Paneer Butter Masala
This is a simple recipe which I go for all the time. It is a very popular recipe in my home. My kids love it so much and I make it very often. Paneer butter masala take a major part in my dinner menu. Since paneer butter masala is little sweet, I like to pair it with roti, naan or pulao.
What is paneer butter masala?
Paneer butter masala also known as butter paneer is a thick, rich and creamy tomato based curry in which paneer cubes is fried and soaked. This curry is little sweet and not that spicy at all. This is a popular recipe in any restaurants similar to kadai paneer, shahi paneer, palak paneer and malai kofta.
About Creamy Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer butter masala is favourite recipe of many people. It may be butter chicken for non veg lovers, but paneer butter masala has a special place in many peoples heart. This is my favourite recipe for paneer butter masala. I make it very often for my family. It taste amazing and is easy to make as well. Making butter paneer is pretty easy too. First make a paste out of onions and tomatoes. Then fry cubed paneer in oil till golden. Now prepare a masala in butter. Sizzle some cumin seeds and cook the onion tomato masala along with spice powders, salt and sugar. Cook till oil separates. Add paneer cubes and toss well in the masala. Add in cream, kasuri methi leaves and coriander leaves. Rich, thick, creamy butter paneer is ready to serve with some hot naan or parathas. I get many queries of making this recipe in instant pot. It is very simple to make it in instant pot.
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Watch Paneer Butter Masala Video
Paneer Butter Masala Ingredients
Paneer
A great tasting paneer butter masala needs soft paneer. I like to use homemade paneer in my paneer butter masala for best taste. Paneer made in home is so soft and moist than store bought ones.
Onion & Tomatoes
You can entirely skip the addition of onion in this recipe. But I love the flavour of onions. You can chop the onions very finely and saute them first instead of grinding with tomatoes. You can use store bought tomato puree instead of fresh tomatoes in which case you might need to add little extra sugar to balance the taste.
Butter
You can use salted or unsalted butter in the gravy. Finishing the gravy with a knob of butter adds a buttery taste to your end product.
Cream vs Milk
Cream gives the richness to the gravy, usually i have homemade cream in the freezer which I use for gravies like this. You can use milk which is mixed with little cornstarch for a little thickness.
Kasuri Methi Leaves
Dried fenugreek leaves or kasuri methi leaves is prominent aroma for any north indian gravies. Make sure you don’t over do, else your gravy may taste bitter.
Serving Suggestions
Paneer butter masala is best served with rice, pulao and any indian bread.
Pulao Recipes Naan Recipes Roti Recipes
Expert Tips for Best Tasting Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer vs Tofu - Instead of paneer you can use tofu as well. Take your time - Make sure you cook the onions and tomatoes till it is well cooked. It enhances the flavour. Butter in your Paneer Masala - If you don’t want to use too much butter in this curry, start by cooking the curry in oil and add a knob of butter in the end. I prefer using unsalted butter in the curry. You could use any butter you prefer. Traditionally white butter (makhan) is used. Finishing Touches - Instead of cream, You can use milk which is mixed with little cornstarch for a little thickness. Don’t be stingy in kasuri methi leaves. It adds the aroma which a paneer butter masala needs.
Should You Fry Paneer for Paneer Butter Masala
One of the question which I get often “should I fry paneer or not?. Personally I think homemade fresh paneer needs no frying, you can slice them up and use them directly in curries. Some store bought paneer has weird smell which can be eliminated through frying. In case you want to fry your paneer, this is how you do it.
Cube paneer into small pieces. Heat oil for frying, add paneer cubes and shallow fry them till light golden. Make sure you stir them inbetween for even colour. Strain the fried paneer and immerse them in warm water till use. When adding to gravy, strain the paneer and add to curries.
