Butter Paneer Masala

Butter paneer masala which is also known as Kadai paneer, is widely known as Punjabi cuisine which is very popular in the northern part of India.

Unlike any other Indian cuisine, butter paneer masala has more softer taste of spices as it is normally prepared or cooked with cream, and sometimes people also mixed with cashew paste in the cooking.

The soft texture of the paneer cooked in butter instead of oil, gives this dish the oriental taste which is acceptable internationally. Not many people can eat a lot of spices, some people may have stomach breakdown eating too much of spice, this .. in this case, happened to me when I was still adapting myself with Indian food years ago.

I have tasted butter paneer masala in many restaurants and I found out that the best taste of paneer dish is when I could feel the soft texture of the paneer/cheese and the spices altogether.

Last year, I was quite lucky to get a very important lesson from a cook whom we hired during my in-law’s 50th anniversary. He asked me what did I want to have for my lunch as he prepared my lunch separately with less spices, and I told him that he can cook paneer for me. While he was cooking in the kitchen, I watched him prepared the paneer. The most interesting part was when he put the paneer in hot water before cooking it with the spices. I asked him why would he do that, he told me that if he put the paneer or cottage cheese in the hot water, it will make the paneer softer instead of frying it in oil.

That was might be the most valuable lesson that I got from Indian chef so far, because I used to fry the paneer before cooking it with spices and sometimes it made the paneer hard. Since that time onward, I always put the paneer in hot water for at least 15 minutes before cooking it. The result was very good and  I love this dish even more.

Ingredient:

• 200 grams of Paneer - cut in 1.5 cms cubes
• 1 big onion - finely chopped
• 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste
• 1 big tomato - finely chopped (optional - 1 cup of tomato puree)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 table spoon butter
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• salt to taste (I used 1/2 tsp in this recipe)

How to cook:

• In the cooking pan, heat the butter
• Add the chopped onion and cook it until it become soft
• Add the ginger and garlic paste, stir for about 1 minute
• Add chopped tomato, cook until it become very soft and the juice reduced
• Add the turmeric and chili powder
• Add the salt and sugar
• If the curry is too thick, add little water
• Garnish with corriander leaves
• Ready to be served with steamed rice or roti

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Tags: butter, butter paneer, cheese, cottage cheese, indian food, paneer, Vegetarian

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