Paneer Pasanda is a North Indian dish made with paneer, a type of Indian cheese, that is shallow fried and then simmered in a flavorful tomato-based sauce made with spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala. The dish is typically served with rice, roti, or naan bread and is considered a special occasion dish in India, often served at weddings and festivals.
Here is a detailed recipe for cooking Paneer Pasanda:
Ingredients:
400g paneer, cut into 1-inch thick slabs
1 cup all-purpose flour
Salt, to taste
Oil, for shallow frying
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 large tomatoes, pureed
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp garam masala
2 green cardamom pods
2 cloves
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp cashew nuts, finely ground
2 tbsp cream
Coriander leaves, to garnish
Instructions:
- Begin by preparing the paneer. Season the flour with salt and use it to coat the paneer slabs evenly.
- In a large pan, heat the oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, gently place the coated paneer slabs in the pan and shallow fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove the fried paneer from the pan and set it aside.
- In the same pan, add the chopped onions and cook until they are soft and translucent, around 5 minutes.
- Add the ginger and garlic paste to the pan and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the cumin seeds, coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and garam masala to the pan and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add the pureed tomatoes to the pan and continue cooking until the mixture starts to thicken, around 5-7 minutes.
- Add the green cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf to the pan and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Finally, add the ground cashew nuts and cream to the pan, stirring well to combine.
- Add the shallow-fried paneer slabs to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, until they are heated through and well coated with the sauce.
Serve the Paneer Pasanda hot, garnished with coriander leaves, with rice, roti, or naan bread on the side.
And there you have it! A delicious and satisfying Paneer Pasanda that is sure to impress. Enjoy!
