Last week I had to make paneer, because, a gallon of milk was getting close to the expiry date. Hubby dear told me to make yogurt, okay how I am going to consume a gallon of yogurt so I decided to make some yogurt and rest I converted into Paneer.
Paneer is an Indian cottage cheese, that everybody gaga over. However in my house, nobody is too enthusiastic about it. Even little one is not keen about it. If it there then I will do a taste test, if not also okay, that is her and her dad’s attitude. I had already made mattar paneer(paneer with green peas curry), Malai Kofta so asked dear hubby what you want, he told to me try some other dish. So decide to give shahi paneer a try.
Shahi paneer is a restaurant favorite, and is rich in cream, nuts, paneer, tomato and spices or simple version with yogurt, cashew nuts, paneer, tomato and spices. I tried yogurt version. Shahi means royal, and was usually found in royal kitchen (Especially of Mughal emperors’). Last time when I visited Noida, I found they add paneer in everything as variety of vegetables are scare in Northern part of India as compared to Southern part. Furthermore every place has its own culinary specialties. If you make shahi paneer it is good with Chapathi, Nan or Poori. I decide to make Poori with them. They tasted great. You can have it once in a month. I looked at the recipes of Sanjeev kapoor and here. I made some changes like skipped adding saffron, reduced red chili powder and did not use Kashmiri chili powder and also used milk instead of cream. May be good as party dish, try some time. I fried paneer; if you don’t want you can skip that part. You can either fry the onion with ginger and garlic and green chilies, or boil the onion with water and grind into paste and then fry onion paste with ginger, garlic and green chili. I did the former step. Here goes the recipe.
One year ago: Chocolate Rum Raisin Mini Cake
Two year ago: Mysore Rasam
Print recipe from here
What you need
Cottage cheese/Paneer: 2 cup ( I used homemade one)
Onion: 1 no (about 2 cup chopped)
Tomato: 3 no (about 2 ½ cup)
Ghee/Clarified butter: 1 tablespoon
Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
Cloves: 2 no
Black pepper corns: ½ teaspoon
Cinnamon: 1 inch
Green chili: 1no
Green chili: 1no
Green cardamom: 2no
Mace: ½ teaspoon
Nutmeg: ¼ teaspoon
Caraway seeds: ¼ teaspoon ( if you don't like you can skip this one) 
Cumin seeds: ¼ teaspoon
Ginger: 1 inch
Garlic: 2no
Cashew nuts:
Yogurt: 1 cup
Milk: ½cup (I used 2 %)
Turmeric powder: ¼ teaspoon
Red chili powder: ¼ teaspoon
Coriander powder: ¼ teaspoon
Salt: ¾ teaspoon or to taste
Gram masala powder: ¼ teaspoon
Coriander leaves/Cilantro: 2 tablespoon
How I made
In a medium sauce pot heat 1 tablespoon of Ghee and add paneer and fry them for about 3-4 minutes or until they become slight brown. Set aside.
In the same pan add onion, garlic, ginger and green chili and fry until onion becomes translucent or 6 minutes to this add tomato and fry 2-3 minutes or until it becomes mushy. To this add spices like, caraway, cinnamon, cardamom, mace, cloves, black pepper corns etc and fry for two minutes and Set aside. Once it is cool enough to touch grind into fine paste.
Grind cashew nuts and yogurt together to fine paste and set aside.
Heat oil in the pan and add cumin seeds when it starts to splutter add onion spice paste and fry for 2-3 minutes until oil starts separating. To this add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala and fry for 2 minutes. Then add cashew yogurt paste and salt and cook for another 2 minutes. To this add milk and bring it to boil. To this add fried paneer and mix everything to combine well and switch off the flame. Garnish with cilantro leaves.
Enjoy with poori.
Preparation time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 serving
Verdict: Yummy
Will you make it again: Yes occasionally.
I am linking this Shahi Paneer to Hearth and Soul blog hop#82 hosted here.
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Hema says
Very delicious, very nice pictorial steps, first time here and happy to follow you Swathi..
The 21st Century Housewife© says
I didn't know you could make homemade paneer - that is really interesting! This recipe looks really wholesome and delicious, and sounds lovely and spicy. Thank you for sharing it with the Hearth and Soul hop, and for co-hosting!
jayarajmurukkumpuzha says
adipoli aayittundu..........
Julia says
Fantastic!! I love it!! This invite to prepare it and I will.
