Tawa Paneer Masala (No Onion No Garlic)
Tawa Paneer Masala is a spicy, tangy, and flavorful paneer recipe without onion and garlic. It is made on a tawa using fresh vegetables, aromatic spices, and soft paneer cubes. This street-style paneer masala is semi-dry, quick to prepare, and ideal as an appetizer, side dish, or as a standalone protein-rich meal.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon asafoetida
- 1 inch ginger peeled and grated (or ginger paste)
- ½ cup finely chopped celery
- ¼ cup finely chopped green pepper
- ¼ cup finely chopped yellow or orange bell pepper
- 3 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
- 350 g paneer cubes
- Salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder or to taste
- 1 teaspoon pav bhaji masala or to taste
- 1 teaspoon Kasoori methi
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
- Lime or lemon juice to taste
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a tawa, skillet, or frying pan. Add cumin seeds, and once they start to sizzle, add asafoetida and ginger.
- Saute for a few seconds and add chopped celery. Cook the celery for 2-3 minutes, and add chopped green peppers and bell peppers.
- Mix well and continue cooking over medium to high heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add chopped tomatoes and mix well. Then, add salt, turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, and pav bhaji masala.
- Mix everything well and continue cooking until tomatoes are soft and mushy, about 7-8 minutes.
- Now, mash the tomato mixture with a potato masher until everything is well combined and the mixture has a thick, gravy-like consistency.
- Add paneer cubes, mix gently and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add Kasoori methi, chopped cilantro, lime or lemon juice, and salt to taste and mix well.
- Turn off the heat and transfer the Tawa Paneer Masala to a serving bowl or plate.
Notes
- Tawa: If you don't have a tawa, you can still make this delicious dish. Use a cast iron pan, frying pan, skillet, or Kadai.
- Butter: You can use your choice of cooking oil instead of butter.
- Vegetables: You can add more or fewer vegetables to suit your taste. Add other chopped vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, or boiled green peas.
- Paneer: For the best results, use Malai paneer. If you make paneer at home, use only full-fat or whole milk. However, if you are following a low-calorie diet, use low-fat paneer.
- Spices: Add spices according to your preferred level of spiciness. You can also add chopped green chilis or chili paste and reduce the amount of red chili powder.
- Pav Bhaji Masala: Pav bhaji masala adds a unique flavor to the dish, making it taste like authentic street food. However, if you don't have pav bhaji masala, you can substitute it with garam masala.
Nutrition (Approximate Values)
Calories : 275kcalCarbohydrates : 6gProtein : 13gFat : 23gSaturated Fat : 13gPolyunsaturated Fat : 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat : 0.3gCholesterol : 58mgSodium : 41mgPotassium : 202mgFiber : 1gSugar : 2gVitamin A : 512IUVitamin C : 15mgCalcium : 450mgIron : 1mg
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