Chef’s Nectar, “Paneer Butter Masala”

Ingredients for making the Paneer Butter Masala

Making of cashew paste

• 25 to 30 pcs of whole cashewsnuts
• ⅓ cup hot water for soaking cashews

Making of tomato puree

• 2 cups diced tomatoes or 300 grams tomatoes or 4 to 5 medium size – pureed

Making of paneer butter masala

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tej patta (indian bay leaf)
• 1 inch ginger and 3 to 4 garlic
• ½ to 1 teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder or deghi mirch
• 1.5 cups water
• 1 inch ginger julienne
• 1 or 2 green chili – slit
• 200 to 250 grams paneer (cottage cheese) – dices
• 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves) powder
• ½ to 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 2 to 3 tablespoons low-fat cream
• ¼ to 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1 tsp honey
• salt to taste

for garnishing

• 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves and kasuri methinlowder
• ginger julienne
• 1 tablespoon low fat cream
• 1 to 2 teaspoons butter –

Method of making Paneer Butter Masala

• Soak 18 to 20 cashews in a hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. Then make the paste of cashew nuts.
• Chopped the tomatoes, cut the even size of paneer dices.
• In the same blender add 2 cups of diced or roughly chopped tomatoes. No need to blanch the tomatoes before blending.
• Blend to a smooth tomato puree. Keep aside. Don’t add any water while blending the tomatoes.

Making of makhani gravy

• In a heavy bottom pan Melt butter on a low flame. Add bay leaf and fry till the oil become fragrant.
• Add ginger-garlic paste and saute for 2 to 3 minutes till the raw aroma disappears. And onions become transparent.
• Add the tomato puree and stir well. Cook for10 to 12 minutes. Then add kashmiri red chili powder and stir again. Continue to saute till the oil starts to leave the sides of the tomato paste. The tomato paste will thicken considerably and will start coming together on the top.
• Then add cashew paste and stir well. Saute the cashew paste for a few minutes till the oil begins to leave the sides of the pan.
• The cashew paste will begin to cook fast. Approx 3 to 4 minutes on a low flame. So keep stirring so the paste will not stick on the base of the pan.

• Add water and mix very well. Simmer on a low flame.
• The curry will come to a boil.
• After 2 to 3 minutes of boiling, add ginger julienne. Reserve a few for garnishing. The curry will also begin to thicken.
• Add julienned ginger and green chillies, salt and sugar and simmer till the curry begins to thicken.
• After 3 to 4 minutes, add 1 or 2 slit green chillies. also add salt as per taste and ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar/honey
• You can add sugar from ¼ tsp to 1 teaspoon or more depending on the sourness of the tomatoes. Sugar is optional and you can skip it too. If you add cream, then you will need to add less sugar.
• Mix very well and simmer for a minute.
• After the gravy thickens to your desired consistency, then add the paneer cubes and stir gently. i keep the gravy to a medium consistency.
• After that add crushed kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves), garam masala and cream. Gently mix and then switch off the flame.

Serving of paneer butter masala

• Garnish it with coriander leaves and ginger julienne.
• You can even dot the gravy with some butter or drizzle some cream.
• Serve paneer butter masala hot with plain naan, garlic naan, roti, paratha or steamed basmati or jeera rice or even peas pulao.
• Side accompaniments can be green salad and some pickle along with lemon wedges and papad. Enjoy this special dish rich with lots of vitamins and a complete source of energy along with family and friends. Most popular dish make on every special occasion in India mostly in the North India.

Please Note

1. Butter: use good quality butter. You can add both unsalted or salted butter. Also both yellow butter or white butter can be added.
2. Tomatoes: it is best to use fresh, ripe red tomatoes. Add tomatoes which have sweet-tangy taste.
3. Tomato puree: blend the tomatoes to a smooth puree. If you want you can strain the tomato puree also. Or you can use tomato purée tin or both.
4. Paneer: best to use homemade soft paneer or a good quality fresh paneer from the sweet shop.
5. You can steam the paneer also before adding it to the dish to make it more soft, it’s a chef secret.