PANEER PEPPER MASALA

 PANEER PEPPER MASALA

We eat paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese) fairly often in my house. It is a common ingredient in our Indian vegetarian cooking. One of the reasons is that paneer has numerous health benefits. 

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes for different dishes made with paneer, such as:-

• Paneer Masala
• Tomato and Paneer Soup 
• Paneer Lababdar
• Paneer Jhalfrezi

As you know, it is suggested we have black pepper during the winter months as it boosts immunity. It is therefore an important ingredient in Ayurvedic medicines and home remedies.

I had paneer at home so made this delicious Paneer Pepper Masala which I have adapted from Paneer Pepper Masala in Edible Garden, a food and recipe website run by Nags. 

In making this dish, I reduced the spice levels to suit our taste. We loved it and I hope you will like it too. 

Ingredients:-

• Paneer, 200 gms
• Medium-sized Onions, 2
• Green Chillies, 2
• Ginger Garlic Paste, 1 tsp
• Turmeric Powder, 1/4 tsp
• Fennel Powder, 1/4 tsp
• Whole Black Peppercorns, 1 tsp
• Soya Sauce, 1 tsp
• Tomato Ketchup, 2 tsp
• Curry Leaves, a few
• Oil, 1 and 1/2 tbsp
• Salt, to taste
• Coriander Leaves, for garnish

Method:-

Cut the paneer into cubes and keep aside

Peel and thinly slice the onion and slit the green chillies

Coarsely crush the peppercorns 

Finely chop the coriander leaves 

Heat oil in a thick-bottomed pan and when it gets hot add the sliced onions and fry till they become golden brown in colour

Add the green chillies and sauté for 1 minute

Next add the ginger garlic paste, mix well and sauté till the raw smell goes 

To this add the turmeric powder, fennel powder, and the freshly crushed black pepper and sauté for a couple of minutes

Add the soya sauce and the tomato ketchup and mix well, 

Add 1/4 cup of water and salt to taste and mix well

To this add the paneer cubes, and curry leaves, mix well and cook till the paneer gets well coated with the masala 

Cover and cook on low flame for 3-4 minutes till the masala becomes dry and dark in colour 

Switch off the gas and garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves

Transfer to a serving bowl

Serve Paneer Pepper Masala with peas pulao or rice or rotis.