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Matar Paneer

Matar paneer is a one pot vegetarian Indian dish that is rich in both flavors and protein
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, lunch
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 317.5 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Instant Pot
  • 1 Deep Pan

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz Paneer cubed
  • 1 Onion, large peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 can Tomatoes sub with 2 fresh tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1 cup Frozen or Fresh Green peas
  • 2 tablespoon Ginger Garlic paste
  • 2 Green Chillis sub with ½ jalapeño for less heat
  • ½ teaspoon Kasuri Methi reserve a pinch to top the dish
  • Handful of cilantro washed and finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoon Ghee/Oil
  • 1-2 cups Water
  • Salt to taste

Whole and Powdered Spices

  • 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
  • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Kashmiri Chilli Powder
  • 2 tablespoon Coriander Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala

Instructions
 

  • Heat a deep pan to medium and add the ghee/oil. Once hot, add the cumin seeds, cinnamon and bay leaf. Once the cumin starts sizzling and spluttering, add the onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the ginger garlic paste and cook for another 3 minutes.
  • Heat a frying pan and add the paneer pieces. Regularly toss or flip to ensure the paneer is being evenly browned.
  • Now add the tomatoes to the cooked onions and peas.Then add turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder and kasuri methi. Season with salt and mix well. Add a cup of water and cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Now add the paneer and mix well. Add some more water if the dish needs it and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Season with more salt if required and top with garam masala and gently mix. Add the chopped cilantro and top with remaining kasuri methi .

Video

Notes

  1. You can also puree the tomatoes before adding to the onions to give it a smoother texture. 
  2. If you want to make mater paneer a little creamier, you can add some cream. You can also try adding coconut milk. 
  3. Preferably use canned tomatoes since they add an extra punch of tomato flavor. If using fresh tomatoes, I would recommend adding 2-3 heaping table spoons of tomato paste. 
  4. If possible, don’t skip kasuri methi as it adds a subtle flavor and fragrance to the finished dish.
  5. Give your dish enough time to cook as this lets the spices cook thoroughly and amalgamate well with the rest of the ingredients. 
  6. Use tofu or king oyster mushrooms as a vegan swap for paneer. 
  7. Nutritional information provided are approximate and not exact values. 
Keyword one pan dinner, one pot dinner, paneer, quick dinner, vegetarian