Pepper Chicken Curry

 This recipe is courtesy of Spice Eats (Variations are mine)

Chicken Marination & Cooking

• 500 gms Chicken Curry Cut
• 2 tsp Pepper powder (adjust as per the need)
• 1 tsp Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Jeera Powder
• 2-3 tsp Oil 
• Salt to taste

1. Mix all the above and keep it for 30 minutes. 
2. After 30 minutes heat 1tbsp oil in a large pan. Once the oil is hot, add chicken to the pan and let it cook on high heat for 5-6 minutes
3. Turn the chicken over and let again cook for 5-6 minutes
4. Cover the pan with a lid and let the chicken cook until succulent
5. Take out the chicken and keep it aside

Onion-Cashew Paste

• 3-4 Onions (Small) - Sliced
• 1” piece Ginger - chopped
• 6-7 Garlic cloves
• 2-3 Green Chillies
• 8-10 Cashew nuts

1. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan. Put Onion and fry for 4-5 minutes until Onion changes colour
2. Put Ginger, Garlic, Cashews and Chillies and fry for 5 minutes in medium flame
3. Once everything is fired, take them off the heat and let it cool for some time
4. Put these in a blender and make them into a fine paste. Add water if needed to make a paste

Main Curry

• 2-3 Cardamoms
• 2-3 Cloves
• 1/2 inch Cinnamon
• 2 tsp Everest Garam masala (adjust as needed)
• 2 tsp Everest Kitchen King masala (adjust as needed)
• 1 tsp Turmeric (Haldi) 
• 1 cup of Curd/yoghurt beaten and mixed with 1/2 cup of water

1. Take Garam Masala, Kitchen King Masala and Haldi and put in a small bowl and put a 1 tbsp of water to make a thick masala paste and keep it aside
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan. Put the Onion-Cashew paste in the pan and let cook in medium heat for some time until it changes colour
3. Add chicken to the pan and mix well. Add Curd and the masala paste in point #1 and mix well. Let it cook for some time until oil starts separating,
4. Cover with a lid and cook for some time, stirring occasionally.
5. Once the gravy has attained consistency, Add some water and let it cook for 5-7 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and garnish with Green chillis and Coriander
7. Server with Rotis

Rajasthani Jeera Chicken Curry

 This recipe is courtsey my colleague Sana Quazi, who is from Udaipur.

Ingredients For Marination

1. 1 kg Curry Cut Chicken
2. 3 tsp Jeera (Cumin) powder
3. 1 tsp Dhaniya (Coriander) powder
4. 1 tsp Kashmiri Mirch powder
5. 1 tsp Ginger Garlic
6. 1/2 Cup Yoghurt (Dahi)
7. 2-3 tsp oil

Marination - Mix all the above and leave it for 30 mins

Ingredients For Curry

1. 2 Medium Onions roughly Cut
2. 4-5 Garlic Cloves
3. 5 tsp Jeera (Cumin)
4. 7-8 Dry Red chillies (Non-spicy ones) (Sookhi laal mirch)
5. 1 tsp Amchur powder
6. 1 tsp Jeera powder
7. 1 tsp turmeric powder
8. 1 tsp Kashmiri mirch powder
9. 2 cups Hung Curd (Take a clean cloth and hang the curd for few minutes to remove all the water and mix it well)
10. Salt to taste

Method

• Put Cut Onions and Garlic Cloves in a microwavable bowl and heat it for 1 minute. This is to take out the raw smell
• Remove water and put it in the blender and make a paste. Keep the onion-garlic paste aside
• Put Jeera, Amchur powder, red chillies and 1 tsp salt in a blender jar. Put half a cup of water and blend it into a fine paste. Keep Jeera-Redchilli paste aside
• Heat oil in a pan and put the onion-garlic paste and saute till it becomes slightly brown. Add 1 tsp jeera powder, turmeric powder and Kashmiri mirch powder and saute until oil starts to leave. 
• Turn the heat to high and Add Chicken and cover the lid for 2-3 minutes
• Reduce the heat to medium and turn the chicken pieces on the other side and cover the lid.
• Let the chicken cook for 10 to 15 mins with the lid covered- keep stirring them occasionally.
• Add Jeera-Redchilli paste and stir well. Let it cook for another 10-15 mins on low heat. Stir regularly. Add Salt
• Add Hung curd and mix well. Let it cook for 10 mins on low heat until Oil leaves from the mix and the gravy thickens.
• Add 1 cup of water and bring it to a boil and switch off the gas.
• Garnish with green chillies and Coriander leaves

Serve with Roti or Naan!

