It’s a undeniable fact that Mughlai delicacies is know for its meat-based dishes and biryanis. However it’s also true that some of the scrumptious and widespread recipes from this meals repertoire is a vegetarian dish, particularly Shahi Paneer. It’s deliciously wealthy, the place recent, unmelting cheese lie in a pool of creamy gravy, excellent for serving with naan or roti. The phrase ‘shahi’ is ‘royal or royalty’ in English. And I assure that this dish is true to its title. So, what are you ready for? Go forward, make it and deal with your self like kings and queens!
About Shahi Paneer
Shahi Paneer is a wealthy and creamy North Indian curry recognized for its regal and indulgent flavors. Like I discussed at first, the time period ‘shahi’ interprets to ‘royal,’ indicating the dish’s opulence.
Thus, the dish might be actually translated to ‘royal paneer.’ It options paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cooked in a velvety tomato or yogurt based mostly curry, enriched with cream, nuts and fragrant spices.
Paneer is a recent cheese that’s widespread in Indian delicacies. It’s made by curdling milk with a meals acid (usually lemon juice), then pressed into cubes.
Probably the most notable factor about paneer cheese is that it doesn’t soften, offering a texture just like tofu. Shahi Paneer is a favourite in North Indian delicacies, cherished by vegetarians and people who respect wealthy, flavorful dishes.
Whereas the fundamental methodology of dum cooking stays constant, there are regional variations and private variations of Shahi Paneer. Some variations use tomatoes and butter and others embrace the addition of fruits like pineapple.
I’ve opted to not use these components, as a substitute utilizing yogurt, nuts and seeds to loosen up the dish significantly.
About My Recipe
The recipe will not be the Punjabi model which is closely spiced, sturdy and has a crimson or orange coloured gravy that’s principally served in eating places.
This wealthy and royal Shahi Paneer variation is from the Mughlai delicacies and you will note the utilization of varied nuts & seeds like almonds, cashews, melon seeds along with creamy yogurt, onions, aromatic spices and ghee.
Together with numerous nuts, seeds along with onions, yogurt, spices makes for a white or cream coloured gravy which is creamy, evenly candy and a bit tangy. This shahi gravy is stuffed with aromatic flavors as a result of addition of complete spices particularly saffron.
A superb paste is product of cooked onions, garlic, ginger, nuts and seeds. This nuts and onion paste is sautéed in ghee with the spices.
Later floor spices and whisked yogurt are included with the paste and cooked additional with the addition of some water.
When the gravy will get cooked to the appropriate consistency, last touches are added by sprinkling cardamom powder, saffron strands and lastly the paneer cubes are combined with the gravy with a contact of kewra water and heavy cream.
Balanced out with a easy, creamy consistency, this model of Shahi Paneer is ideal for particular events, festivals and celebratory meals resulting from its luxurious style and look.
Now, greater than ever, consolation meals are so as. And in case you are searching for a warming, comforting vegetarian dish to serve for supper, look no additional.
Shahi Paneer is considered one of my very favourite dishes and is certain to grow to be considered one of yours, too. This dish is certain to fill your bellies and heat your souls.
Step-by-Step Information
How you can make Shahi Paneer
Whereas the record of components for Shahi Paneer recipe is sort of lengthy, you don’t should be intimidated. The method for making this dish isn’t significantly technical or troublesome.
Preparation
1. Take the nuts and seeds – 2 tablespoons cashews, 1 tablespoon almonds, 1 tablespoon melon seeds (magaz) in a bowl and rinse them a few occasions with water.
Drain all of the water and put aside.
2. Simmer the beneath listed components in 1.5 cup water for for 8 to 10 minutes on medium-low warmth.
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 2 tablespoons cashews
- 1 tablespoon almonds
- 1 tablespoon melon seeds (magaz)
- ½ teaspoon chopped ginger
- ½ teaspoon chopped garlic
3. Proceed to prepare dinner till the onions grow to be tender, then pressure a few of the inventory (the water through which the nuts, seeds, onions had been cooked). Set this inventory apart for later use.
4. When cooled, place the softened onions, nuts, seeds, ginger, garlic in a blender or grinder-mixer jar. You possibly can peel the almonds for those who want.
5. Make a superb paste of the cooked onion combination, including 2 to 4 tablespoons of the strained inventory or as wanted.
6. Beat ½ cup recent curd (yogurt) until easy and put aside.
Sauté Onions & Nuts Paste
7. Warmth 3 tablespoons ghee in a pan over medium-low to medium warmth. Let the ghee soften. You possibly can even use oil or butter rather than ghee.
