Paneer Butter Masala - Dr. Savitra

Paneer Butter Masala, also known as butter paneer is a rich & creamy curry made with paneer, spices, onions, tomatoes, cashews and butter. Both paneer tikka masala and paneer butter masala have the same tomato-based gravy and cashew paste for thickness. But in paneer tikka masala, paneer is marinated by mixing with masala and is roasted until golden brown. While in paneer butter masala, paneer is directly added to the gravy or roasted and added to the gravy. Also, paneer butter masala is slightly sweet in taste whereas paneer tikka masala is spicier.

Ingredients:

2 cups paneer cubes
2 large tomatoes
2 medium onions
4 garlic cloves
3 dried red chilies
8-9 cashews
1-inch ginger
3 bay leaves
3 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
Salt

½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp garam masala
1.5 tsp coriander powder
¼ cup mild cream

Method:

In a pan, add oil and heat it
Add ginger, garlic and red chilies
Once garlic changes color, add onion pieces
Cook until onion turns golden and soft

Add tomato pieces, mix, cover and cook
After 2-3 minutes, add cashew pieces
If cashew pieces are very old, soak them in hot water for 5 minutes, discard water and use cashews (it removes stale smell)
Mix, cover and cook the mixture until tomatoes become very soft
Turn off the stove and cool down the mixture

Grind the mixture to super soft paste
Strain the paste to get rid of seeds and skin
Smooth and silky paste is ready
Keep it aside
In a pan, add butter and bay leaves
Now add 1 cup of finely chopped onions
Saute until onions turn golden brown
Keeping the flame on low, add turmeric powder, red chili powder, salt, garam masala and coriander powder