Regards,
carmenpiva says
As it happens to me when I visit you, I always find your recipes exotic and glamorous!
Looks yummy, I think I'd love it.
Kitchen Flavours says
I am hungry....my all time favorite paneer recipe....looks drool worthy....
Sayantani says
one of my fav. paneer dish. looks wonderful.
RAKS KITCHEN says
Love it any time, looks so tempting with the pooris!
Pushpa says
Rich and creamy gravy looks delicious.
Yasmin says
this looks delicious too! thanks for your comment! the step-by-step photos instructions are helpful!
cheers,
yas
http://www.tickle-your-tastebuds.blogspot.com
Reeni says
Looks so spicy and delicious Swathi, love your poori too!
Purabi Naha says
Swathi, mistakenly, I added your URL as mine in the comment on Shahi paneer just now. I am sorry! http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.com
Purabi Naha says
Swathi, loved your stepwise instructions...these really make things easy to understand!! The paneer looks yum!
http://kitchenswathi.blogspot.com/
Sensible Vegetarian says
So creamy and yummy.
divya says
Woww.. .mouth watering here.. looks absolutely delicious and perfect.. thanks for the wonderful recipe dear..
G.Pavani says
mouthwatering n delicious paneer shahi..
♥peachkins♥ says
Cheese that is made even more flavorful!That looks like somethign I would love!
Loveforfood says
that would be a perfect meal for me.
Reshmi Mahesh says
Creamy delicious recipe...yumm..
SouthIndianHome says
Delicious and inviting curry
Anu says
It came out very perfect..and looks so delicious..
Elisabeth says
I'm so impressed, Swathi! You make your own Paneer! So much better, homemade. Lovely dish, so creamy and delicious...I love the recipe, and your easy to follow step-by-step tutorial:DDD
Jay says
this looks marvellous...I'm drooooooooling swathi..;P
Tasty Appetite
Uma says
It was rich and creamy.I too prepare it in similar way but with less spices and more milk skipping yogurt. Love to have some now.
Sravs says
very tempting and delicious paneer !!
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Alea Milham says
What a delicious way to repurpose milk/yogurt that was going to expire! Thank you for sharing this recipe with the hearth and Soul Hop.
Elsa says
I've never tried this before but it looks beautiful.
Peggy says
I'm impressed that you made your own paneer Swathi! This dish sounds delicious =)
Marus says
it looks creamy and delicius. Wonderful recipe.
Good day
Swati Sapna says
The Shahi Paneer looks rich, creamy and mouth-watering Swathi! Lovely pictures... Good idea of making yogurt and paneer with extra milk. I love having extra yogurt at home - helps in making kadhi, smoothies, shakes and lassis!
Tina (PinayInTexas) says
This definitely looks so comforting and delicious, Swathi!
Suja says
Wow kandittu kothiyavunnu..looks creamy and delicious..yum
kitchen queen says
Hi Swathi delicious tempting and mouth watering.I would love to grab the entire bowl and have it.
indu srinivasan
kattameethatheeka.blogspot.com
Kurryleaves says
looks rich and creamy.....well presented!!
Hamaree Rasoi says
So soft and yummy looking shahi paneer. Wonderfully prepared.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
The Café Sucré Farine says
What a beautiful photo to start your post! It looks like it should not only be in a magazine but should be on my table for lunch, YUM!
Abhilash Pillai says
nice presentation Swathi.I never knew it is this easy. I shall try this. Hope the Nilgiris in Cochin keep paneer.
Treat and Trick says
So creamy and delicious!
http://treatntrick.blogspot.com
Shilpakiran says
wow mouthwatering .. ..yummy ..surely going to make this ..thanks for sharing ..presentation is too tempty
Priya says
Slurp, mouthwatering here, love this shahi paneer simply with rotis, well done Swathi..
Kaveri says
A really rich and creamy side dish..Unlike you lil one, my daughter is crazy about paneer..She can have paneer almost everyday:)
Prathibha says
very delicious shahi paneer..looks nice n rich
Vimitha Anand says
Shahi paneer looks so rich and yummy...
Nish says
Haha, good choice of making paneer instead of curd, I would too - anytime 😀 😀 😀
Shahi Paneer looks good.
And these are probably the largest number of step-by-step pictures I've ever seen! 🙂
Aarthi says
Yummy recipe…will try it for sure..Thanks for posting
Aarthi
http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com