8. Fry all the entire spices till they launch their aroma within the ghee. The entire spices are listed beneath:
- 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
- 2 to three cloves
- 2 to three inexperienced cardamoms
- 1 black cardamom
- 1 inch cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds (shahi jeera) – can swap with cumin seeds as a substitute
Tip: Be very attentive right here, as spices are delicate and may burn shortly for those who aren’t paying consideration.
Word that the entire spices usually are not eaten. For those who want, you may take away the entire spices (after they’re fried within the oil) excluding the caraway seeds, with a slotted spoon earlier than including the onion and nut paste.
9. Add the onion and nuts paste.
10. On a low to medium-low warmth combine till the paste is uniform. Then sauté for 7 to eight minutes or till the fats separates on the sides of the paste.
You will notice that on additional cooking the paste will thicken and grow to be shiny. Preserve stirring continuous for even cooking. This may even stop the paste getting burnt from the underside.
11. Now add ½ teaspoon crimson chilli powder or cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and 1 teaspoon coriander powder.
You may even substitute crimson chilli powder with ¼ teaspoon white or black pepper powder. You may additionally use kashmiri crimson chilli powder.
12. Stir to combine nicely.
13. Cut back warmth to a low or flip off the warmth. Add the whisked yogurt, 1 to 1.5 cups of water, ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar and salt in response to style.
You possibly can at all times alter the consistency of gravy by including much less or extra water.
14. Stir nicely and simmer on a low warmth for 10 to 12 minutes, or till the gravy thickens.
15. Add ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder and crushed 15 to twenty saffron strands.
Make Shahi Paneer
16. Stir and add the paneer cubes (200 grams) and 1 tablespoon heavy cream. Add 1 teaspoon of kewra water and stir (optionally available step). If including butter, you may add it right here. Combine nicely and switch off the warmth.
Ideally use home made paneer for the very best texture and softness. If utilizing store-brought paneer or frozen paneer, observe the package deal directions to thaw and use it.
Tip 1: If you’re a vegan, you may simply substitute tofu for the paneer.
Tip 2: For those who want a richer model, be at liberty so as to add extra cream or butter to the recipe.
17. Garnish with recent coriander leaves or mint leaves or some saffron strands and revel in with rice or flatbread.
Serving Recommendations
You possibly can get pleasure from this creamy textured dish with Roti, or Naan and even paratha. You may also serve it with rice-based dishes like Jeera Rice, or Ghee Rice.
Knowledgeable Ideas
- Tomatoes: I’ve not added tomatoes to this dish since I’ve used yogurt (curd). However you may substitute yogurt with tomato puree in the identical proportions. If including tomatoes, then add 2 to three tablespoons cream because it balances the acidity and tanginess of the tomatoes.
- Nuts & Seeds Freshness: Since a significant a part of the gravy is constructed from nuts and yogurt, guarantee that these components are recent. The nuts and seeds shouldn’t be rancid and the curd (yogurt) should not be bitter.
- About Magaz: It’s a mix of pumpkin, watermelon, cantaloupe and cucumber seeds. It’s an ingredient utilized in Indian delicacies and might be present in Indian grocery shops. For those who don’t have entry to magaz or melon seeds, add a complete of two tablespoons almonds as a substitute. You may additionally solely use watermelon seeds.
- Wealthy Variant: A really wealthy model of this Shahi Paneer recipe is made with including butter and extra cream. On this recipe, I’ve added much less cream. Be happy so as to add extra cream or use butter, for those who want.
- Plant Based mostly Possibility: Vegans can substitute the paneer with tofu and the dairy-based curd with cashew or coconut yogurt. I don’t advise utilizing soy or peanut yogurt for this dish. If utilizing cashew yogurt, no want so as to add cashews whereas making the paste. Alternatively, you should use tomato puree and coconut cream rather than yogurt. Use a impartial tasting oil rather than ghee.
FAQs
From the 1400s to the 1800s, Mughals (“moo-galls”) dominated India. The meals that resulted from their rule was very wealthy, usually incorporating nuts, dried fruits and warming spices.
Another dishes you would possibly acknowledge that may be attributed to Mughlai (“moog-lie”) rule are biryani, some flat bread variants, and pulao.
Also referred to as kevda, keora or kewda, kewra water is a aromatic essence just like rose water that’s extracted from the male flower of the screwpine.
For those who would not have entry to kewra water, you may both omit it, substitute a drop of pandan extract, or use an equal quantity of rose.
