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IMAGE ©Jayalakshmi Rangarajan - Kitchen Musings by Jay

Paneer Butter Masala

a dinner recipe
ingredients
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 Indian bay leaf
1 inch cinnamon stick
2-3 cardamom pods
3-4 cloves
3-4 garlic cloves
1 inch ginger
1 large white onion
3-4 large tomatoes
10-15 whole cashews
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp Kashmiri red chili powder or smoked paprika
Salt as needed
½ tbsp tomato paste (optional)
3-4 tbsp cream
250 g paneer
2 tsp crushed dried fenugreek leaves
Paneer Butter Masala
a dinner recipe
I'm Jayalakshmi Rangarajan, a software engineer by profession and a food photographer by passion. I'm currently based out of Memphis, Tennessee. A winner of 16 international food photography awards, I enjoy styling and photographing food and produce. I've worked with leading brands to create images and videos that convey a food story. Check out my Instagram handle at @jayalakshmi.rangarajan.
a little bit about the recipe
Paneer Butter Masala, a popular dish in Indian restaurants, is a rich and creamy curry made with paneer, spices, onions, tomatoes, cashews and butter. The gravy is cooked in butter which gives it the characteristic buttery flavor. Paneer dunked in a creamy flavourful curry goes well with Naan/Rice.
TIME (ACTIVE) | 25 M
TIME (INACTIVE) | 10 M
TOTAL | 35 M
2-3 SERVINGS | 4 oz
PRINT RECIPE
directions
  • Heat butter in a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add bay leaf, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon stick.

  • Once the flavors arise, add roughly cubed white onion (white onion imparts a natural sweetness to the gravy) garlic cloves and ginger.

  • Stir and cook until onions turn light golden brown in color.

  • Then add the tomatoes (roughly cubed).

  • Add whole cashews, chili powder, tomato paste and salt as needed.

  • Stir and cook the tomatoes until soft and completely cooked.

  • Once the tomatoes are completely cooked, remove the pan from heat. Let it cool down. Once cooled, transfer to a blender and blend to a very smooth paste.

  • Now put the pan back on medium heat. Add a little butter to it. Add Kashmiri red chili powder (this step adds a good color to the curry).

  • Now add the pureed curry to it. Add 1 cup water (or more depending on the gravy consistency required). Mix and let it cook for 3-4 minutes.

  • Add the cubed paneer in the curry.

  • Mix well and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Adjust salt as needed. Slightly crush dried fenugreek leaves between the palms and add it to the curry.

  • Turn off the heat. Add fresh cream to the curry for a rich flavor.

  • Serve paneer butter masala with naan or rice.
tips
The gravy can be prepared and refrigerated.

Stays good upto a week when refrigerated.
ingredients in recipe
5.0
(Tej Patta)
whole, various sizes
Commonly used in Indian and South Asian cuisines. It has a distinctive fragrance and a warm, slightly sweet flavor. NOT to be confused with bay laurel bay leaves.
1.5 oz - REFILL $4
5.0
cassia
2 3/4" quills
Cassia cinnamon sticks are rigid making them ideal for aromatic crafting or for use as flavor-imbuing stirrers.
1.2 oz - REFILL$4
5 oz - REFILL$12
1.2 oz - REFILL $4
4.9
green pods
whole pods
Aromatic and flavorful, whole green cardamom pods can be lightly crushed to further enhance flavor in cooking.
TRY ME - SAMPLE$0.75
1.3 oz - JAR$10
1.3 oz - REFILL$9
6 oz - REFILL$24
TRY ME - SAMPLE $0.75
4.9
whole
Whole cloves are intensely aromatic dried flower buds that will impart a warm pungency. It has a slight sweetness on the tongue balanced by a spicy bite.
TRY ME - SAMPLE$0.75
1.1 oz - JAR$5
1.1 oz - REFILL$4
6 oz - REFILL$14
TRY ME - SAMPLE $0.75
4.9
mild
blend
The mild heat of this chili powder blend allows all these spices to declare themselves nicely without being too overt.
TRY ME - SAMPLE$0.75
2 oz - JAR$6
2 oz - REFILL$5
TRY ME - SAMPLE $0.75
4.8
Spanish (de la Vera)
powder
Brick red and slightly clumpy, this rich-looking smoked Spanish paprika powder is from the La Vera region.
TRY ME - SAMPLE$0.75
2 oz - JAR$7
2 oz - REFILL$6
TRY ME - SAMPLE $0.75
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