Andhra Chili Chicken Curry

 Andhra Chilli Chicken Curry: Courtesy Spice Eats

(Tsp-Teaspoon; Tbsp-Tablespoon) - Chicken, curry cut with bones - 1 Kg Green Masala Paste: - Sautéed onions- small onion, thick slices (40 gms) - Sautéed Green chillies - 8 nos., halved - Coriander Leaves, chopped- 1 cup - Mint leaves- 1/2 cup - Curry Leaves- 10-12 nos. Tempering: - Cumin Seeds-1 tsp - Cinnamon- 2 pieces - Curry Leaves- 10-12 Other Ingredients: - Onions, chopped- 2 big ones (200 gms) - Green Chillies, slit- 3 - Ginger, crushed- 2 tbsp - Garlic, crushed- 2 tbsp - Tomato, sliced- 2 small (100 gms) - Salt- 2.5 tsp or to taste - Thick coconut milk- 1/2 cup (120 ml) - Refined Oil- 5-6 tbsp - Coriander leaves for garnish- 2-3 tbsp

Spice Powders

- Turmeric Powder- 1/2 tsp - Red Chilli Powder- 1 tsp - Coriander Powder- 3 tsp - Garam Masala Powder- 1 tsp Preparation:

For Green Curry Paste: - Peel and make thick slices of 1 small onion. Wash and cut the green chillies into halves.

- To make the Green Masala paste, take a frying pan & heat 1/2 tbsp oil. Add the thick onion slices and fry on medium heat for 2-3 mins till translucent. Add the green chillies, give a mix and fry on medium heat for 30 secs. Remove to a plate and let it cool.

- Chop the coriander leaves and take out the mint and curry leaves.

- Add all the ingredients for the masala paste into a blender/grinder and coarse grind it. Give it a mix and then blend it into a paste after adding 2-3 tbsp water. Set aside.

For the Curry - Chop the onions finely, peel and crush the ginger & garlic and slice the tomatoes.

- Slit the green chillies, take out the curry leaves and chop the coriander leaves for garnishing. Process: - Heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds, cinnamon and curry leaves. Give a stir and then add the chopped onions & slit green chillies. Fry on medium heat for 8-9 mins till the colour changes.

- Add the crushed ginger and garlic and fry on medium heat for 2-3 mins.

- Add the sliced tomatoes and 1 tsp salt & fry on medium heat for 2-3 tsp till the tomatoes are soft.

- Add all the spice powders except Garam masala powder and mix and fry in medium heat for 2-3 mins till the spices are cooked and oil separates.

- Add the chicken pieces and 1.5 tsp salt and mix and fry on high heat for 4-5 mins. Continue to cook on medium heat for another 8-10 mins till the chicken is browned.

- Add the Green Masala paste, coconut milk and Garam masala powder. Give a mix, add 200 ml water and cook covered on low heat for 15 mins till the chicken is tender.

- Remove the lid, and add chopped coriander leaves. Add little water (if needed) for desired consistency of the gravy. Mix and cook for 2 mins on low heat.

Serve with roti or rice.

Shakshuka

 Shakshuka - Simple healthy breakfast recipe.

1. 6 - Eggs

2. 2 - Onions finely chopped

3. 2 - Red/Yellow pepper square cut

4. 1 or 2 - Tomatoes finely chopped

5. 1 cup - tomato puree

6. 1-2 tsp - Pepper powder

7. 2 tsp - Jeera (cumin) powder

8. 2 tsp - Coriander powder

9. 1 tsp - paprika or Kashmiri chilli powder

10. 4-5 - Cloves of garlic finely chopped

11. Coriander leaves chopped

12. Salt to taste

13. 1.5 tbsp - Olive oil 

1. Heat olive oil in a flat pan, add onion fry until translucent and bell pepper and let cook for sometime with covered lid.

2. Add pepper powder, jeera ppwder, coriander powder, garlic and peprika ppwder. Let it cook for sometime

3. Add tomatoes and tomato puree and salt and mix well, close the lid and let it cook until the oil starts to leave from the sides. Adjust the salt and spices as necessary. 

4. Flatten the cooked veggies to form a layer in the pan. Break 6 eggs in circle in the pan. DO NOT MIX THE EGGS WITH VEGGIES. Sprinkle little salt & pepper over eggs and sprinkle coriander leaves and cover the lid and let it cook for 5 to 10 mins on a low flame.

