Paneer Butter Masala

Paneer Butter Masala:

Ingredients Needed:

200 or 250 gms paneer/cottage cheese cubed or diced 

2 tbsp cashew or 18 to 20 cashews-soaked if you have time and then ground with some water to a 

smoothen just grind the cashews to paste.it less time , to a smooth paste.

4-5 medium size tomatoes /tamatar or 300 grams or 2 cups of diced tomatoes -pureed 

1 inch ginger /adrak and 3-4 garlic /lahsun-crushed or ground in a mortar & pestle

1  or 2 green chili/hari mirch , slit (reserve a few for garnishing)

1 inch ginger /adrak -julienned (reserve a few for garnishing)

1 tej patta/Indian bay leaf

1 tsp kasuri methi/dry methi leaves

1 tsp garem masala or tandoori masala

1/2 tsp red chili powder /lal mirch powder or deghi mirch or kashmiri mirch powder

1 tbsp oil+1 or 2 tsp butter

1.5 cups water

A few coriander /cilantro/ dhania leaves for garnishing 

Salt and sugar as required -check notes for adding sugar

How To Make:

Soak cashews in milk for 10 mins and grind it to paste, set aside.Though this is optional it gives a richness and nice flavor to the gravy.

Chop paneer in to cubes .Take puree from 2 en tomatoes and keep aside.Chop onions finely and make it ready .Now in a mixing bowl add chili powder, dried kasoori methi leaves, tomato sauce then add milk.

Mix the milk spices mixture well and keep aside.In a nonstick pan add tsp of oil, fry the paneer cubes till slightly golden brown and drain in a tissue paper and keep aside.

Now add butter in the same pan, allow it to melt   ginger garlic paste saute for 2 mins then add onions and fry till golden browned.Then add tomato puree and fry until raw smell completely leaves, this will take at least 5 mins.

Now add the mixed milk spices mixture, cashew paste, 1/2 cup water and then simmer for 5-7 minutes. Then gravy would be thick and mixed well at this stage.Add remaining 1/2 cup milk little by little  stirring continuously to prevent milk from curdling.Add required salt.

Simmer again for 3 Mins to see like the below consistency .Then add the friend paneer cubes and mix well. Allow the paneer to sit for 2 mins then switch off.Garnish with cream and serve hot with rotis or naan.