Recipe- Creamy Shahi Paneer With Rich Gravy

Creamy Shahi Paneer in a rich gravy made with onions, nuts and cream!

Shahi means “royal” so this dish is as exotic as it can get! Pairs beautifully with naan. There are so many ways to cook paneer. Growing up, paneer was not a everyday thing in my house.

It was made on special occasions like birthday parties or on festivals like Diwali, Holi.

So yeah it was something we all looked forward to eating. Now, of course I cook it more often.

From palak paneer to paneer bhruji to paneer parathas, I make everything in my kitchen.

Shahi Paneer is a super popular paneer dish where paneer is cooked in a rich and creamy gravy.

The gravy is little sweet, creamy and wonderfully aromatic.

Everyone has their own way of making shahi paneer, there’s no right or wrong way here.

I prefer to make this recipe with onions only. If you want a tomato based gravy for shahi paneer, check out my recipe for Paneer Butter Masala.

That one has a creamy tomato based curry and is equally delicious.

Ingredients

1 medium white onion diced
4 garlic cloves roughly chopped
1 inch ginger roughly chopped
4-5 whole green cardamom
1 green chili roughly chopped, add more if you want more spice
10 whole cashews
10 whole almonds
3-3.5 cups water 24-28 oz, divided
1 tablespoon ghee 15 ml
1 tablespoon oil 15 ml
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 whole bay leaf
3 whole cloves
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/8 teaspoon red chili powder or adjust to taste
1/4 teaspoon garam masala
1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper powder
3/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2-3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/4 cup plain whole yogurt
pinch saffron strands optional
225 grams paneer cut into triangles
2-2.5 tablespoons heavy cream

Method

* To a pan add the diced onion, roughly chopped garlic, ginger, green cardamoms, green chilies, cashews, almonds. Add around 2 (16 oz) to 2.5 (20 oz) cups water. Let it boil on medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes.

* Let it cool down slightly. I remove the skin from the almonds at this point (optional).

* Once it has cooled down a little, transfer the ingredients to a blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Set aside.

* Meanwhile cut your paneer. I cut the paneer into triangles for this recipe. Cut into cubes and then cut each cube into triangle.
If using store bought paneer, remember to soak it in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes and then cut it. The resulting paneer will be much softer.

* Now, heat a heavy bottom pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the oil and ghee and then add the cinnamon stick, bay leaf and cloves. Saute the spices for few seconds until fragrant.

* Stir in the prepared onion-nuts paste into the pan. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stir often.

* Add in the coriander powder, red chili powder, garam masala, sugar, salt, cardamom powder and black pepper powder. Stir the spices and cook for 1 minute.

* Remove pan from heat and add the yogurt, little at a time and whisking continuously. This is important so that the yogurt doesn't split. Cook for 1 minute.

* Also make sure your yogurt is at room temperature before you add it to the pan.

* Add remaining 1/2 to 1 cup water to the pan and stir. Also, add the saffron strands, if using (crush them before adding) and stir.

* Let the curry simmer for 5 to 6 minutes. It will thicken as it cooks. Add in the cream and mix.

* Add the paneer and simmer for 3 more minutes.

* Sprinkle some cardamom powder on top. Serve Shahi Paneer with naan or jeera rice.