Once the eggs are cooked remove from heat and keep the lid on and let it cool down a bit. This will help in ensuring the eggs are properly cooked. Serve with garlic bread.

Note: You can also add chopped potatoes when frying onions to make it heavier.

Prawn Pasta in Creamy Red Sauce

A rich, creamy, spicy red sauce pasta.

Ingredients:

1. 500 gms prawns cleaned and deveined
2. Spaghetti Pasta - 1 packet
3. Tomato Pesto - 1-2 tablespoon
4. Oregano - 2-3 tsps
5. Chilli Flakes - 1-2 tsps
6. Pizza Seasoning (Optional) -  1-2 tsps
7. Onion or Shallots - 3-4 medium-sized - finely chopped
8. Garlic - 12-15 cloves - Finely chopped
9. Grated Cheeze - 3/4 cup
10. Cream - 1 cup
11. Salt to taste
12. Sugar - 1/2 tsp
13. Extra Virgin Olive Oil - For frying

Method:

1. Take 1/2  tablespoon of Olive oil in a pan and heat it. Add prawns cook them on both sides until they turn lightly orange/red in colour. Keep it aside
2. Boil the spaghetti pasta, drain and keep it aside
3. Take 1 tbsp of olive oil and heat it
4. Add Onion and Garlic and saute for few minutes until translucent.
5. Add tomato pesto and saute until it reaches the consistency
6. Add cream and grated cheese and mix well by stirring.
7. Once the sauce reaches consistency, add chilli flakes, Oregano, Pizza seasoning and salt to taste.
8. Add 1/2 tsp of sugar just to temper the taste and mix well
9. Add prawns and let it cook for some time in low heat
10. Add Pasta and mix well

Serve with Garlic Bread!

Bang Bang Shrimps (Prawns)

A crispy, creamy, sweet, and spicy Prawns with just a few ingredients. Tastes Yummy!

Ingredients

1. 1 cup mayonnaise
2. 2 tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce
3. 2-3 teaspoons Sriracha (as per your spice requirement)
4. 1/2 kg Prawns (shrimps) shelled and deveined
5. 3/4 cup cornstarch
6. 2 tsp ginger garlic paste
7. Salt to taste
8. Oil for frying

Method (For Sauce):

In a small bowl add the mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha sauce and stir. Keep it aside

Method (For Prawn preparation):

1. Put the prawns in a bowl and add ginger & garlic paste, cornstarch, and salt and stir to coat all the shrimp.
2. In a pan add 2 tbsp of oil and heat
3. Fry the prawns until lightly red and properly cooked  (1-2 minutes on each side).
4. Once Prawns are fried, coat them with the sauce, add chopped spring onions (greens) and serve.

Red Chilly Chutney (Sauce) for Momos

 Yummy, Spicy chutney for Momos (Dumplings)

Ingredients:

1. 2-3 tomatoes
2. 10-12 dry red chilli
3. 10-15 cloves garlic finely chopped
4. 1-inch ginger finely chopped
5. 4 teaspoon virgin olive oil
6. Salt as required

Method: 

1. Take dried red chillies in a small bowl and add water. Microwave for 5 minutes
2. Boil the water and tomatoes and let it boil for 5 minutes
3. Remove the skins of tomatoes and put the red chillies and tomatoes in a mixer and grind well to make a paste
4. Take 4 tsp of virgin olive oil in a pan and heat it..Add chopped garlic and ginger. Cool for a few minutes
5. Put the Ginger+garlic to the Tomato+chillies paste in the mixer and grind well.
6. Add salt as per taste and mix well

Server with Momos!

Paneer & Beans Sabzi

This is a simple and healthy Paneer & Beans Sabzi

Ingredients:

1. Paneer 250 GM
2. Beans 250 GM
3. Tomatoes 2-3
4. Garlic 6-8 cloves
5. Green Chillies 3
6. Cumin seeds
7. Kitchen king Masala 1 tsp
8. Turmeric 1/2 tsp
9. Oil 2 tbsp (Vegetable Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
10. Salt for taste

Method:

1. Put the paneer in hot water for a few minutes and then crumple it
3. Chop beans into small sizes
4. Grind cumin seeds, green chillies & Garlic
5. Boil tomatoes for 5 minutes and take out the skin. Make a puree of tomatoes in the mixer separately
6. Put oil in a pan heat & add chilly garlic paste
7. Saute for few minutes and then add tomato puree with salt in it. Let it cook for some time.
8. Once the oil separates, add chopped beans, turmeric powder, kitchen king Masala
9. Cover the pan with lid & leave for 2 mins on low flame, stir it well. Add paneer
10. Add 1 cup of hot water cover the lid and keep it on low flame until beans is fully cooked. Stir occasionally.

