Lahor-i Paneer recipe

Lahor-i paneer recipe

My love for food across the border (to India) I.e. Pakistani cuisine has spanned many years and I love the Karachi or Lahore specials! Being Punjabi myself, I think Lahore cuisine suits my palate and I love its flavours. I feel our tastes and gastronomical journey has a common foundation.

I will continue to being inspired by this amazing cuisine of a nation who is a nieghbouring country of India.

Having tried various recipes, I have made this Lahori Paneer with a lot of love.

Ingredients:

* 250 gm paneer, chopped into bite-size cubes

* 1 onion chopped finely

* 1 inch root ginger, peeled and chopped

* 1-2 green chilies (optional)

Ingredients for blending:

* 4 tomotoes chopped or a tin of chopped tomatoes

* 1 onion chopped

* 4-5 cashew nuts (chopped and soak in water beforehand) (optional)

* 1 green chilli

* 1 inch root ginger, peeled and chopped

* 6-7 garlic cloves, chopped

Other ingredients

* 1 tablespoon thick yogurt

* 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

* 1 teaspoon corainder powder

* 1 teaspoon cumin powder

* 1 teaspoon red chilli powder

* 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves

* 1 teaspoon garam masala to garnish

* Bunch of fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Whole spices for grinding or use as whole

* 2-3 cloves

* 1 inch cinamon stick

* 4-5 green cardomons

* 1 brown cardommon

Other whole spices

* 2 bay leaves

* 1/2 or 2 cup of water

* Salt to taste.

* 3-4 tablespoons of vegetables oil

Method

* In a nonstick pan, add 2 tablespoons of oil and once hot, add the ingredients for grinding (listed on top) for 10 minutes. Keep aside and once cool, blend into a smooth paste.

* In the same pan, add the balance oil, once hot, add the whole spices and

* Now add finely chopped onion and fry until it's light golden .

* Add green chiliies and ginger and saute it

* Add the tomato and onion paste and cook until it's mushy and left oil on the sides.

* Add the yogurt and mix well.

* Add all the powedered spices ( you may add the powdered wholespices too if you are not using them as whole) except garam masala

* Add half a cup of water so that you have consistent sauce.

* Add the paneer cubes and cook for 5 -7 minutes on medium heat

* Add the dried fenugreek leaves and salt and mix well.

* Add the corainder leaves and garam masala and switch off the burner!

Serve!