Kadai paneer/A spicy cottage cheese dish

Kadai Paneer is a dish made in a particular pan called Kadai/Karahi. Kadai is an Indian wok, circular, deep iron pan with handles. It retains heat and that imparts a signature taste to this dish. Cubed Paneer (cottage cheese) is tossed in red tomato gravy and cooked in fragrant spices to make this an impressive side dish.

Paneer is a freshly made cheese(by adding an acid, invariably lemon juice to heated milk). It is a cottage cheese that doesn’t melt easily but is very crumbly. It is easily made at home by curdling milk and pressing the water out of the cheese. I used store bought Paneer in this dish.

Kadai paneer is a spicy tomato-based side dish. Cubed Paneer and green bell pepper are sauteed in a base made with a spicy tomato gravy. There are two versions, one with a gravy and another a dry preparation. I have made one in between as I needed a little gravy to accompany my spinach rotis.

It tastes better when cooked in ghee which is clarified butter. Being a bit health conscious, I used vegetable oil to cook and used a copper bottom Kadai.

Ingredients

• 1 block cottage cheese (400 gms Paneer)
• 1 green bell pepper chopped (Capsicum)
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 tomato chopped
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• salt
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp crushed dry methi leaves (kasuri methi)
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
• 1 tbsp yogurt to garnish

1. Pour a tbsp oil in a deep pan (Kadai) and fry paneer, chopped into big pieces on high heat.
2. Remove it when it starts browning and keep it aside.
3. Heat the remaining oil and fry onion until it turns translucent.
4. Add ginger garlic paste to it and fry until it is aromatic.
5. Add tomato and mash it as it cooks until oil separates.
6. Stir in tomato paste.
7. Add all the powders one after the other and stir well and cook them without burning.
8. Now add green pepper and fry until it cooks.
9. Add fried Paneer, crushed dry methi leaves and turn off heat and mix well.
10. Garnish with cilantro.
11. Serve with fresh cream or yogurt on it.

This tastes hot and spicy so garnish it with yogurt to make it mellow! It is the richness of milk protein and all the spices that make it taste distinctly delicious.

The verdict was, it tasted like a restaurant preparation. So, it is highly recommended!

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