Serve with hot chapatis or plain parathas

Chicken Patiala (Rich and Creamy Chicken Curry)

This is a very rich, creamy, and yummy chicken curry! You will enjoy it!

It has 2 distinct gravies mixed together to bring an awesome aroma and taste. 

Step #0 (Chicken Marination)

Ingredients for Chicken Marination:

• 500-750 gms Boneless Chicken (washed)
• Thick Curd - 1 cup
• Garlic Paste - 2 tsp
• Ginger Paste - 1 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Red Chilli Powder (preferably Kashmiri chilli powder) - 2 tsp
• Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
• Salt

Marinate the chicken in the above ingredients and keep it aside.

Step #1 (1st Gravy & Cooking Chicken)

Ingredients for Gravy #1

• Oil - 3 tbsp
• Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
• Chilli powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander Powder - 2 tsp
• Cinnamon Stick - 1/2 inch
• Cardamoms whole - 2-3 nos
• Cloves - 3-4 nos
• Star Anise - 1
• Cumin Seeds (jeera) - 1/2 tsp
• Ginger (finely chopped) - 1 tsp
• Garlic (finely chopped)- 2 tsp
• Onion (finely chopped) - 4 medium
• Tomatoes (finely chopped - 2 medium

Method:

1. Heat oil in a frying pan. Add cinnamon stick, cardamoms, cloves and star anise
2. Once they give out their aroma, add cumin seeds and let it sputter
3. Add Ginger and Garlic and fry them a little
4. Add Onion and fry them until they are golden brown
5. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder and coriander powder and mix well
6. Add tomatoes and cook until tomatoes are soft and mixed well with the onion
7. Add half a cup of water to bring consistency 

Divide the above gravy into 2 equal parts. Keep one half in the frying pan and transfer the remaining half in another bowl and keep it aside

Cooking Chicken

1. Turn the heat high for the frying pan with half the gravy
2. Add the marinaded chicken in the frying pan and mix well
3. Add finely chopped green chillis (2-3)
4. Saute the chicken for 5 mins in high flame
5. Put the flame on low and cover the frying pan with a lid and let the chicken cook in low flame

Step #2 (2nd Gravy preparation)

Ingredients for Gravy #2

• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Cumin Seeds (jeera) - 1 tsp
• Ginger (finely chopped) - 1 tsp
• Garlic (finely chopped) - 2 tsp
• Fenugreek leaves (Methi) - 1 cup (finely chopped and soaked in saltwater for 30 mins and washed)
•  Onion - 1 diced in square size
• Capsicum - 1 diced in square size
• Turmeric - 1 tsp
• Chilli powder - 1 tsp
• Cumin seed powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander seed powder - 2 tsp
• Cashew Nut Paste - 1 cup (cashew nuts soaked in water for few minutes and ground in the mixer)
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Heat Oil in separate fyring pan
2. Add cumin seeds and let is sputter
3. Add ginger and garlic and saute for few minutes
4. Add methi and saute it well for few minutes
5. Add Onion and Capsicum and mix well
6. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, cumin seed powder and coriander powder and mix well
7. Add the gravy taken out Step #1 and mix well
8. Add Cashew nut paste and mix well again and add salt. Cook for 5 minutes to bring consistency

Step #3 (Bringing it all together)

1. Open the chicken pan lid and check if the chicken is cooked by poking it with a fork. If the chicken is not cooked then close the lid and let it cook for few more minutes
2. Once the chicken is cooked Add the Gravy #2 to the chicken and mix well
3. Add one green chilli and ginger julienne
4. Cover and cook for few munites
5. Add 1/2 cup of fresh cream and mix well and turn off the flame

Chicken Patiala is Ready!!

Serve with Basmati Rice Pulav or Tandoori Roti!

