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Methi malai paneer curry

Methi malai paneer | Methi paneer gravy

Sangskitchen
Methi malai paneer or Methi paneer is a rich and creamy milk-based gravy made with paneer(cottage cheese), fresh methi leaves and milk or cream. This rich gravy is the best pair for naan, roti and parathas.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Gravies, Side Dish
Cuisine Indian, Punjabi
Servings 4
Calories 380 kcal

Equipment

  • Cooking pan
  • Non-stick pan
  • Blender

Ingredients
  

To toss & add:

  • 1 tbsp Butter
  • 250 g Paneer
  • 2 cups Methi leaves

To sauté & grind:

  • 1 tsp butter
  • 2 tsp gg paste
  • ½ Onion roughly chopped
  • 1 Tomato
  • 5 whole Cashews

To the gravy:

  • 2 tsp Butter
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 2 Cinnamon barks
  • 2 Cardamom
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder
  • ¾ tsp Coriander powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp Sugar optional
  • 1 tsp Cumin powder
  • ½ tsp Garam masala
  • 1 cup Full-fat milk or ¼ cup Fresh milk cream

Instructions
 

Recipe:

    Butter saute paneer and Methi leaves:

    • Heat a tbsp of butter in a large, shallow fry pan(preferably non-stick) and add the paneer cubes. Quickly and gently toss them in butter. Basically, we are not cooking the paneer but just quick sautéing for 30 seconds. This step makes the soft paneer a little firm and if you like soft paneer in your malai gravy, you can skip frying paneer in butter. Just move on to the next step.
      saute methi
    • Add the fresh methi leaves and saute them with paneer for 2 to 3mins until the leaves become soft and cooked. Transfer paneer and methi to another plate.
      methi paneer

    How to make methi paneer gravy:

    • Add one tsp of butter to the same pan and add 2tsp gg paste(6 garlic and a piece of ginger), 1/2 roughly chopped onions, 1 tomato and 5 whole cashews. Mix with butter, keep the heat to medium, cover with a lid and cook for 5mins.
      tomato & cashews
    • In the hot butter steam, the onions will brown and the tomato will be soft. Switch off and let the contents cool down. Grind into a smooth paste without using water and keep ready.
      grind the masala
    • Next, heat a tsp of butter(you can use ghee) again, fry 1 bay leaf, 2 cardamoms and cinnamon bark. Add the tomato cashew onion paste to the pan with a tsp of Kashmiri chilli powder and 3/4 tsp of coriander powder.
      add masalas to Methi malai paneer
    • Mix well and cook the gravy for a minute. When the butter comes to the top, add a cup of water and cook again for 5mins. Also add a tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of cumin powder and 1/2 tsp of garam masala. 1/2 tsp of sugar for mild sweetish malai gravy. I didn't add as we like the gravy a little bit spicy.
      add salt,garam,cumin powder
    • When the gravy is bubbly add the sautéed paneer and methi leaves. Mix well, add a cup of whole milk(1/4 cup fresh cream) and cook for a minute.
      add milk/cream to Methi malai paneer
    • Switch off and serve with naan, roti, or parathas. You can garnish with a dash of cream before serving.
      Methi malai paneer gravy

    Video

    Notes

    Tips:
    1) For me whole full-fat milk works fine and you can replace it with half and a half or little fresh cream.
    2) Skip tossing paneer in butter if you like soft paneer cubes. Also, please keep store-bought paneer in warm water for 10mins before using.
    3) If you don't get fresh methi leaves in your place, replace it with dried fenugreek leaves( Kasuri methi 1/2 dried in place of 2 cups fresh). And for dried leaves skip frying in butter and add directly to the gravy.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 380kcal
    Keyword Biryani with paneer, Methi malai paneer, methi paneer, Roti sidedish
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