Paneer Makhani or Cottage Cheese in a creamy gravy

Being from northern part of India, this a recipe which we make on special occasions. Be it a birthday or wedding, this goes well with anything. It is a little rich for sure but richness comes from cashews which in itself is a very good source of anti oxidants. So even though it is rich, it provides you good nutrition without any guilt.

This recipe has everything good and tasty in it. Be it cottage cheese or cashew nuts. If you want you can add raisins or sugar too. It gives it a hint of sweetness which I really like.

Please try this recipe and let me know how do you like it. Any kind of suggestions or comments are welcome. :)

Ingredients:

100gm Paneer/Cottage Cheese - cut in cubes
1/2 cup cashew nuts - finely grind
4 tomatoes - puree'd
1 green chili - finely chopped
2 tsp of ginger-garlic paste
coriander - finely chopped
2 cups water
1 tbsp butter and little drizzle of oil to stop butter from burning.

Spices:

1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp of garam masala powder
1 tsp of turmeric powder
1 tsp of red chili powder
pinch of asafoetida
1 tbsp of dried kasuri methi
1 tbsp sugar
salt to taste

Recipe:

1. Take a deep pan, add butter and oil. Let it heat over medium heat.
2. Add ginger garlic paste, cook for a minute until raw smell goes out.
3. Add cumin seeds,asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chili powder and green chili.
4. After 15 seconds, add salt, tomato puree' and grind cashew nuts together and cook it until oil starts to separate out from the mixture.

5. Once that is done, add 2 cups water ( adjust according to the consistency you want) and add cottage cheese. (you can fry cottage cheese too before hand. I prefer not too because I try to avoid access oil because of it )

6. Boil it until it reaches the desired consitency.
7. Add sugar, kasuri methi and coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice or poori/roti/chappati.