Shahi Paneer (cottage cheese in spicy and rich gravy)

This is a very common and liked preparation of paneer. I guess it's called

shahi (meaning royal ) for use of raisins and not so cheap cashew nuts. It's spicy and sweet at the same time. Paneer is prepared in all most every part of India. You can prepare paneer at home by heating milk with little lime juice and then as it breaks strain it and let dry for a day. But paneer is readily available in store and thus you can prepare it instantly.

I personally like paneer in any recipe without frying, but if you prefer, you can fry paneer for this and palak paneer's recipe.


Nutrition Value of Paneer

- 1/2 lb Paneer cubes
- 2-4 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 Fresh tomatoes chopped
- Onion chopped
- Garlic peeled and chopped
- 2 green chilies chopped
- 3-4 Cardamom pods
- Oil/butter
- Red chili powder
- Garam Masala
- Salt
- Sugar
- Raisins
- Cashew nuts
- 1 medium size Green bell pepper seeded and in long slices
- ½ Onion in long slices
- ½ - 1 cup cream

1. Heat 2 tablespoon oil / butter in a sauce pan
2. Add green chilies, garlic and onion cook for few minutes
3. Add tomato paste stir in and then add fresh chopped tomatoes
4. Cook for 5 minutes
5. Add ½ cup cream, cover and cook for 5-8 minutes
6. Remove from heat let cool and grind to smooth paste by adding ½ cup water in blender
7. Heat another 2 table spoon oil/ butter add raisins and cashews
8. Add red chili powder, garam masala, stir and then add onion and bell pepper
9. Cover and cook till onion and bell pepper are tender
10. Add the gravy from step 6
11. Add salt and sugar for seasoning
12. Add paneer cubes and ½ cup cream bring to boil and let simmer on low heat for few heats
13. Serve hot with paratha

** You can use milk in step 12 instead of cream and curd in step 5 instead of Cream. But using cream makes this recipe more delicious.
** if you like you can add cauliflower florets to this recipe at step 8.