How to Make Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala (Step-wise Pictures)
1)Heat oil in a pan. Add in sliced onions and saute for 2 mins. 2)Add in tomatoes 3)Add in cashews 4)Cook till it turns mushy. 5)Take it in a blender and puree till smooth. 6)Add in 1 tbsp butter 7)Add in cumin seeds 8)ginger garlic paste 9)Green chillies goes in 10)Add in puree and mix well. 11)Add kashmiri chilli powder 12)cumin powder 13)Add in garam masala powder 14)mix well 15)Pour in water 16)Mix well 17)Add in sugar 18)Add in salt 19)paneer cubes 20)Mix well 21)Add in kasuri methi leaves 22)Extra butter 23)Add in cream 24)Add coriander leaves 25)Mix well and serve
Variations
One Pot Paneer Butter Masala
This version of paneer butter masala is my latest obsession. It is oven roasted paneer butter masala. All you have to do is bake the ingredients in a cast iron pan, grind and make the gravy in the same pan. Super easy oven roasted paneer butter masala ids ready. Take 1 roughly chopped onion, 4 halved tomato, 6 garlic, 1 inch ginger, 6 cashews and 1 tsp oil in a cast iron pan and bake it in a 200 degree C oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Take the pan from oven and grind into a smooth puree. For making one pot paneer butter masala gravy. Heat 1 tbsp butter, add 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder and mix well. Add in ground puree, season with salt and 1 tsp sugar. Pour some water to form the gravy and bring to boil. Add in 1 cup cubed paneer, 2 tbsp cream, 1 tsp kasuri methi and ½ tsp garam masala powder. Garnish with coriander leaves.
Paneer Butter Masala (Easy Version)
Quick Paneer Butter Masala Recipe with step wise pictures. Super good and delicious paneer butter masala which is not only easy to make but taste so delicious and yummy. This is a flavourful spicy paneer dish which is so easy to make. Taste amazing with roti, naan or pulao too. You can serve it with steamed rice as well. This is a basic paneer butter masala recipe and taste so heavenly just like restaurant ones.
Ingredients for easy paneer butter masala
Butter - 2 tblsp Cumin Seeds / Jeerakam - 1 tsp Onion - 1 chopped finely Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tblsp Tomato - 4 pureed Kashmiri Chilli Powder - 2 tsp Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp Salt to taste Sugar - 1 tblsp Paneer - 200 grams cubed Fresh Cream - ½ cup Kasuri Methi Leaves - 2 tblsp Coriander Leaves - 2 tblsp chopped finely
How to make easy paneer butter masala
Heat butter and cumin seeds and mix well. Add in onions an saute till golden. Add in ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell leaves. Pour in tomato puree and cook till oil separates. Add in spice powders, salt, sugar and mix well. Add in paneer and water and bring it to a boil. Simmer for 5 mins. Finish with fresh cream, kasuri methi leaves and coriander leaves.
Instant Pot Butter Paneer
Set instant pot to saute mode.Add in oil and fry paneer till light golden. Drain and set aside in a bowl. Heat butter and add cumin seeds. Let them sizzle. Pour in ground onion tomato masala. Cook till raw smell leaves. it will take around 10 mins or so. If the masala gets stuck to the bottom, add little hot water and scrape the pan. In goes spice powders and mix well. Add salt and sugar. Mix well. Add in the paneer cubes and water. Cover and cook for 10 mins. Lastly you can add cream and kasuri methi leaves. mix well and add coriander leaves. Serve hot with roti or naan.
1)Can I make this recipe without butter?
Yes you can skip butter with ghee, oil or any fat as you prefer. But butter is what adds flavour to the curry.
2)Can I make paneer butter masala vegan?
Substitute paneer with tofu to make this vegan. Use firm tofu or extra firm tofu. Don’t use silken tofu. You can deep the tofu before using.
3)Can I skip adding onions in this recipe?
Yes you can skip the addition of onions in this recipe. but onions adds extra taste.
4)How to make this healthy?
Reduce butter and cream quantity to make this healthy. Also instead of cream you can use milk.
5)Can we skip cream in this recipe?
Cream adds the rich creamy texture in this recipe. You can use low fat cream or milk in this recipe.
6)Does Paneer Butter Masala increase weight?
Since this is rich in butter and cream it can increase in weight when had too much. Anything in moderation is better. 7)Which is better paneer tikka masala or paneer butter masala? Paneer tikka masala is on the spicier side and butter paneer is more mild and sweet. I prefer tikka masala to be served with roti and on the other hand this can be served with naan. Here is the recipe for paneer tikka masala. 8)What is butter paneer made of? Butter paneer is made of onion, tomato, spices, cream, kasuri methi leaves. Never miss the abundant of butter.
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