Recipe- Smooth And Creamy Shahi Paneer

Shahi paneer is among the most favourite recipes of paneer. there are various recipes of making this creamy smooth curry . Today I am sharing my way of making Shahi paneer which is slightly different then the regular method of making it.

As I don’t use onion and garlic in my cooking so I have added grated bottle gourd in the curry which gave a nice creamy texture and mild sweetness to the curry. instead of using cream i have added evaporated milk but you can use fresh cream or malai instead.

Ingredients

500 gm Cottage cheese / Paneer
1/3 cup Cashew pieces/ Kaju Tukda
500 gms Tomatoes / Tamatar
3/4 cup Bottle Gourd / Lauki grated
175 ml fresh cream check notes
1 tbsp kashmiri chili powder
1 tsp Red chili powder
to taste salt
1 tbsp Ginger / Adrak grated
1/3 tsp Cardamom Powder / Elaichi Powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
1 tbsp Sugar / Chini
1 tsp Dried Fenugreek / Kasoori Methi
2 tbsp Ghee or oil-1 t.s
1 tsp Cumin Seeds / Sabut Jeera
2 Bayleaves/ Tejpatta
1 Black Cardamom / Badi Elaichi
1/2 inch Cinnamon /daalchini
3 Cloves / Lavang

Method

* Cut paneer into medium thick pieces and dip in lukeworm water and keep aside

* Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pan and add cumin ,grated ginger ,and the whole spices

* When seeds start crackling add the cashew pieces and the grated bottle gourd and saute .

* Cover the pan and simmer till bottle gourd become soft.

* Now add the chopped tomatoes and salt, cover and cook till tomatoes become soft.

* Remove the whole spices from the cooked tomatoes and let the mixture come to room temperature.

* Grind the mixture to make a smooth puree and then strain it through a sieve

* Heat 3 tbsp ghee or butter in a pan and add 1 tbsp kashmiri chili powder and then add the tomato puree.

* Cook for a minute then add 3 tbsp whisked curd and stir to mix.

* After a minute add 1/4 cup fresh fenugreek or 1 tbsp kasoori methi , 1 tsp red chili powder and cover and simmer for a minute.

* Add 1 tbsp sugar and 3/4 cup fresh cream , 1/3 tsp cardamom powder, 1/2 tsp garam masala and mix well.

* Now add paneer pieces in the curry and mix well. cover the pan and simmer for 2 minutes.

* Garnish with some kasoori methi and delicious creamy
* Shahi paneer is ready to serve.

* Enjoy it with paratha, naan or jeera rice.