Learn how to make Kadai Paneer, an Indian restaurant style paneer (cottage cheese) recipe that’s a popular accompaniment to tawa nan or jeera rice. It is easy to make Kadai Paneer at home provided you have the ingredients ready in hand.
I really want to start this post by explaining what a kadai is (an Indian wok, btw) and what paneer is (erm.. Indian cottage cheese) but since I am just not in the mood, let’s get on quickly to the recipe, shall we?
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| Kadai Paneer |
I made Kadai Paneer with fresh homemade paneer which is why it looks very crumbly in the pics. But oh boy! It tasted so good!
I thought and thought but I still have no clue why I have never made kadai paneer before in my life. Seriously!
Kadai Paneer Recipe
Serves 2 – 4
Ingredients:
2 cups paneer, cubed
Half a capsicum / green bell pepper, cubed
1 large onion
2 green chillies
3-4 pods of garlic, crushed
1″ piece of ginger, crushed (or 1tsp ginger garlic paste)
1 tomato, pureed
1 tbsp tomato paste (or another pureed tomato)
A generous pinch of kasuri methi / dried fenugreek leaves
1 tsp red chilli powder
A pinch of turmeric powder
1/2 tsp jeera / cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander powder / dhania powder / malli podi (I add a little more than this)
2 tsp oil
Salt to taste
Chopped coriander leaves to garnish
How to make Kadai Paneer:
1. Grind the onion along with the green chillies. Heat oil and fry this paste for 2-3 mins.
2. Then add the chilli powder, turmeric, jeera, coriander powder and crushed ginger and garlic (or ginger garlic paste) and mix well, frying for another minute.
3. To this, add the tomato paste..
4. .. and pureed tomato. Fry for 4-5 minutes until the mixture comes together and the oil begins to separate.
5. Next add the capsicum..
6. .. and kasoori methi, with some salt. Fry for 2-3 mins, until the bell pepper is cooked but still crunchy.
7. Finally add the cubed paneer and mix gently until well combined. Simmer for 2 mins and remove from fire.
I didn’t fry the paneer in advance or do the whole dipping in water, squeezing and draining routine because I am very happy adding it as is at the end of this particular dish.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rotis/chapatis.
Made this yesterday. It was so simple to prepare and tasted great! Thanks!
hey nags… this is the best paneer recipe i've come across! ur step by step demonstrations with pics made it so simple to understand.. and it turned out delicious! thank you so much :)) I've tried some of ur other recipes like unniappam, 10 min rasmalai, besan ladoo, paneer pepper masala, veg upma, eggless wheat waffles and i must say.. each one was a hit everytime! the rasmalai one is my favorite!! i wanted to post a reply earlier,and finally i'm replying now… i must also mention about how awesome ur pics are.. a perfect touch to ur wonderful recipes!! I frequently check in to ur site now and everytime i'm glad i did… so thank you 🙂 – seema
thank you seema! that's very kind of you 🙂
Hi Nags,
I'm making Kadhai paneer for the 1st time and I loved the recipe it was very easy and the end result was yummy now i know where to search for goood yummy north indian recipes…
Thanks a Ton loved the pics 🙂
Hi,
I have never cooked Paneer before and this is the first time I wanted to try. You have mentioned all the steps and Im gonna try today..
Thank you so much..
I have tried kadai paneer receipe of resturant style . tastes exactly like resturant and great . Thanks for this receipe .can You post resurant style Bhindi and Baigan Masala . I will be eagerly waiting for your post
Mamata
I tried it the 1st time nd my dad loved It
thanks a lot
u made it so easy
hi , i need another panner receipe varity, eagerly waiting to make that dishes.