425: Paneer Pasanda

Vegetarian cooking look and tastes a lot more delicious, as the soft color of paneer heightens the colors of the other ingredients.  Paneer not only look good, but tastes delicious also. Paneer Pasanda is a rich paneer delicacy.  Normally Paneer sandwiches filled with mashed paneer filling and  paneer sandwiches are deep fried and served in rich curry. But I slightly modified the recipe like, Paneer cubes are deep fried in oil and cooked in rich gravy masala. I omitted the sandwich part and made the recipe as simple.

Ingredients

Homemade OR Store Bought Paneer             400 gms

Green Capsicum                                          1 No

Salt                                                            To Taste

Pureed Big Tomatoes                                   2 No.

Ginger Paste                                               1 Tsp.

Green Chilies finely chopped                        2 no.

Ghee                                                         1 Tbsp.

Cooking Oil                                                 for Deep Frying 

Masala Powder

Red Chili Powder                                        1 Tsp.

Garam Masala Powder                                1 Tsp.

Coriander powder                                       ½ Tsp.

Fresh Cream                                               2 Tbsp.

For Paste

Cashew nuts                                               2 Tbsp.

Poppy Seed (Khus Khus)                             1 Tbsp.

Green Cardamon                                        2 no.

For Seasoning:

Cinnamon Stick                                        ½ no.

Bay Leaves                                               1 no.

Raisins                                                      1 Tbsp.

Method:

• Cut the Paneer into cubes, deep fry in oil till golden brown and drain and put into the cold water.

• Soak cashew nuts, poppy seeds and cardamom in half a cup of warm water for 20 minutes. When cashew nuts are soft, make a fine paste in the blender. Keep aside.
• Heat the ghee, add all seasonings. Now add the ginger paste, capsicum and green chilies. Fry it for 3 minutes in medium flame.
• Now add the paste and all masala powders and fry for a minute.
• Now add the tomato puree and cook till the oil separates and gravy become thick
• Now add sugar, Fresh cream and salt and mix it well.
• Now add 1 cup of water and salt. Boil the curry for 5 minutes.
• Now add fried paneer and cook for a couple of minutes.
• Paneer Pasanda is ready. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
• Delicious paneer Pasanda is ready to serve. Serve with Chapatti, Pulka and Nan.

• Note

Method of preparation to make the sandwiches

•  Keep about 50 gms paneer aside. This is for the filling.
•  Cut paneer into one and a half inch squares. The paneer pieces should not be more than a quarter inch thick.
•  Now cut each square into two triangles 
•  finely chop the green chilies.
•  Now in the mashed paneer add salt, green chilies, chopped coriander leaves, raisins, finely chopped cashew nuts, and chaat masala. Mix them well.
• paneer squares cut into 2 triangles filling for paneer pasanda
• Now keep about 2 tsp filling evenly on one of the paneer triangles and cover with the other paneer triangle. Press gently . Repeat with all the paneer pieces.
•  Take all purpose flour, salt, and chopped coriander leaves in a bowl. Add a little water at a time to make semi liquid batter.
•  Heat oil in a wok on medium heat; dip the paneer sandwiches in the flour paste and deep fry on medium heat until paneer is reddish brown. Drain and keep into kitchen paper.
• Now paneer sandwiches ready for Pasanda