Matar Paneer (India)

2016-03-02

Matar paneer is an Indian vegetarian dish of sweet peas and paneer cheese cooked in a curry sauce.
Matar
= the Hindi word for sweet peas.
Paneer = an Indian / Middle Eastern acid-curdled non-melting fresh cheese, similar to the Mexican queso fresco minus the salt.

I started this from a purchased package, then went back to the original recipe to improve on that package.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 4 servings:

  • 1 large white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup canned green peas
  • 1/2 lb. paneer or queso fresco
    diced into 1" pieces
  •  1/2 cup Greek Yogurt
    OR heavy cream
  • S&P

spices:

  • curry powder or paste of your choice
  • OR mix it yourself:
    • 1 tsp. ginger garlic paste
      or 1/2 1 tsp.  ginger powder
           1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
    • 1 tsp. cumin seeds
    • 1 tsp. red chili powder
    • 1 tbsp. coriander powder
    • 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
    • 3/4 tsp. garam masala powder

optional:

  • 1 tsp. kasuri methi = fenugreek
  • 3-6 plum tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1 lb. potatoes, peeled, diced
  • 1/2 lb. button mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 cup chickpeas, cooked
Pic1: my interpretation, with chickpeas and rice

Directions

This recipe adapted from this page.

 

All pictures below were borrowed from the internet (Wikipedia)

Pic2: paneer cheese
Pic3+4: matar paneer

 

Pic5-7: red matar paneer