Matar Paneer Curry ( Green Peas & Cottage Cheese ) Recipe
I have grown up eating this dish, it’s a regular at our home especially when green peas are in abundance. Matar Paneer can be prepared in many different ways, I am sharing here a very easy and simple recipe that is my version of this dish. This can be prepared anytime, it goes real well with any Indian bread like tandoori roti or Naan.
I deliberately not use any cream or more spices to this recipe however it can be made with lots of cream and dry roasted spices. Since I was a working mom, I preferred quick recipes and the ones that were too easy and not complicated. So all you need for this simple yet delicious matar paneer is few onions, tomatoes, garlic and of course green peas and cottage cheese and not to miss an empty tummy 
.
Here is a step by step pictorial presentation of the dish which shows how I prepared it and how simple and quick it is.
All you need to do is take a mixer jar add in onions,tomatoes and garlic (you can add in garlic too) and grind to make a smooth paste. Take a pressure cooker, add oil and the onion tomato paste, mix and let is cook for few minutes, add in the dry spices and when you see the paste is leaving the sides of the cooker then your paste is ready. Now add in green peas and pressure cook it with 1 cup water till 2 -3 whistles, lower the gas flame after first whistle. After about 15 minutes switch off the flame and let the peas rest in steam for 5 -7 minutes.
Open the pressure cooker, stir ones and add in the cubes of cheese, mix gently and let it simmer on low flame for 7 minutes. If you feel to add little water at this point, add approx 2 -3 tablespoons of water only if required. Switch of the flame and your delicious Matar Paneer is ready to serve.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with any bread or boiled rice.
Ingredients
- • Paneer cubed - 2 cups
- • Peas shelled - 1 cup
- • Onions - 2 large size
- • Tomatoes - 4 medium size
- • Ginger paste - 1 teaspoon
- • Red chili powder – ¼ teaspoon ( I used kashmiri mirch, its more red in color )
- • Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon
- • Garam masala – ½ teaspoon
- • Turmeric powder – ½ teaspoon
- • Oil – 2 tablespoons
- • Water – 1 cup
- • Salt to taste
- • Coriander leaves chopped fine to garnish
Instructions
- Grind onions, tomatoes and garlic together to form a fine paste.
- Take a pressure cooker and heat oil, add the onion tomato paste to it and stir.
- Fry this paste on low flame for about 5 -7 minutes or till you see the paste is leaving the sides of the vessel easily and color changed to red.
- Add all the dry spices into the paste and stir again.
- Add the peas to the masala and fry for 2 -3 minutes and add 1 cup water to it.
- Now close the lid of the pressure cooker and allow the peas to cook to about 2 -3 whistles, lower the flame after the first whistle. Let the peas be cooked on low flame in the cooker for about 15 minutes. Please ensure you add enough water that the peas and the paste are well soaked in it. If the water is less then the peas can stick to the bottom of the cooker and burn.
- Switch off the flame after 15 minutes and let the peas sit in steam for about few minutes. Open the lid and add in the cubed cheese to the gravy.
- Stir gently and let it simmer on low flame for 5 -7 minutes.
- Serve hot after garnishing with coriander leaves.
Have this delicious & easy Matar Paneer dish with your loved ones!!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
i make it exactly like this except for adding cumin to the tempering. the bright orangish color is looking too good.
Thank you dear, cumin definitely adds to the flavour but I don’t add cumin separately because in my garam masala powder I keep the quantity of cumin seeds on a higher side.
This dish is tempting and very nice colours. Lipsmacking good.
Hey thanks Sanoli, glad you liked it, this is one of the fav dishes at home!
yummilicious and droolworthy recipe.
Thank you so much Indu, glad you liked it
U have a nice blog.you can visit my blog and give ur valuable comments.
Hey thanks again, moving onto your space now…see you there
That looks so inviting. I love the copper kadai
Hey thanks Spandana, even I am too fond of these