Paneer Butter Masala

Recipe Ingredients:

250 gm paneer, chopped into 1-inch cubes

1 onion, finely chopped

2 tbsp ginger garlic paste

2 tomatoes, finely chopped

1 tbsp red chilli powder

1/2 cup tomato puree

2 tbsp tomato sauce

40 gm butter

1/2 cup fresh cream

1/2 tbsp garam masala powder

125 ml water

2 tbsp oil

salt (according to taste)

How to Prepare:

Melt 2 tbsp of butter in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add paneer cubes and cook, stirring frequently, for 3-4 minutes, or untill evenly browned. Paneer tends to splatter in hot oil, so be careful. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. Soak these paneer cubes in salted hot water for about 1/2 hour.

Add oil to the same saucepan over low heat add onions and cook, stirring frequently for 4 - 5 minutes or untill onions are soft. Add ginger garlic paste, tomatoes, salt and water and stir in the tomato puree.

Bring the mixture to boil, stirring, then reduce the heat to very low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, untill the mixture thickens.

Stir in the remaining butter, garam masala, red chilli powder and tomato sauce. Add the paneer pieces and stir around untill they are well coated with gravy. Simmer for a further 10 minutes, or untill the paneer is hot. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary.

Lightly beat the cream in a small bowl. Stir the cream into the paneer gravy and cook untill the gravy thickens. Garnish with mint spring. Serve hot.

Serving Suggestions:

It goes well with butter naan or chapati or pulka or chapati.