Shai Paneer / Shahi Paneer

Ingredients:

Onions – 2 medium – chop it very finely.(Use a chopper)

Tomatoes – 5 medium sized (Blanch the Tomatoes and grind it to a paste)

Garlic cloves – 4

Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon

Oil – 3 teaspoons

Red Chilli Powder – ¾ teaspoon

Dhania Powder – 2 teaspoons

Cumin Powder – 1 teaspoon (Optional)

Turmeric Powder – ½ teaspoon

Salt

Evaporated Milk – 1 can

Crumbled Paneer – fresh crumbled paneer (I used readymade fresh fried cubed paneer which I found in the freezer section from an Indian grocery store)

Method:

To prepare Paneer at home:

Ingredients:

Milk – 4 cups

Lemon juice – 3 to 4 tablespoons or as required

Heat milk in a pan, when it starts to boil, add lemon juice and reduce heat for one or two minutes. Keep stirring. When whey separates from paneer, remove from heat. Drain it through a muslin cloth and hang it , till all the water goes off.

Shahi paneer preperation:

Heat oil in a heavy kadai. Add the Cumin seeds, Onions and Garlic and sauté until the onions turn translucent. Add the Tomatoe Puree and fry until the Tomato Puree is cooked. Add the Masala Spice Powders and allow it to boil for a couple of minutes. Let all the spices blend with the gravy. Reduce the heat completely. After the bubbling disappears, add ¾ of the evaporated milk and stir. Add the crumbled Paneer (or readymade fried paneer) and stir and Keep it closed. Serve hot with Chapathis,Naan or Parathas.