Mutter Paneer Masala

Mutter Paneer Masala/Green peas with Indian cottage cheese is a simple, spicy, flavourful and aromatic Punjabi curry. Nutritious green peas/mutter come packed with 8 vitamins, 7 minerals, dietary fiber and protein. They are helpful in maintaining bone health. The folic acid and vitamin B6 in green peas are supportive of cardiovascular health. More on these healthy peas can be read here. Coming to Paneer/Indian Cottage Cheese, is a lacto-vegetarian loaded with calcium, protein. When the soft and gorgeous green peas combines with a golded fried, pleasant-tasting paneer with some aromatic and flavourful Indain spices the outcome is simply luscious and palatable.

This recipe is going to participate in My Favourite Things : Cheese hosted by Poornima of Tasty Treats. My Favourite Things event is started by Bindya of In Love With Food. This recipe is also going to participate in MLLA-Eleventh Helping by Lori of Taste With The Eyes. MLLA is brainchild of Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup Peas, washed and soaked for 1 hour
• 1/2 cup Paneer * cubes
• 1 Onion, peeled and sliced
• 1 Tomato, deseeded and chopped
• 1/2 tbsp Cumin/Jeera seeds
• 2 Cloves
• 1 1" inch piece of Cinnamon
• 2 Cardamoms
• 1/2 tbsp Coriander powder
• 1 tbsp Red chilli powder
• 1/4 tbsp Turmeric powder
• Water
• Salt
• Oil
• 2-3 springs fresh Coriander leaves, chopped

PREPERATION:

• Deep fry paneer cubes untio golden brown and take them out on a kitchen tissue or towel.
• To a heavy bottom cooking vessel, add oil to this add cumin/jeera seeds and when they start to splutter add sliced onions, cardamoms, cloves and cinnamon stick. Fry till onions are translucent.
• Now add chopped tomatoes, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and coriander powder. Cook till tomatoes are soft. Mash using a spoon. Add peas and little water and cook till peas are soft.
• Now add fried paneer cubes and cook till the water gets aborbed or till you get the desired consistency. Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with roti or rice.
• Last but not least add your 'love' to make the dish 'YUMMY'.

Sometimes when you are in hurry and hungry, incidents like this happen....I just completed my photo shoot of this recipe and was about to turn to have my lunch... where hot roti's waiting for me.....the curry bowl slipped my hand and got completely fell on the floor. Hmm there were only 2-3 paneer pieces left in the kadai with 1 tbsp green peas gravy.....I have to satisfy myself...... :-(

* NOTE: Want to make Paneer at home? Indira of Mahanandi has beautifully pictured and illustrated about making of paneer at home. You can check it here.