Shahi Paneer

Shahi is a Hindi word and translates to royal and Paneer is basically cottage cheese. So literal translation of this Indian curry is Cottage Cheese in a Royal Gravy. With Indian curries, there are some tricks and tips e.g., if you want the curry to have a white/royal base (Shahi), boil the onions before making a paste; if you want it red, fry the onions before making the paste; if you want the curry to be deep brown or darker in colour, cook it in an iron wok/vessel. As is evident from the pictures, this curry has a white base, hence the onions have been boiled before being made into a paste.

Ingredients:

- Onions Peeled cut into halves and boiled - 2

- Ginger and Garlic paste - 1 tbsp

- Paneer - 200 gms

- Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

- Cumin powder - 1 tsp

- Salt - Acc to taste

- Sugar - 1 tsp / acc to taste

- Cinnamon stick - 1 inch

- Bay leaves - 1

- Cumin seed - 1/2 tsp

- Cashews - 4-5

- Poppy seeds - 2 tsp

- Cream - 2 tbsp

- Any White Oil - 2 tbsp

- Yogurt - 1/2 cup

- Garam Masala - 1 tsp

Method:

- In a wok, add white oil and let it heat on medium flame for a min.

- Add the paneer and fry until golden and then set it aside..

- In the same oil add the cinnamon, bay leaves, cumin seeds.

- Make a paste from the boiled onions, make a separate paste with cashews and poppy seeds.

- Let the cumin seeds splutter and then add the onion paste.

- Fry the onion paste for 2 mins and then add ginger and garlic paste and fry until raw smell goes away.

- Then add all the powdered masalas (apart from garam masala) and a little bit of water and let all the masalas cook. 

- To this add yogurt and fry till this leaves oil on the sides.

- Add the cashew and poppy seed paste and mix well. 

- Again, fry till it leaves oil from the sides.

- At this stage add the cream and let it come to a boil. Your gravy base is ready. 

- Now add the paneer, cover and cook on low flame for 2-3 mins.

- Before switching off the flame, add garam masala powder and mix well.

- Serve hot with Roti or Naan with a side of vegetable salad.

Tip - If you want it spicy, add chopped green chili when frying the masala.