Scalloped Potatoes

This is a simple creamy and cheesy baked potato recipe. Kids will definitely love it

Ingredients

• Potatoes - 3 Large
• Brocolli - 2-3 florets cut in small pieces
• Butter - 1 tbsp
• White Flour (Maida) - 1 Cup
• Milk - 1.5-2  Cups
• Garlic - Finely chopped (4-5 Cloves)
• Cheese - 100 gms
• Salt - To taste
• Pepper - 1 tsp
• Chilli Flakes = 1 tsp
• Oregano or Pizza seasoning - 2 tsp

Sauce

1. Heat butter in a pan. Once it melts add garlic and cook for a while
2. Add white flour and mix it well and allow it to cook for a while in low heat
3. Add Milk. Ensure that it doesn't coagulate by whisking it after temporarily taking it off of the heat
4. Once you get a smooth, pasty, consistent texture, add salt and pepper while whisking it continuously
5.  Added 50gms of grated cheese and whisk more
6. Take the sauce off the heat once the sauce is of uniform consistency

Bake

1. Slice the potatoes thinly and place them in a baking casserole 
2. Cut broccoli into small pieces and place it on top of the potatoes
3. Cook the potatoes and broccoli in microwave for 4-5 minutes
4. Take the casserole out of the Microwave and spread the Sauce on top of potatoes and broccoli
5. Grate cheese on top of the sauce
6. Preheat the Oven to 175° C for 10 mins. Place the casserole in the middle of the oven and let it cook for about 1 hour

Take it out of Oven and Serve!!

Goan Prawn Curry

This recipe is very simple and tasty. Simple because you don’t have to do much preparations because you will be using Lily Aunty’s Sunday Curry Masala

I have taken this recipe from Lily Aunty’s website and modified it.

Ingredients

• Prawns 300-400 gms deveined and cleaned
• Onion - 4-5 medium-sized - finely diced 
• Green chillis - 3-4 sliced
• Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Ginger paste - 1½ TSP
• Turmeric powder - 1 TSP
• Chilly Powder - 1tsp
• Coriander leaves - diced
• Lemon juice - 1tsp
• Coconut Milk - 2 cups
• Oil
• Lily Aunty's Sunday Curry Masala

Marination

• Take 2 tsp of garlic paste, 1 tsp of ginger paste, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp lemon juice and salt
• Mix all these with prawn and keep it aside for 10-15 mins

Marinated Prawns

Masala Being Prepared

Prawns Cooking

Final Product!

Preparation

• Take 2 tbsp oil in a large frying pan and let it heat
• Put the onion in the pan and fry it until it becomes translucent
• Put 1 tbsp garlic paste and 1½ tsp ginger paste and fry for few more minutes
• Put sliced chillies and Lily Aunty's Sunday Curry masala and let it cook
• Adjust salt as necessary. Put a teaspoon of sugar
• Once the oil starts leaving on the sides, put prawns in the pan
• Stir and let the prawns cook for few minutes on high flame (5-8 mins)
• Once prawns are cooked, add 2 cups of water and close the lid over the pan and let it cook for 5 mins
• Remove the lid and stir. 
• Add coconut milk and let it simmer for a while
• Garnish with coriander leaves

Serve with Steamed Rice! 🍚

Chicken Kheema Patty - Minced Chicken Cutlets

This is the yummiest cutlet you will ever eat. Period!

Chicken kheema patty or the minced chicken cutlets.

Developed by my wife Sunita 😊❤️

Ingredients:

• Chana dal 1 cup
• Boiled potatoes - 3 medium 
• Minced Chicken 250 gms.
• Ginger 2 inches
• Garlic 10-12 big cloves
• Whole garam masala(cinnamon, cloves, cardomom)
• Garam masala
• Red chilly powder
• Green chilies - 3-4
• Coriander leaves - 1 fistful 
• Pudina/Mint leaves - small bunch
• Salt as required 
• 2 eggs and bread crumbs (for patty) 

Mixture

• Soak Chana dal for 2 hours. Boil with turmeric and salt. Mash in mixie after cools down.
• Boil & mash potatoes, add red chilly powder and salt and keep aside.
• In a pan - add little oil, add whole garam masala, add crushed ginger/garlic. After a minute or so add the minced chicken. Sauté for a few minutes.

OPTIONAL - You can add grated carrots into the chicken. OR You can also add boiled peas as well. 

• Let the chicken Cook well. Let it cool.
• Once cool grind the above chicken in a mixer mix.
• Now mix  boiled Chana, boiled potatoes and ground chicken well.
• Add garam masala, green chillies, coriander leaves, pudina, coriander powder and salt to taste.

Mixture ready!

