Matar paneer is a very creamy and rich gravy prepared with matar/ green peas and cottage cheese/ paneer in spicy onion, tomato and cashew paste. This is one such popular gravy in the restaurant menu and is usually served with jeera rice / Indian bread like these Naan,Italian herbs naan, kulcha , whole wheat naan, kulcha, phulka and lachha paratha.
The same recipe can be made with mushroom and matar as well. Also this gravy tastes slightly sweet taste due to the addition of cashews and due to pinches of sugar. Cashews and cream gives this gravy a rich creamy texture and gives it a restaurant touch. If you don’t have cream at home add milk, and it wont alter the taste much. So let’s get to the making!
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
TOTAL TIME
SERVES
10 min
30 min
40 min
4
Ingredients
Green peas/ Matar – ½ cup
Paneer -10 to 12 pieces /cubes
Milk/ Cream – ¼ cup
Oil – 1 tbsp
Kasuri methi – 1 tsp (crushed)
Sugar – ½ tsp
FOR PUREE
Onion – 1 (big sized)
Tomato – 2 to 3 (ripe, big sized)
Ginger – 1 tsp/ medium sized chunk (chopped)
Garlic – 1 tsp/ 2 pods (chopped)
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Cumin powder – ½ tsp
Salt – to taste
Cashews – 6 to 8 nos
Oil – 1 tbsp
Note
* 1 cup = 235 ml
How to make Matar paneer with step by step images
Heat oil in a pan to it add cumin seeds, chopped ginger and garlic. Saute well. Now to the sauteed ginger and garlic add chopped onion and saute.
When the onions look sauteed add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and cumin powder. Saute for a minute.
Now add chopped tomato and cashews. Saute well until cooked. When the mixture looks combined and cooked put off the flame. Allow the mixture to cool down completely.
When the mixture has cooled down transfer it to a blender and grind it into fine paste adding little water.
Now heat oil in a pan add green peas. Saute for few seconds. Now add the ground onion tomato mixture and mix well. Allow the mixture to boil well till the green peas is cooked completely. Add water depending on the consistency.
When the green peas is completely cooked, crush and add kasuri methi and milk/ cream. Mix well and allow the mixture to boil for a minute. Adding cream makes the gravy more rich in taste.
Finally add paneer cubes. Mix well and allow the mixture to boil for a minute and put off the flame. Finally add butter and serve it with naan, jeera, rice, kulcha, phulka.