Mattar Paneer / Cottage Cheese with Green Peas

Time spent with family is time well spent. I had to wake up early today...Yes and that to on a weekend...! Cause this weekend was a family weekend. My cousin and her family were visiting us for lunch today and hence I had to start all the preps early morning. I made mattar paneer, jira rice, dal, aloo-baingan and some home made rotis too :) It was really a hectic and tiring day but it was worth it.
We all had great time and they all loved the food. I have posted here the recipe for Mattar Paneer. Other recipes are coming soon...! So stay tuned...

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of paneer cubed
• 1 cup of green peas
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 tbsp red chilli powder
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 bay leaves (tajpat)
• 1/2 inch of cinnamon stick (dalcheene)
• 2-3 cloves
• 8-10 cashewnuts
• 1 tsp kasuri methi
• pinch of salt
• pinch of asafoetida
• 1 tbsp oil 
• 1 tbsp Fresh cream 
• 1/4 cup coriander 

 

 Method:

• Heat oil in a pan.Fry onions and cashews till golden brown.
• Add giner-garlic paste and chopped tomatoes to this mixture.Let it cook for 5min.
• Cool down this mixture and then grind into smooth paste.
• In the same pan add little oil. As soon as the oil is heated add bay leaves, cloves,cinnamon stick and asafoetida. 
• Add the blended onion-tomato paste to the oil. Also add turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder and kasuri methi. Cook this mixture till the oil separates.
• Add the peas and 1 cup water. Mix it well.  Add salt and cover the pan with a lid. Cook it on medium heat.
• As soon as the peas become tender add, the paneer cubes.
• Mix well and cook it on medium heat again for 2-3 min or till the gravy thickens.
• Garnish with fresh cream and coriander.
• Mattar Paneer is ready to serve.