Mutter Paneer / Green Peas-Cottage cheese Curry

Mutter paneer is one of the popular curries and must be one of those which are ordered in Restaurants oftenest :)

Easy to make and finger licking taste.....weekend can be made special with this curry am sure:)

Ingredients:

200gm Paneer

1 cup green peas

1 medium sized onion finely chopped

1 medium sized tomato or 2 small tomatoes finely chopped

1 T spoon Ginger-garlic paste

Whole garam masala ( 1 bay leaf, 3-4 cloves, 1 small cinnamon stick, 2 cardamom)

salt to taste

3 T spoon well beaten curds

Turmeric

red chilli powder

1-2 green chillies finely chopped or as per taste

1/2 T spoon sugar

1 T spoon coriander powder

1 T spoon Cumin powder

cumin seeds, mustard seeds

4-5 T spoon Oil

Procedure:

1. Heat 2 T spoon oil in pan. Put all the ingredients of whole garam masala in it ( cloves,cardamom,cinnamon,bay leaf ) and stir well for 1-2 minutes. Remove from pan keep aside to cool down.
2. In the same pan put finely chopped onion and stir well. Once, onion is cooked well put tomatoes and let it cook for some time. Once cooked, remove from pan and let it cool.
3. After some time, if all the stir fried ingredients are cooled, grind them all ( except cardamom) in mixer with 1-2 green chillies and little bit water.
4. Heat 2 T spoon oil in pan, put cumin seeds and let it splutter.
5. add ginger garlic paste,turmeric and stir well.
6. Add ground mixture and little water to cook the masala well.
7. pour little water in order to get a medium thick consistency.
8. Add cumin powder, coriander powder,red chilli powder.
9. Let this mixture come to boil, then pour medium sized Paneer cubes.
10. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
11. Pour fresh green peas. ( If frozen are used, remove from freezer 10-15 minutes before use)
12. Stir very gently.
13. Add (well beaten)curds now. Stir gently,so that paneer/peas wont break. Add sugar,salt.
14. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes. ( Don't overcook after you add curds,otherwise curds get separated due to heat.) Curds give a nice creamy consistency. ( You can also add half cream and half curds. i.e 2 T spoon cream and 2 T spoon Curds.

Garnish with cilantro and serve with Roti or Naan :)

Healthy benefits of paneer:

• paneer has a rich source of Calcium which helps in building strong teeth and bones :)
• If taken in moderation, can reduce weight
• Paneer provides requirement of protein by the body for growth and renewal
  Being source of calcium, paneer prevents and reduces back and joint pains
• BUT, if deep fried, benefits wont be as many as mentioned above :)