Paneer Butter Masala Recipe

This paneer butter masala is a curry lover’s dream!! Soft paneer dunked in a creamy, silky, super flavorful and delicious curry. My easy paneer recipe will help you make the best butter paneer that tastes better than anything from a restaurant. Make this once, I am sure you will never order it in a restaurant. Serve it with butter naan, roti or Basmati rice.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Servings4

AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )

For gravy or sauce

1 tablespoon oil
2 green cardamoms (or ¼ to ⅓ tsp ground cardamom, elaichi)
1 cup (120 grams) onions (1 large, chopped)
1½ to 2 cups (350 grams) tomatoes finely chopped (3 medium)
¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
¾ teaspoon sugar (optional)
15 whole cashew nuts (or almonds)
¾ to 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder (or paprika)(adjust for best color)
¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala powder (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon coriander powder (daniya powder) (optional)
1 cup water (to blend)

Whole spices (omit if you don't have)

1 small bay leaf (tej patta)
½ inch cinnamon piece (dalchini) (optional)
2 green cardamom (elaichi) (optional)
3 cloves (laung) (optional)

For Paneer Butter Masala

1½ to 2 tablespoon Butter
1½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste (or ¾ inch ginger, 3 medium garlic cloves, refer notes)
½ cup water (adjust as required, to cook the gravy)
200 to 250 grams paneer (2 heaped cups diced)
1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
3 tablespoon cream (heavy cream, whipping cream or cooking cream)
2 tablespoon coriander leaves (cilantro finely chopped) (for garnish)

How to make the recipe

Preparation

Heat oil in a pan. Add green cardamoms & onions. Stir fry until they turn transparent to light pink. (If you do not have ginger garlic paste for this recipe, you may add chopped ginger and garlic along with onions)
Next add tomatoes & salt. Saute for 3 minutes. Cover and cook till the onion & tomatoes turn soft & completely mushy.
Add garam masala, coriander powder, cashew nuts, red chili powder & sugar (optional).
Stir fry this till the onion tomato masala turns aromatic. This takes 2 to 3 minutes.
Turn off the stove & cool this completely.
Transfer to a blender & pour water. Blend to a really silky smooth puree. If it is not smooth, filter it through a strainer to another bowl. Set this aside.

How to make Paneer Butter Masala

Heat butter in the same pan. Optional - When the butter melts, add cinnamon, cloves, green cardamoms & bay leaf.
Reduce the flame to low, saute ginger garlic paste for a minute until it smells aromatic.
Stir in the blended onion tomato puree. Taste test your puree & optionally you may add more red chili powder for a deeper color.
Pour more water & mix well. Bring it to a rolling boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook covered until the gravy cooks down to a thicker consistency. This step should take you about 10 mins. Keep stirring every few minutes.
You know the gravy is done when it turns thick and traces of fat is visible on the gravy. Taste test and add more salt or garam masala if needed. At this stage optionally you may remove the whole spices using a skimmer.
Lower the flame completely, add cubed paneer. Take kasuri methi to your palm and crush it in between your palms. Sprinkle this.
Mix & cook covered on a low heat for 2 minutes. Turn off and pour cream (save some for garnish) & stir.
Transfer paneer butter masala to a serving bowl. Garnish with more cream & chopped coriander leaves. Serve this with butter naan , Basmati rice or jeera rice.

NUTRITION (estimation only)