp Butter
Few Strands Saffron
50 ml Milk
Instructions
You can use Homemade Paneer or can use store bought. Cut into cubes and fry them in butter till golden colour. Remove and keep aside.
Warm milk and soak saffron in it.
Make Onion puree and Tomato puree separately. Keep aside.
In a pan, heat butter. You can use the same pan that you used for frying Paneer. Add the bay leaf, then fry Onion paste till its pink. add the ginger garlic paste. Fry both till the onion paste turns to brown.
Then, add cashew paste along with all the spice powders. Simmer and allow it to cook well. Then, add the tomato puree.
Add about 1/2 cup water and bring to boil. Then, simmer and cook till it thickens. When the gravy is thick enough, add the cream and simmer for another 10 mins. Finally, add the milk that has the saffron. Optionally, you can add orange food colour if you want a richer colour.
When the gravy is ready, finally add the fried paneer and cook for 5 mins.
This tastes great with Ghee Rice, Jeera Rice or Naans.
Recipe
Paneer Makhani ~ Indian Cottage Cheese in buttery Sauce!
Ingredients
- 250 gms Paneer
- 1 cup Onions paste
- 2 cups Tomato Puree
- 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1/2 tsp Garam Masala
- 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
- 3 tbsp Cashewnuts Paste
- 1 cup Cream
- 1 Bay Leaf (opt)
- Salt to taste
- 3 tsp Butter
- Few Strands Saffron
- 50 ml Milk
Instructions
- You can use Homemade Paneer or can use store bought. Cut into cubes and fry them in butter till golden colour. Remove and keep aside.
- Warm milk and soak saffron in it.
- Make Onion puree and Tomato puree separately. Keep aside.
- In a pan, heat butter. You can use the same pan that you used for frying Paneer. Add the bay leaf, then fry Onion paste till its pink. add the ginger garlic paste. Fry both till the onion paste turns to brown.
- Then, add cashew paste along with all the spice powders. Simmer and allow it to cook well. Then, add the tomato puree.
- Add about 1/2 cup water and bring to boil. Then simmer and cook till it thickens. When the gravy is thick enough, add the cream and simmer for another 10 mins. Finally, add the milk that has the saffron. Optionally, you can add orange food colour if you want a richer colour.
- When the gravy is ready, finally add the fried paneer and cook for 5 mins.
- This tastes great with Ghee Rice, Jeera Rice or Naans.
RAKS KITCHEN says
Happy to know about Happy cook's family visit to your home...:)
Panner makhani is looking yummy:)
Swati Raman Garg says
love love love the color valli... too good..
Shri says
Nice that you guys met.The menu is good.Paneer dish is awesome.
Divya Vikram says
I love the color of the paneer makhani.looks great Valli
Fearless Kitchen says
This looks delicious. I can see why you reserve it for special occasions though!
Gloria (Canela) says
I love this dish!!! Gloria
Uma says
love the beautiful color of t he gravy. No wonder it tasted so great. Nice recipe Srivalli!
Jayashree says
Your curry's got a beautiful colour. Sounds like you had lots of fun.
Superchef says
it mustve been soo nice to finally meet one of your blog friends no..really glad u guys cud meet up 🙂
Mrs.Kannan says
The gravy looks great,Happy to hear that you have got some good blog friends
A_and_N says
I loooooove PBM. I'm going to make this with Tofu though. Sigh, my life 🙁
kamalagk says
Nice to know u met Happy cook..thought PBM and paneer Makhani are same..love the color
SMN says
Hey Valli i hope u had a blast wth Happy cook and family..lovely paneer dish
Bhawana says
good looking :). Will try soon 🙂
Simran says
Absolutely all time favorite! I can never ever tire of Paneer
Kamini says
Just one word: yum!!
Kamini.
Cham says
wow that is great blogger meet 🙂 Hope u guys had a wonderful time. Love the delicious rich curry 🙂
Happy cook says
Srivalli it was a real pleasure for us to. We had a wonderful time with your family.
Also enjoyed the delicious food you made fo us.
Actually seeing that pic if the paneer dish brings back the lovely time we had
Dibs says
I love PBM too! This looks professional.
Thanks for your wishes for mom's bday.
SriLekha says
u have been tagged in my blog!
Nirmala says
This looks very creamy and inviting valli! Hope konda enjoyed this being a paneer fan!
KEL32BROWN says
I make Paneer out of the milk from my dairy goats. Today, for my 4 children I made your Paneer Makhani. It was very delicious, and even though my pantry does not have cashew paste, it was a delicious meal. I served it with boiled potatoes and a flat wheat bread round that is a little bit like Naan. We really liked it! Thank you for posting your recipe. I made it, and it was great.
Kelli
Tapasya Singh says
yummiezz!!!