Cottage cheese and Green peas masala

Paneer matar masala:

Today I am going to make Paneer matar masala, in other word “Cottage cheese and green pea masala”. Paneer is cottage cheese, matar means green peas.

So in short this is a dish made with cottage cheese and green peas. Sounds delicious and healthy too! When get time, I make cottage cheese at home, else buy from any Indian grocery store.

Ingredients:

1. 200 gms. Paneer (cottage cheese), cut onto 1” square pieces/cubes
2. 1 cup (medium size) green peas
3. 2 medium size vine tomatoes, finely chopped
4. 1 medium size onion
5. 2 cloves garlic
6. 1 green chilli
7. ½ tsp. Shahi Paneer masala(if not available, use ½ tsp garam masala/curry powder)
8. 2 tbsp. Vegetable oil
9. ¼ tsp. turmeric powder
10. Salt to taste
11. Red chilli powder (if extra hot required)
12. ½ cup cream

To garnish:

1. Chopped coriander
2. 1 tbsp cream

Method:

Put onion, garlic cloves and green chilli in a mixer and make a paste.

1. First of all heat ½ tbsp oil in a non-stick flat pan.
2. Add paneer and fry for 2 minutes, just to give them some texture. If you want you can use paneer as it is, without fry.
3. Heat remaining oil in a non-stick pan, add turmeric powder and wait for a minute or so. This gives a slightly golden colour to the gravy.
4. Then add onion, garlic and chilli paste.
5. Let it cook for around 3 to 4 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and mix it well.
6. At this stage slow down the heat to medium temperature and cover the tomatoes. This helps tomatoes to mix well in masala paste well. Let it cook for 5 to 6 minutes or till soft, occasionally stir.
7. Now add paneer masala (if not, add garam masala/ curry powder) and salt to taste and let all mixture cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. If you feel mixture is sticking to the pan, then put little bit of water (1 or 2 table spoon) and mix well.
8. When this mixture is cooked nicely, add ¾ cup of cream and 1 cup of water and wait for 2 to 3 minutes to boil. Now add paneer cubes and green peas and cover the pan. Let it cook till gravy gets a nice and thick texture.

Once done, garnish with remaining cream and chopped coriander.

This can serve with cumin rice, plain rice, chapatti and flat bread.

You can put one boiled patato cubes (same size of paneer cubes) with paneer cubes too.