How to make Matar Paneer 

One of the most popular Punjabi dishes made with paneer and green peas

Recipe

Punjabi food is wholesome and full of rustic flavour. The custom of cooking in community ovens or tandoors prevails in rural pockets even today. The cuisine is characterised by a profusion of dairy products in the form of malai, paneer and dahi. The dals are a speciality of this type of cuisine, made of whole pulses like black gram, green gram and Bengal gram.  They are cooked on slow fire, often simmered for hours till they turn creamy and then flavoured with spices and rounded off with malai for that rich finish. The food is simply delicious.
The most unique thing about cooking in a tandoor is the smoky flavour that the food gets making it tastier. Moreover it is a healthy way of cooking since minimum fat is required and the food generally gets cooked in its own juices thus retaining its natural flavours. Besides it is not only easy to digest, it is also very hygienic.  In conclusion one can safely say that it is through tandoori cooking that Indian cuisine first got globally acknowledged.

Prep Time : 6-10 minutes

Cook time : 16-20 minutes

Serve : 4

Level Of Cooking : Easy

Taste : Tangy

Ingredients for Matar Paneer-SK Khazana Recipe

• Cottage cheese (paneer) cut into 3/4 inch cubes 250 grams
• Green peas boiled 3/4 cup
• Oil 2 tablespoons
• Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon
• Onion puree 1/2 cup
• Ginger paste 1 teaspoon
• Coriander powder 1 teaspoon
• Cumin powder 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon
• Red chilli powder 1 teaspoon
• Salt to taste
• Fresh tomato puree 1/2 cup
• Readymade tomato puree 1/2 cup
• Garam masala powder 1/2 teaspoon
• Fresh coriander leaves chopped 1 tablespoon

Method

Step 1

Heat oil in a non-stick pan. Add cumin seeds and sauté till it changes colour.

Step 2

Add onion puree, mix and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add ginger paste and mix. Add little water, mix and saute till the mixture turns golden. .

Step 3

Add coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt, fresh tomato puree and readymade tomato puree, mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Step 4

Add little water and mix. Add green peas, mix, cover and cook for 2 minutes.

Step 5

Add cottage cheese cubes and mix. Add garam masala powder, mix well and cook for a minute.

Step 6

Switch off heat, add coriander leaves and mix well.

Step 7

Serve hot.