Frying The patty

• Heat 2 tbsp of oil on a nonstick pan.
• Take a small bowl break couple of eggs and in another plate take bread crumbs
• Now to make patty, take a round palmful of the mix and dip in egg and bread mix and fry!

 Patties frying

Well done patties!

Yummy!!

Coconut Chicken Curry

This is an excellent, yummy curry which is not very hard to make. It has awesome coconutty aroma and had wholesome flavor of all the spices.

I got this recipe from my very friend Moushumi (or mo-mo, as she’s called). Thanks Moushumi!!

Ingredients & Preparation
Gravy

• - Roasted grated coconut half cup
• - Roasted red chillies 4-5
• - Chicken masala & Garam masala (3-4 spoons)
• - Roasted elaichi (3-4) and cloves (2-3) & star anise
• - Garlic (6-7 pods) 
• - 1 inch ginger
• - Fried onions 2-3 large

Put all the above in a mixer and grind it. Add bit of oil and yoghurt while grinding

Marinade the chicken in the above masala and keep for couple of hours. Overnight is better.

Ingredients and Marinade

Preparation

1. Put oil in pan and 3-4 bay leaves and 1 stick of cinnamon and saute.
2. Put chicken and slow cook for about 45 minutes turning it now and then
3. Put couple of spoons of Kashmiri laal Mirch powder to get the red color gravy
4. Add chopped tomatoes and let it mix
5. Add water and bring it to boil for few minutes. Add chopped coriander to garnish.

The Final Dish

Done!!

Paneer Butter Masala

This is a simple recipe of the restaurant style Paneer Butter Masala which I found on the internet courtesy Swasthi’s Recipes

I found this recipe is easy to replicate and gives you the right taste which you have in your mind when someone says “paneer butter masala”.

Ingredients for gravy or sauce

• 1 tablespoon Oil
• 2 green cardamoms or elaichi
• 3 Onions medium, chopped
• 3 large tomatoes finely chopped
• salt (adjust to taste)
• ¾ teaspoon sugar
• 15-20 cashew nuts
• ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chilli powder kashmiri (adjust for best color)
• 1 teaspoon  garam masala powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder

whole spices (skip if you don't have)

• 1 small bay leaf (or tej patta)
• 1 inch cinnamon piece (or dalchini) 
• 2 green cardamom (or elaichi) 
• 2 to 3 cloves (or laung) 

For paneer butter masala

• 1½ tablespoon Butter
• 1½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste or fine chopped (or ½ to ¾ inch ginger, 2 to 3 medium garlic cloves)
• ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
• 200 to 250 grams paneer, cut in cubes (2 heaped cups)
• ½ to ¾ teaspoon kasuri methi (or dried fenugreek leaves)
• 3 tablespoon cream (or 6 to 8 cashews more)
• 2 tablespoon coriander leaves (or cilantro finely chopped) (for garnish)

Preparation for Gravy 

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and add 2 green cardamoms. 
• Then add 1 cup cubed onions & fry stirring often until transparent or pink. 
• Next add 1½ cup tomatoes & ¼ tsp salt. Fry for 3 minutes.
• Cook covered till the onion tomato mixture turns soft & mushy.
• Next add in ¾ to 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp coriander powder, cashew nuts, ½ to ¾ tsp red chili powder & ¾ tsp sugar (optional). 
• Fry this till the oil separates out from onion tomato masala. 
• Turn off the stove & cool this completely. 
• Transfer to a blender with 1 cup water and puree to a really smooth mixture. Set this gravy aside. 

How to make paneer butter masala

• Heat 1½ tbsp butter in the same pan. 
• Fry 1 inch cinnamon, 2 to 3 cloves, 2 green cardamoms & 1 small bay leaf for 1 to 2 minutes. 
• On a low flame saute 1½ tsp ginger garlic paste till the raw smell goes away. Do not burn this as it will leave a bitter taste.
• Pour the gravy which you made above, then add ¼ tsp red chili powder (optional to adjust the color). Mix well.
• If needed pour ½ cup of water good enough to make the paneer butter masala gravy.
• Cover & cook until the gravy thickens & traces of butter or oil is seen on top. 
• Let the gravy reach the desired consistency.
• Lower the flame completely, then add 200 to 250 grams paneer & ½ tsp crushed kasuri methi. 
• Mix & cook covered on a low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour 2 tbsps cream & mix.
• Transfer paneer butter masala to a serving bowl. Garnish with 1 tbsp cream & 2 tbsps coriander leaves.
  
  

  

  
  

  Paneer Butter Masala