Kadai Paneer - Cottage Cheese in a spiced gravy

Paneer is actually made of strained curdled milk. Dry curd Cottage Cheese is actually made of cultured milk and is often salted.

You can make Paneer from scratch at home and is usually made of split milk and is quite easy to make. All you would need is a liter of milk and half a cup of curd or buttermilk or even 1/2 cup of lemon. I have also heard of people use white vinegar.

Kadai refers to an Indian wok and Kadai Paneer refers to the way in which the Paneer is cooked with dry roasted spices.

This is a recipe of old and a rather simple one to make as well.


To make this simple recipe,

You need:

• 500 gms of Paneer (Cottage Cheese), cut into 1" cubes
• 1 large onion, diced finely
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 2-3 tbsp of ginger-garlic paste
• 2 green chilies, diced finely
• 1 tbsp Butter or oil Oil (you can add more if you wish)
• 1 crushed bay leaf 
• 2 tbsp Homemade Garam Masala (Homemade Indian spice powder)
• 1 tbsp of coriander powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp of Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
• 3-4 medium tomatoes, diced finely
• 1-11/2 cups of drinking water
• Salt to taste
• 1 sprig coriander leaves, diced finely or florets used to garnish

The Make:

Preparation Time: 5 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes | Serves 4 adults

1. Heat the oil/butter a non-stick pan and add the cumin seeds. Toss for a few seconds.

2. Add the onions and saute till golden brown. Toss in bay leaves and green chilies and saute for a minute.

3. Next add the ginger-garlic paste and saute for a minute.

4. Add the tomatoes, chili powder, garam masala(homemade is best), coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt and cover and cook for a minute.

5. Add 1-11/2 cup water  depending on how much gravy you need. Then add the paneer cubes, cover and cook for 10 minutes.

6. Garnish with coriander leaves. 

Serve hot with rotis, pulav or flatbread or rice of your choice.

Bon Appetit!