Whereas you may make the dish with out alliums, please word that the flavour of the gravy will change. You possibly can substitute a pinch of hing (asafoetida) to the recipe to assist mimic the flavors of each the garlic and onion.
I like to recommend that you just solely use complete milk dairy curd on this recipe. Utilizing low-fat milk could trigger the gravy to interrupt.
Whereas this dish will retailer within the fridge for a couple of days, it’s best served recent from the range. I additionally don’t perceive how somebody might make this pleasant dish and never need to eat it immediately!
Extra Paneer Recipes To Attempt!
Please make sure to price the recipe within the recipe card or depart a remark beneath you probably have made it. For extra vegetarian inspirations, Signal Up for my emails or observe me on Instagram, Youtube, Fb, Pinterest or Twitter.
Shahi Paneer Recipe (Wealthy & Creamy)
This Shahi Paneer is deliciously wealthy and creamy, making it some of the widespread recipes within the Indian delicacies. Recent un-melting tender paneer in a pool of flavorful, nutty, mildly spiced, white gravy, excellent for serving with naan or roti.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook dinner Time 20 minutes
Whole Time 40 minutes
For cooking onions and nuts
Stop your display from going darkish whereas making the recipe
Preparation
Take the nuts and seeds in a bowl and rinse them a few occasions with water. Drain all of the water and put aside.
Cook dinner onions, cashews, almonds, magaz or melon seeds, ginger and garlic in 1.5 cups water for 8 to 10 minutes till the onions soften.
Pressure a few of the inventory (water through which the onions, nuts and so forth had been cooked) and set it apart. Let the onions cool at room temperature.
Make a superb paste of the cooked onions, ginger, garlic together with the nuts and melon seeds, including 2 to 4 tablespoons of the strained inventory.
Whisk recent curd (yogurt) until easy and put aside.
Sautéing onion paste
Warmth ghee in a frying pan on medium-low to medium warmth.
- Fry all the entire spices (listed within the above components) till they launch their aroma within the ghee. Be very attentive right here, as spices are delicate and may burn shortly for those who aren’t paying consideration.
Add the bottom onion paste and blend very nicely.
On a low warmth sauté stirring continuous for 7 to eight minutes or till the fats begins to depart the edges of the paste.
Add crimson chilli powder or cayenne pepper, garam masala powder and coriander powder. Combine nicely.
Including curd and simmering additional
Cut back warmth to a low or flip off the warmth.
Add the whisked yogurt, water, sugar and salt as required.
Combine very nicely and simmer gravy for 10 to 12 minutes till it thickens.
Making Shahi Paneer
Add the cardamom powder and crushed saffron.
Stir and add the cubed paneer and cream.
Combine gently and switch off warmth.
Add the kewra water and stir. You possibly can even add rose water.
Garnish Shahi Paneer with some coriander leaves or mint leaves or a couple of saffron strands. Serve the Shahi Paneer with cumin rice or roti, naan or paratha.
- Making a richer model: On this shahi paneer recipe, I’ve not used butter and added much less cream. Be happy so as to add extra cream or use butter for those who want.
- Tomatoes: I’ve not added tomatoes as I’ve used yogurt (curd). However you may substitute yogurt with tomato puree in the identical proportions as talked about within the recipe. If including tomatoes, then do add 2 to three tablespoons cream to stability the tang from tomatoes.
- Vegan choices: Use tofu and cashew yogurt. I gained’t counsel utilizing soy or peanut yogurt. If utilizing cashew yogurt then you definately don’t want so as to add cashews whereas making the paste. Use a impartial tasting oil rather than ghee.
- Freshness: Since a significant a part of the gravy is constructed from nuts and yogurt, do guarantee that these components are recent. The nuts and seeds shouldn’t be rancid and the curd (yogurt) should not be bitter.
- Consistency: You can also make a thicker consistency or a medium consistency of the gravy by including much less or extra water.
- Fat: For the fat, you should use any impartial tasting oil or butter or ghee. Although butter or ghee will make the gravy richer.
Diet Info
Shahi Paneer Recipe (Wealthy & Creamy)
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 331 Energy from Fats 252
% Each day Worth*
Fats 28g43%
Saturated Fats 15g94%
Polyunsaturated Fats 1g
Monounsaturated Fats 2g
Ldl cholesterol 69mg23%
Sodium 46mg2%
Potassium 204mg6%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 294IU6%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin Okay 3µg3%
Calcium 304mg30%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 12µg3%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 40mg10%
Phosphorus 93mg9%
Zinc 1mg7%
* P.c Each day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie weight loss program.
Shahi Paneer recipe from the archives was first printed on January 2013.