Kadai Paneer

Kadai paneer is a popular paneer recipe where paneer and bell peppers are cooked in a spicy Indian sauce. The dish is called as Kadai paneer because it's usually cooked in kadai(similar to wok). Unlike most of the paneer gravies, this one is usually a bit spicy. 

Cuisine: Indian

Course: Main Course

Diet: Vegetarian

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 10 min

Servings: 2

INGREDIENTS 

For masala powder 

• Coriander seeds - 1tsp
• Pepper - 1/2 tsp
• Cinnamon stick - 1 small piece 
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp 
• Cloves - 2
• Dry red chillies - 4 

 For the curry 

• Oil - 2 tsp
• Butter - 2 tsp
• Paneer cubes- 150 gm
• Onions, largely diced - 1 cup
• Capsicum, largely diced - 1 cup
• Onions, finely chopped - 1 cup
• Tomatoes, finely chopped - 2 cup
• Cashews - 30gm
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp 
• Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
• Salt - 1/2 tsp
• Fresh cream - 1tsp
• Kasuri methi - 1tsp (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Masala powder preparation

1. Heat a pan on medium flame. Add all the mentioned spices and dry roast for a min.
2. Take them out and let it cool. Once cooled, grind them into fine powder.

Curry preparation 

1. Take a pan and add 1tsp of butter. Once the butter melts, add the paneer cubes and saute them for a min. 
2. Turn off the heat and transfer the fried paneer cubes into a bowl. Keep them aside.
3. Now to the same pan, add 1tsp of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the largely diced onions and capsicum.
4. Saute them for not more than a minute (they shouldn't become mushy)
5. Turn off the flame and transfer these veggies into a bowl. Keep them aside. 
6. Now to the same pan, add 1 tsp of oil. Once the oil is hot, add ginger garlic paste and finely chopped onions.
7. Saute them until the onions are translucent.
8. Now add the tomatoes, cashews and saute them until they are mushy. 
9. Transfer the mixture into a blender. Let the mixture cool completely. Once the mixture is cooled, grind them into a fine paste. 
10. Now to the same pan, add 1 tsp of butter and the ground paste. 
11. Saute until the paste slightly thickens. Add 4 tsp of the ground masala powder and 1 tsp of red chilli powder. 
12. Add 1 cup of water. Close the lid and let it cook for 5 mins.
13. After 5 mins, add the fried veggies and the fried paneer cubes. Add salt to taste. Mix it well. Close the lid and let it cook for 2 mins.
14. After 2 mins, garnish with fresh cream and kasuri methi. 

And there you go, the Paneer Kadai is ready to serve!