Sometimes the simpler the food the more rewarding for your taste buds. Visions of many beautiful vegetarian tables with paneer, lentils, and pickles seem to stay with me. The memories range from restaurants to friends houses after school, to street side travel shacks and many more…..but they are always vivid and connect me to a rich past.
Growing up our family were big meat eaters…it would not be “food” without lamb or chicken 🙂 However, every now and then we would have a vegetarian day where Paneer would be the showcase.
When I first moved to the US, store bought paneer (cheese) was not an option so making the paneer at home was the only way. Don’t get me wrong, homemade cheese is the best but sometimes a working girl needs a premade handy version so dinner can be cooked at moments notice.
The local Asian stores now have the most amazing Paneer available so I keep a block in the fridge or freezer for quick dinner situations.
This is a curry, which as always is spicy, tangy, rich, gentle, soft and ever so delicious.
I have paired it with butter rice, lentils and pickles. Naan or roti would be perfect with the platter.
Matar Paneer
A quick and easy matar paneer
Ingredients
- 1 block of Paneer cubed ( I used Nanak Paneer)
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 large chopped red onion
- 2 chopped tomatoes
- 1 chopped green bell pepper
- 7-8 garlic cloves – sliced
- 1 inch ginger – grated
- 1 tsp Cumin powder
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Red chili powder
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- 1 tsp Coriander powder
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 4 tbsp grapeseed oil
- Salt to taste
- Chopped coriander leaves for garnish
Directions
Putting it together:
- Add 2 tbsp oil to a pan on medium heat and add the chopped garlic cloves, ginger and onion into the pan and fry this for a few minutes until the onions start to soften.
- Add chopped tomatoes and little salt, cover the pan and cook the mixture until the tomatoes have softened.
- Blend this sauce in a food processor ( there should be any need to add water)
- Using the same pan add 2 tbsp oil into the pan on medium heat, add
- Add cumin seeds and fry for a few seconds until they pop, add turmeric coriander and chili powder.
- Now you can add the prepared tomato sauce mixture and bring the mixture together.
- Throw in the cumin powder and a few tablespoons of water and let it cook for a few minutes. Do stir to ensure it does not start sticking
- Add yoghurt into the sauce and continue stirring.
- Add the frozen peas and then the paneer cubes
- Adjust for salt and water for consistency and cover and cook the curry for on low heat for about 5 minutes.
- Garnish with Cilantro and a squeeze of lemon and serve with rice or bread.
Sharing on Fiesta Friday!
Food For The Soul 
Looks yummy! Just need to find the closest market for Indian food (for the pander) in my new area…
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I do hope you find a store close by. I have about 5 international store within a 2 mile radius here in VA and don’t know what I would do without them 😁
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What a yummy and inviting meal Zeba!
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Thanks Sandhya!
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What a feast of flavors you have here! It looks delicious. I hope to find a good quality paneer, to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thank you so much. It’s simple enough to try and always comes out delicious. Hope you find the paneer. Take care and thanks for stopping by 😀
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