Shahi Matar Paneer (शाही मटर पनीर)

Shahi-Matar-Paneer

Shahi-Matar-Paneer 

 Shahi Matar Paneer is the savory (sabzi) of green peas and cottage cheese in gravy of Onion, tomato, cashew nuts, almonds and cream. It's rich creamy texture and taste is amazingly good. On special occasions I pair it with lachcha parantha. 

Preparation Time: 15-20 minutesCooking Time: 30 minutes (approx.) 

Servings: 4 Medium servings

Nutritional value of sabzi :

Energy : 590.0cal.

 Carbs: 40g. 

 Fats: 50.0g.

Proteins: 31g.

Cholesterol : 50.0mg.

 Sugars: 12.0g.

Dietary Fibers : 12.0gm

Sodium: 12.5mg.

Potassium: 422.0mg.

Rich in calcium (paneer itself brings 480.0mg),iron, magnicium, vitaminC, vitamin E and vitaminyB6.  

Ingredients for Shahi-Matar-Paneer:

• Paneer : 100gm 
• Green peas (shelled) : 100g
• Tomato :2medium size / 150 gm. 
• Onion: 1 Medium size / 150 gm
• Garlic : 4-5pods 
• Ginger grated : 1 teaspoon 
• Cashew nuts : 10 -12
• Almonds : 8-10
• Bay leaf :1
• Cinnamon : 2cm piece (approx) 
• Cream : 100 gm
• Kashmiri Red Chili Powder : 1 Teaspoon 
• Red chili powder: 1/2 Teaspoon (optional) 
• Cooking oil - 10 ml
• Bautter: 20 gm
• Water: 250ml. (approx) 

Directions For Making Shahi-Matar-Paneer:

• Soak Almonds and Cashews in water for 30 minutes. 
• Peel and slice onion and keep aside. 

Sliced onion 

• Chop tomatoes and keep aside. 

Chopped tomatoes 

• Peel the soaked almonds throw the water. Grind the soaked cashew and soaked almonds to fine paste. Add water while grinding in little amounts. Almost 10 ml water will be required.

Paste of cashew and almonds 

• Mix:

1. 1/2teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder.
2. 1/4teaspoon salt. 
3. 1/2teaspoon cream. 
4. Cut paneer to 1inch (approx) squares.
5. Apply the above paste on all paneer pieces. Cover and keep aside. 

Marinated Paneer 

• Boil 100 ml water with 1/2 teaspoon sugar and pinch of salt. When water comes to boil add green peas in it and boil for 2-3 minutes. Drain water and keep the boiled peas aside.

Par boiled green peas 

• If you are using preserved peas then skip this step.
• Heat 10 ml cooking oil in a thick bottom cooking pan /wok. 
• Add sliced onions and cook on low heat with occasional stirring for 2minutes. 
• Add 

1. Chopped garlic
2. Grated ginger 
3. Cook for another 3-4 minutes or till mixture starts turning golden. 

Onion garlic ginger cooked 

• Immediately add chopped tomatoes 

Tomatoes added 

and cook till tomatoes become soft and whole mixture turns mushy. 

• Allow the cooked mixture to cool. 
• Grind to fine paste. Add little water if required. 
• Heat 10 ml. Cooking oil and 10 gm butter (I used Amul butter) in a thick bottom cooking pan /wok. 
• Add 

1. Bay leaf 
2. Cinnamon 
3. Pinch of nutmeg powder 

• Cook with constant stirring for 30sec.on low heat. 

• Add cashew almond paste and cook with constant stirring fir 3-4 minutes. The mixture will change color and start leaving the bottom of wok /cooking pan 

Almond cashew nut paste added

Cooked paste of cashew and almond 

• Add the cooked paste of Onion - garlic - ginger - tomato. 

Onion tomato paste added to cooked nuts paste 

• Mix and cook on low flame for 3-3 minutes with constant stirring. Make sure the mixture does not stick to the bottom of cooking vessel. 
• Add 

1. Salt 
2. Kashmiri chili powder 
3. Red chili powder (optional, as per taste)

Spices added 

• Mix and cook on low flame for 2-3 minutes. 

Onion tomato paste cooked with nuts paste 

• Oil will start separation from masala. 
• Add marinated paneer pieces and mix. Cover and cook for a minute or so. 

Paneer cooked with masala 

• Add green peas 

Peas added 

• Mix nicely and cook on low flame for 5minutes stirring two three times in between.,making sure masala does not get stuck to the bottom of cooking vessel. 

Paneer and peas cooked in masala 

• Add 200 ml water and bring the flame to high. When the mixture starts boiling bring the flame to low and cook for 5miuntes with occasional stirring. 

Water added 

Cooked to required consistency 

• Add cream and cook on high flame for 30 seconds

Cream added 

Shahi Matar Paneer is ready 

• Adjust seasoning. Cover and let it cool. 
• Shahi-Matar-Paneer is ready to be served. 

Shahi - Matar - Paneer 

• Take out in serving bowl. Dress it with Chopped coriander leafs. Serve with Roti /parantha /lachcha parantha. 
• For giving it the vibrant red color add 1 teaspoon red kashmiri chili powder (which gives color and flavor to gravy but does not increase the spiciness in gravy. 

Shahi - Matar - Paneer (with extra Red kashmiri chili powder) 

Suggested Variations :

• Water melon seeds and musk melon seeds one tea spoon each can be soaked along with almond and cashew. 
• Two teaspoons of raisins can be soaked and ground almond with nuts to give a fruity sweet touch to gravy. I avoid it due to diabetes. 
• Fresh cream (malai) can be used in place of canned cream. 
• Roasted or fried pieces of almonds and cashew can be used for dressing to give rich and Nutty taste. 

Tips :

• Throw away the water in which nuts (or nuts and seeds) are soaked else the paste will not get nice white color. 
• Make sure at no stage the masala sticks to bottom of cooking vessel else it will get burnt spoiling the color, flavor and taste of gravy.