Be it any part of the country or any season, hearing the name of a dish made up of paneer makes me crave more. Today we will learn a perfect Dhaba-style Matar Paneer Recipe that is evergreen everywhere in India. It is the most well-known Indian dish that brings together the goodness of green peas and paneer.
Matar Paneer Recipe
Matar Paneer recipe is a timeless Indian dish that combines the sweetness of green peas with the creamy richness of paneer This vegetarian dish is also known for its blend of flavors and aromas.
Matar Paneer is made in Punjabi style and is also unique in taste, making it a favorite on special occasions and everyday meals alike. The Matar paneer recipe is a staple in many Indian homes and is always enjoyed for its appealing flavors and nutritional value. You can prepare the dish for dinner as well as serve it in front of the guests coming home. So, let us take you through a step-by-step guide on how to prepare Matar Paneer ki Sabji, the perfect Dhaba style, so you can enjoy this scrumptious dish right at home.
Ingredients
To create a mouth watering dish of Matar paneer, we need to gather the following ingredients:
For Tomato paste
- Tomatoes -5-6 medium size
- Green chili- 1 no.
- Ginger -1 inch
For frying paneer
- Ghee 1 tbsp
- Oil -1 tsp
- Ginger -1 inch (julienned)
- Green chillies –(1-2) nos. (slit)
- Paneer -500 gm (cubes)
For preparing Matar paneer masala
- Ghee -2 tbsp
- Oil- 1 tbsp
- Cumin seeds(Jeera) -2 tsp
- Green chilies- 2-3 nos. (chopped)
- Fresh coriander stems -1 tbsp (chopped)
- Ginger garlic paste- 2 tbsp
- Onions-(3-4) medium size (chopped)
- Red chili powder -1 tsp
- Kashmiri red chili powder -1 tbsp
- Coriander powder -1 tbsp
- Turmeric powder -1/4th tsp
- Garam masala -1 tsp
- Gram flour(Besan )-1 tbsp
- Salt -as per taste
- Cashew paste- 2 tbsp
- Matar (peas) -2 cups (Fresh or frozen)
- Hot water -as required
- Garam masala -a large pinch
- Kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves)- 1 tsp
- Ginger- 1 inch (julienned)
- Fresh coriander- a handful (Chopped)
How to make Matar Paneer ki Sabji
Step 1: Preparation
- Start by cutting the paneer into cubes.
- For preparing tomato puree, take fresh tomatoes, cut them into quarters, and transfer them into a grinding jar. Along with the tomatoes, add green chili and ginger, and grind to a fine paste.
Step 2: For frying paneer
- Turn on the heat and take a pan on medium flame, pour ghee and oil, then add ginger, green chilies, and paneer.
- Stir-fry the paneer on both sides until golden brown in color.
Step 3: Preparing the Matar Paneer Masala
- In a pan on medium heat, heat the oil and ghee, then add the cumin seeds. Let it splutter.
- After that, add green chilies, fresh coriander stems, and ginger garlic paste. Sauté it on medium-high flame for 2-3 minutes or until the raw aroma of the ginger garlic paste dissipates.
- Now, add the onions and cook until golden brown in color.
- Further, reduce the heat to low and add the powdered spices (Red chili powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, Coriander powder, Turmeric powder), Garam masala, and besan, add salt, and combine it well.
- Add a dash of hot water to prevent the masalas from burning, and cook until the ghee is separated.
- Next, add the freshly prepared tomato paste, cashew paste, and salt to taste, mix and cook well on medium-high flame until the ghee and oil start separating. This indicates that the tomatoes are well cooked and infused with spices.
- Then, add hot water as required, add matar (peas), and cook for 3-4 minutes on a medium-high flame.
- Add 500 ml of hot water or more, to adjust the consistency of the Matar paneer masala and stir it well.
- Cover the lid of the pan and cook it for 20-25 minutes on medium heat, stirring in intervals. The cooking time may differ depending on the quality of the green peas.
- Once the Matar paneer masala is almost cooked, add the shallow fried paneer, and cook it for about 1-2 minutes on medium flame.
- Lastly, add the garam masala, kasuri methi, and ginger juliennes, give it a mix, and combine all well. Add freshly chopped coriander leaves, mix gently, and cook for the last 1-2 minutes.
- A perfect Dhaba style Matar paneer recipe, or Matar paneer ki sabji is ready. Serve hot with roti, paratha, or any Indian bread of your choice and steamed rice.
Tips
- Instead of cashew paste, you can add peanut (mungphali) paste.
- Or if you don’t want to add any cashew paste, then you can make a paste of some paneer and add a little water to it. Pour it into the gravy.
Nutritional Benefits of Matar Paneer Recipe
- Matar Paneer is beneficial from the point of view of its nutrition value, as it contains a good amount of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
- Various types of vitamins, such as vitamins A, B, C, and E, are found in peas. Apart from this, many other types of antioxidants are found in peas, which boost immunity.
- Peas reduce the risk of heart disease, chronic diseases, and diabetes.
- Tomatoes contain antioxidants like Vitamin C and lycopene
- Paneer provides protein and calcium.
1. Is matar paneer healthy?
No, the matar paneer recipe often includes high-fat ingredients like full-fat paneer, cream, milk, ghee, and cashew nuts, which can contribute to its calorie content. Especially when we are focusing on managing our weight or addressing health issues, we need to be aware of the ingredients and their possible impact on our diet.
2. Why is matar paneer famous?
Matar paneer is a vegetarian favorite dish and is famous due to its flavorful blend of creamy paneer and sweet green peas in a tomato-based gravy. Also known for its flexibility and varied textures, and its presence on restaurant menus has contributed to its widespread appeal.
3. Is matar paneer rich in protein?
Yes, matar paneer is rich in protein. Paneer is a primary ingredient which has a good source of protein. Additionally, green peas (matar) also contribute to the protein content of the dish which helps with muscle maintenance, and various other bodily processes.
4. What is the fact about Matar paneer?
The matar paneer recipe is made up of is a combination of protein paneer with fiber green peas (matar) in a tomato-based gravy, and it provides a mixture of flavors and textures while providing a source of dietary protein, and essential nutritional benefits.
5. Is paneer healthy or cheese?
Yes, Paneer is healthy as compared to other types of cheese, which has a good amount of protein and calcium, both of which are beneficial for muscle health and bone strength, and is also lower in fat and calories compared to some other cheeses.