Silent Observer.....: Paneer Masala

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Paneer Masala

Hello,
This is a very easy and nutritious vegetarian recipe. I love eating with bread, tortillas, or as it is.

Quantity here is enough for 2 - 3 people, provided there are other entrees.

Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Diced Paneer made from 1/2 gallon of whole-milk (Indian cottage cheese - see the post on how to make it at home)
- One medium sized chopped onion
- One diced green bell pepper
- One grated tomato
- Grated ginger, garlic (2 - 3 cloves),
- Half lime
- 2 jalapenos or half habanero sliced thin (depending on how much spice you can tolerate)
- Cilantro for garnish
- Spices (cumin, mustard seeds, salt, red chili powder, and turmeric)

Procedure:
1.Heat oil in skillet (do not overheat as it may burn the cumin and mustard seeds). Tip - you can check the heat by the throwing a cumin seed in the oil, if it burns - too hot, it it sizzles without burning - temperature is good).
2. Add few cumin and mustard seeds and stir briefly for 30 s.
3. Add chopped onions and stir for a few minutes, till the it looks like this

4. Add grated ginger and garlic and cook for 1 min on medium/high flame.

5. Add the peppers and cook for a few minutes.

6. Now added the grated tomatoes - this gives a natural red color to the dish. Mix everything well and let the tomatoes and vegetables cook for 2 min on medium/high flame.

7. Now add the spices. Chili powder and salt - to taste, turmeric - quater teaspoon) and mix everything up and cook on high heat for 2 minutes. Simmer the flame and let the spices cook for 3 minutes on a medium/low flame, do not burn it. If stuff sticks to the bottom of pan scrap it and reduce the flame.