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Overhead photograph of paneer butter masala, also called paneer makhani, in a bowl of creamy orange curry garnished with fresh herbs.

Indian · openly licensed

Paneer Butter Masala

Paneer butter masala also known as paneer makhani is a vegetarian dish from India that is also popular in the west. The dish combines paneer in a sauce quite similar to that of butter chicken.

25 minutes2Level 2

Gather first

Ingredients

  • Ghee or oil
  • 200 g paneer
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 tsp ginger paste
  • 5 tsp garlic paste
  • 1 capsicum, diced
  • 2 tomatoes, diced
  • 1 tsp ghee
  • 5 tsp hing powder
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 500 g natural (plain) yoghurt

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Make it

Method

  1. Fry paneer in ghee or oil, and set aside in a bowl.
  2. Sauté onion in oil with garlic and ginger paste until golden brown.
  3. Add diced capsicum and tomatoes.
  4. In a separate pan combine ghee, hing, cardamom, turmeric, garam masala, chilli powder, lemon juice, and cumin.
  5. Fry for 2 minutes, then add yoghurt.
  6. Cook on medium heat for five minutes.
  7. Add onions, capsicum, tomatoes, and paneer.
  8. Cook on low heat for 15 minutes occasionally stirring.
  9. Serve with rotis or naan and rice.