Matar Paneer

Matar Paneer is an extremely popular North Indian dish and is considered as a special side dish among most veggies across India. I tried to prepare it in many different ways so as to get the restaurant-style taste and guess what, this time I succeeded to create something much better.

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh Green Peas(matar)(or you can use dried green peas by soaking it overnight).
1 cup Paneer (cottage cheese) cubes
1 Large Onion (grated)
1 tbsp. Ginger garlic paste
2 Slitted green chili
2 tbsp tomato puree/tomato sauce.
2 cinnamon sticks
2 to 3 cardamom
2 to 3 clove
2 Bay leaves
1/2 tsp. Cumin seeds
1 tsp.turmeric power
1 tsp Red chili powder
1 tsp. Coriander powder
1 tsp. Garam masala powder
1 tsp Sugar
Salt (as per taste)
Coriander leaves (finely chopped))

Method:
1 Cut the paneer into cubes. Heat oil in a pan any fry the paneer until becomes soft and light golden color. Remove from heat and keep aside.
2. Boil the green peas in a cup of water adding a pinch of salt and sugar.
3.Heat oil in a large pan. Add bay leaves, whole garam masala (cardamom, cinnamon, clove)and cumin seeds. Now add grated onion.Saute until the onion becomes golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste,green chilies, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and little water. Fry the masala for sometime until oil get separated from it. Now add salt Sugar and tomato puree/ sauce and finally boiled peas. Stir continuously and cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
4. Finally add paneer pieces and 1/2 cup water.Add garam masala and cook for another 5 minutes and then allow it to simmer for about 8 minutes. when the curry becomes semi dry remove it from heat. Garnish it with chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with Chappathis, naan, pooris or with plain rice