DESCRIPTION:

Mattar paneer is a vegetarian north Indian dish consisting of peas and paneer in a tomato based sauce, spiced with garam masala. It is often served with rice and an Indian type of bread (naan, paratha, poori, or roti depending on region). Various other ingredients are often added, such as "aloo" (potato), corn, yogurt or cream.

In the UK it is often referred to as 'cheesy peas'.

PREPERATION:

Preperation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins

INGREDIENTS:

TO MAKE A PASTE

-1 cup chopped onions
-1 ¼ to 1 ½ cup ripe tomatoes
-8 to 10 cashew nuts 
-1 green chili

FOR GRAVY

-1 to 1.5 tbsp butter
-1 ½ tsp ginger garlic paste
-½ cup green peas
-1 ½ cups paneer(indian cottage cheese)
-2 green cardamoms
-½ tsp cumin / jeera 
-1 bay leaf
-half inch cinnamon stick/ dalchini
-2 cloves/ laung
-½ to ¾ tsp kashmiri red chili powder
-¾ to 1 tsp garam masala 
-salt as needed
-¼ tsp kasuri methi
-Coriander leaves chopped finely
-¼ cup cream

STEPS:

1. Add cubed onion, chili, tomatoes and 8 to 10 cashew nuts. Sometimes onions lend a bitter taste, if you have any such experience then it is good to boil chopped onions in some water for 2 to 3 mins. Discard the water, cool and blend them.
2. Make a fine puree without adding water.
3. Saute paneer in ¼ tsp oil for 2 to 3 minutes. 
4. Add oil to a hot pan. Allow cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamom and cumin to crackle. 
5. Add ginger garlic paste and saute until the raw smell goes away. 
6. Add the ground onion tomato paste. Saute on a medium flame and keep stirring.
7. Saute until the mixture becomes​ a bit dry and begins to leave the sides of the pan.
8. Add chilli powder, garam masala
9. Mix well and saute for about 2 minutes. Make sure the raw smell of the paste has disappeared.
10. Add half cup green peas and 1 ½ cups water.
11. Cook until matar is cooked and the gravy thickens. Add salt as needed.
12. Make sure the gravy has thickened before adding paneer. Add crushed kasuri methi and paneer. Cook just for 2 to 3 minutes.
13. Add cream just before you switch off the stove and stir. Add Finely chopped coriander leaves and transfer to a serving bowl.

Servings: 5-6