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!

Cottage Cheese with Green Peas (Paneer Matar) - Hubby's Special!!

One night, on returning from work, Anup returned with groceries (though I clearly remembered I didn't ask for anything we needed) and announced that he decided to make us dinner. Of course we weren't told what it was until he wanted to know where I had stowed away some of the ground spices.

Paneer Matar

You need:

• 500 gms cottage cheese (paneer), cut in cubes
• 2 medium sized tomatoes, diced
• 150 gms green peas, pre-cooked
• 11/4 tbsp Garam Masala
• 1/2 tbsp Red Chili powder
• 2 green chilis, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• Salt to taste
• 1 sprig Coriander leaves, chopped (optional) 

The Make:
Serves 4 adults | Preparation Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes

1. Heat the oil a non-stick, deep-bottomed skillet. Add the cumin seeds and allow to lightly brown.

2. Saute the onions and when translucent, add the ginger-garlic paste.Allow to cook for a minute.

3. Next add in the green chilis and saute for half a minute.

4. Next, stir in the tomatoes and spices. Cover and cook for a minute.

5. Add the cottage cheese cubes and saute well, making sure not to break the cheese.

6. Next add in the cooked peas and cover for about 5 minutes.

All ingredients added in

7. Add the salt and top with coriander leaves.

Paneer Matar ready to be served

8. Serve hot with roti, naan, chapati or any other flatbread

Paneer Matar with Roti

Needless to stay we were pampered that night with a delicious dinner enjoyed both by our toddler and me. Special note to Bachelors: This is a very easy make and a must try! Bon Appetit!