Kadai paneer is a tasty paneer side dish that can be prepared within 30 mins. Semi dry kadai paneer goes well variety rice, naan, Chappati roti etc.
Paneer is one of favorite ingredients. It just make any dish extra tasty. Be it a restaurant dish or homemade paneer is our family’s favorite. Usually paneer use to be restaurant dish but thanks to upstairs neighbor I got to learn lot of paneer recipes from her.
I have tried kadai paneer before but my paneer turns hard after few minutes. I learnt the trick for soft paneer. Soaking the store brought paneer in warm water makes it perfect.
Orginally I posted this recipe with tofu but recently updated it with paneer. Same recipe works well for kadai tofu/kadai paneer. My son has become a huge fan for paneer hence recentlybwhen I made kadai paneer I updated the recipe.
We had kadai paneer with butter naan. Kadai paneer also tastes yum with variety rice like channa pulav, ghee rice, vegetable rice, sweet corn pulav, peas pulav etc.
Check our other tasty paneer + tofu based dishes in TMF,
Kadai Paneer
Ingredients
- Paneer - 150 grams
- Green Bell Pepper - 1 medium size diced
- Big Onion-1/2 diced
- coriander powder - 1 tsp
- cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
- kashmiri Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
- Tomatoes - 2 finely chopped
- Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
- Garam masala - 1/4 tsp
- kitchen king masala - 1/2 tsp
- Ghee - 6 grams
- Dried methi leaves - few
- Salt as needed
- Fennel seed - 1/2 tsp
Instructions
- Soak paneer in hot water for atleast 30 minutes
- Drain the water. Add turmeric powder to the paneer and mix well
- Add 2 grams of ghee and sauté onion and capsicum with little salt for 2/3 minutes
- Switch off and transfer into a plate
- In the same pan add remaining ghee and add fennel seeds
- after it splutter add ginger garlic paste and sauté for 2 minutes
- Add tomatoes and little salt; sauté add tomatoes and little salt; sauté
- After the tomatoes is almost cooked (3/4th mushy)
- Add coriander powder, cumin powder, kitchen king masala, garam masala and kashmiri chili powder and salt; sauté for 3/4 minutes till the tomatoes turns mushy and the raw masala smell goes off
- Add paneer, capsicum, onion, water and salt if needed. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes
- Open the lid and cook till the excess liquid evaporates. Add dried methi leaves and mix well. Switch off
- Instead of using store brought masala powder. Masala can be made in home, Dry roast coriander seeds, fennel seeds and red chilli till the aroma comes. Blend into coarse powder
Notes
- Oil can be used instead of ghee
Veggies like Mushroom, carrot etc can be be used - If you prefer gravy. Ground the tomatoes after adding masala. Add extra water and cook capsicum, paneer and onion in the base
- Adjust the spice according to your taste
If you use homemade paneer skip soaking them in water
Kadai Paneer:
Preparation Time : 10 min | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Side dish
Ingredients:
Paneer – 150 grams
Green Bell Pepper – 1 medium size, diced
Big Onion-1/2 diced
coriander powder – 1 tsp
cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp
kashmiri Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
Tomatoes – 2 finely chopped
Ginger garlic paste – 1/2 tsp
Garam masala – 1/4 tsp
kitchen king masala – 1/2 tsp
Ghee – 6 grams
Dried methi leaves – few
Salt as needed
Fennel seed – 1/2 tsp
Method:
- Soak paneer in hot water for atleast 30 minutes
- Drain the water. Add turmeric powder to the paneer and mix well
- Add 2 grams of ghee and sauté onion and capsicum with little salt for 2/3 minutes
- Switch off and transfer into a plate
- In the same pan add remaining ghee and add fennel seeds and after it splutter add ginger garlic paste and sauté for 2 minutes
- Add tomatoes and little salt; sauté
- After the tomatoes is almost cooked (3/4th mushy)
- Add coriander powder, cumin powder, kitchen king masala, garam masala and kashmiri chili powder and salt; sauté for 3/4 minutes till the tomatoes turns mushy and the raw masala smell goes off
- Add paneer, capsicum, onion, water and salt if needed. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes
- Open the lid and cook till the excess liquid evaporates. Add dried methi leaves and mix well. Switch off
Instead of using store brought masala powder. Masala can be made in home, Dry roast coriander seeds, fennel seeds and red chilli till the aroma comes. Blend into coarse powder
Interesting recipe- I love tofu. Though I have still not tried paneer-I didn’t realise it was similar to tofu
Thanks:) ya paneer is Indian cottage cheese. Tastes similar to tofu. Try it sometime
Love tofu and paneer, looks very tasty. 🙂
Thanku:) happy to know someone who like tofu and paneer like me
I would like to try this. Looks simple and satisfying for the hot days…
Thanku:) I m glad that you liked it.. Do try
I am not a big fan of tofu, I love paneer 🙂 But as you said paneer adds calories this is better option. Simple and good recipe.
Ya even I like paneer but once in a while I cook with tofu:) thanku
We love tofu and am always looking for new ways to make it. The flavors in this dish sound awesome!
Thanks Kelly:) happy to know that you liked. Do try it:)
Tofu is very healthy than paneer, my hubby wouldn’t let me get tofu 🙂 , you have tempted me Vidya, I will definitely try out your recipe 🙂
Ya Malar, v all have enjoyed paneer taste so its difficult to change:) even I m so addicted to paneer. Thanks dear:) do let me know how it turned out
Sure Vidya, will let you know very soon 🙂
Ok Malar:)
Wow-what an original recipe! Looks so tasty!
Thanks Afra:)
Might take a lot and I mean a lot of courage for me to try tofu again. 🙂 Your ingredients sound yummy! 🙂
Thanks Lori:) courage for tofu, y Lori?
This sounds wonderful, what do you hink of sprouted tofu in this dish, would this work, thinking of the texture? Did not know that about paneer, very interesting.
You can try with sprouted tofu too Cheri. Do try and let me know. I haven’t tried yet
Great I have Tofu in my fridge…was thinking of doing a machurian style dish but this looks great too.. 🙂
Thanks Manju:) Manchurian omg now u r tempting me..
Sounds healthy and delicious Vidya. ….yum yum…
Thanks Chitra:-)