- Submitted by Dahlia
(Mughlai Paneer, Kaju Paneer)
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-M2.jpg)
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Mughlai Shahi Paneer is an exotic dish made with soft Paneer (Indian Cheese) that is cooked in a rich, creamy onion-cashew sauce. In this onion is boiled instead of sauteeing to retain the white colour of the gravy. It is a popular dish in all restaurants. It is an excellent combination with Shahi Pulav, Jeera Pulav, Naan, Kulcha and other Indian bread varieties. It is one dish I love making for parties and all the guests enjoy it.
Paneer is an all time favourite among vegetarian and non-veg eaters. Kids absolutely love all paneer based dishes. This Shahi Paneer is a Mughlai speciality. It is a mild, pale white coloured, creamy, delicious gravy. There is another variation made in Punjab side that has a orangish sauce. Tomatoes are added in that. I'll share that some other time. For now, do enjoy this White Shahi Paneer.
Recipe for Mughlai Shahi Paneer
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- Paneer (cubed) – 200 gms or 1.5 cups cubed (homemade/ store bought)
- Cashew (or Almonds) – 1/4 cup (15 to 20 nos.)
- Onion – 1 big (about 1 cup chopped)
- Green Chilies - 2
- Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
- Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
- Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
- Pepper powder (preferably white pepper) - 1/2 tsp (or to taste)
- Black Cumin seeds (Shahi Jeera) - 1/2 tsp
- Bay Leaf - 1
- Yogurt - 1/2 cup
- Milk - 1/4 cup
- Fresh Cream - 2 to 4 tbsp
- Salt – to taste
- Sugar - a pinch
- Oil – 2 tbsp
- Kasuri Methi - 1/2 tsp
- Saffron - few strands
Method
- Take some water in a sauce pan. Add roughly chopped onions, green chilies and cashews to this. Bring to a boil, simmer for couple of minutes and switch off.
- Cool it a bit and grind it in a blender to form a smooth paste.
- Soak the saffron strands in some warm milk.
- Heat oil in a pan, add bay leaf and splutter black cumin seeds. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for a minute.
- Add the onion-cashew paste and cook for about 5 minutes till oil starts separating.
- Add the beaten yogurt along with cumin powder and garam masala to this and cook for couple of minutes.
- Next add the saffron soaked milk. Add water as needed and bring it to a boil.
- Add salt, sugar and pepper powder to the gravy and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the paneer cubes to the gravy and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Finally reduce the heat to low, add crushed kasuri methi and fresh cream. Simmer for another 5 minutes and switch off.
- Garnish with few saffron strands or with toasted cashews and enjoy.
Detailed Steps to make Mughlai Shahi Paneer
Take some water in a sauce pan. Add roughly chopped onions, green chilies and cashews to this.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step02.jpg)
Bring to a boil, simmer for couple of minutes and switch off.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step03.jpg)
Cool it a bit and grind it in a blender to form a smooth paste.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step05.jpg)
Soak the saffron strands in some warm milk.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step08.jpg)
Heat oil in a pan, add bay leaf and splutter black cumin seeds. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for a minute.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step06.jpg)
Add the onion-cashew paste and cook for about 5 minutes till oil starts separating.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step07.jpg)
Add the beaten yogurt to this and cook for couple of minutes.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step09.jpg)
Next add the saffron soaked milk, cumin powder and garam masala . Add water as needed and bring it to a boil.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step10.jpg)
Add salt, sugar and pepper powder to the gravy and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step11.jpg)
Add the paneer cubes to the gravy and cook for another 10 minutes.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step12.jpg)
Finally reduce the heat to low, add crushed kasuri methi and fresh cream. Simmer for another 5 minutes and switch off.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step13.jpg)
Garnish with few saffron strands or with toasted cashews and enjoy.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer Preparation Steps](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-Step14.jpg)
Tips
- Chicken/ Fish can be used instead of paneer for the non veg version of the gravy.
- You can also use tomatoes and red chili powder instead of yogurt and pepper. The colour of the gravy will change to orange red in that case. This variation is the Punjabi Shahi Paneer.
![Mughlai Shahi Paneer](/portals/0/sirimages/Mughlai-Shahi-Paneer-M.jpg)
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