We Indians love our paneer in any shape or form. Be it paneer tikka, paneer roll, paneer butter masala or the classic matar paneer. Matar paneer is a popular North Indian dish of green peas and cottage cheese. The dish is cooked in a delicious onion-tomato based gravy. The dish tastes best when paired with naan, paratha, rice or even roti.
You can make the simple matar paneer recipe by using the ingredients that you can find in your pantry and tastes better than your favourite restaurant or dhaba. The dish is spicy, gluten-free and can be vegan as well. The best part is that it can be prepared in no time and so is perfect when unexpected guests arrive. Whether a party, a wedding or a family function, this dish is perfect for every occasion.
So, do not wait and try this mouth watering matar paneer recipe right now. Also, read the tips to make that perfect restaurant-style matar paneer.
What is Matar Paneer?
Green peas means Matar and paneer means cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is an Indian cheese made by curdling of the milk and adding lemon juice. Paneer is everyone’s favourite and we Indians love eating it as breakfast, as a snack or even as a meal. Paneer is versatile and a lot of Indian curries, rolls, parathas and even desserts have paneer in them.
Matar paneer is a famous Indian dish that can be found during a lot of special occasions – a wedding, festival or even during family gatherings. To make matar paneer, first fry the paneer till golden brown. Then prepare a gravy by using onions, tomatoes, ginger garlic paste and lots of spices. Finally, add the paneer and peas to the gravy and garnish with coriander. To make a full Indian meal you can serve matar paneer with naan, dal makhani and a freshly cut salad.
Important tips for matar paneer recipe
You can make a creamier version by adding a little bit of cream or cashew paste.
Use tomatoes that are sweet and ripe or the recipe will become tangy. Although you can use a little bit of sugar as well to balance the sourness of tomatoes.
Do not cook the spices on high heat or else they will burn.
Soak paneer in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes for soft paneer.
Different paneer dishes to try
If you love paneer then do try these other amazing recipes-
Paneer korma– a paneer curry made with nuts, seeds, coconuts or yoghurt,
Paneer tikka– paneer which is prepared with onions and capsicum and is coated with a marinate including curd and lots of spices. Then grill the marinated paneer in a tandoor.
Hariyali paneer tikka roll– rolls made with all-purpose flour and filled with a delicious veggie stuffing. the stuffing is prepared using paneer and mint chutney.
Malai kofta– Deep fried dumplings made from paneer and potatoes that is prepared in a mouth-watering tomato and onion curry.
FAQs
Can I use frozen peas?
Yes, you can switch fresh green peas to frozen peas but make sure to boil the peas separately when using frozen ones.
Can I make matar paneer vegan?
Yes, you can make matar paneer vegan by switching paneer with tofu. The taste will not change if you switch the two.
Can we freeze matar paneer?
Yes, you can freeze the onion- tomato gravy of matar paneer. Store the onion-tomato gravy in an airtight container and add paneer and peas while reheating the dish.
Do I need to soak the paneer?
It is better to soak the paneer if using the store bought one or refrigerated paneer. Soak it for approximately 15 minutes in warm water to soften the paneer.
