Indian · Vegetarian
Matar Paneer
A classic Indian curry featuring golden paneer cheese and green peas in a fragrant spiced tomato sauce. This quick and flavorful dish is perfect served with naan, roti, or basmati rice.
The Method
Instructions
Start by heating the sunflower oil in a frying pan over high heat . You want the oil to get nice and hot, shimmering on the surface, which means it's ready for the paneer. Once it reaches that temperature, carefully add the paneer cubes to the pan. Now, lower the heat to medium high so they cook gently without burning. Keep a close eye on the paneer because it will brown quicker than you might expect. Let it fry until the edges start to turn a golden brown, then give each side a good turn so all sides get that lovely color. This should only take a few minutes per side. When the paneer looks beautifully crisp and golden, remove it from the pan and place it on some kitchen paper to drain off any excess oil.
Next, in the same pan, toss in the fresh grated ginger, ground cumin, turmeric, ground coriander, and chopped green chilli. Fry these aromatic spices and aromatics for about 1 minute , stirring constantly so they don't burn. You'll start to smell that warm, fragrant aroma filling the kitchen, which is always a good sign that the spices are blooming perfectly.
After the spices have had a chance to toast gently, add the chopped tomatoes to the pan. Take the back of a spoon and press down on the tomatoes, mashing them up so they break down and release all their juicy goodness. Let this simmer for about 5 minutes , stirring now and then. The sauce should thicken a little and become wonderfully fragrant. If it feels a bit too thick or starts sticking to the pan, add a small splash of water to loosen it up and keep everything saucy and delicious. Don't forget to season generously with salt and pepper here to bring out all the flavors.
Now, stir in the peas and let the mixture simmer for another 2 minutes so they get warmed through but still retain a bit of their fresh pop. After that, gently fold the browned paneer back into the pan, letting it soak up all those beautiful spices and tomato flavors. Finally, sprinkle the garam masala over the top and give everything one last gentle stir to combine.
To serve, divide the matar paneer between two bowls, and sprinkle fresh coriander leaves over the top for a bright, herbal finish. Don't forget to have some warm naan bread, soft roti, or fluffy rice on the side to mop up all that lovely sauce. It's the perfect way to enjoy this comforting, flavorful dish with friends or family.
Next, in the same pan, toss in the fresh grated ginger, ground cumin, turmeric, ground coriander, and chopped green chilli. Fry these aromatic spices and aromatics for about 1 minute , stirring constantly so they don't burn. You'll start to smell that warm, fragrant aroma filling the kitchen, which is always a good sign that the spices are blooming perfectly.
After the spices have had a chance to toast gently, add the chopped tomatoes to the pan. Take the back of a spoon and press down on the tomatoes, mashing them up so they break down and release all their juicy goodness. Let this simmer for about 5 minutes , stirring now and then. The sauce should thicken a little and become wonderfully fragrant. If it feels a bit too thick or starts sticking to the pan, add a small splash of water to loosen it up and keep everything saucy and delicious. Don't forget to season generously with salt and pepper here to bring out all the flavors.
Now, stir in the peas and let the mixture simmer for another 2 minutes so they get warmed through but still retain a bit of their fresh pop. After that, gently fold the browned paneer back into the pan, letting it soak up all those beautiful spices and tomato flavors. Finally, sprinkle the garam masala over the top and give everything one last gentle stir to combine.
To serve, divide the matar paneer between two bowls, and sprinkle fresh coriander leaves over the top for a bright, herbal finish. Don't forget to have some warm naan bread, soft roti, or fluffy rice on the side to mop up all that lovely sauce. It's the perfect way to enjoy this comforting, flavorful dish with friends or family.
Pairs Well With
