Paneer Lababdar Recipe

Paneer Lababdar is prepared in a thick onion-tomato based rich cashew-nut gravy . Spices like cinnamon, cardamom and aromatic fenugreek leaves add to heavenly combination of paneer/cottage cheese cubes dipped in creamy and spicy gravy.

Paneer/ Cottage cheese, a vegetarian delight is a high-protein food and also a good source of calcium.

I have used a combination of almonds and cashew nuts for adding thickness to gravy. Also, I have used toned milk instead of cream to give it a creamy texture. Lower the quantity of red chilli powder to half  if you are making it for your kid.

Serves: 3-4 persons

INGREDIENTS

• 250 Grams Paneer (Cottage Cheese)
• 2 Medium Onion (Chopped)
• 4 Medium Tomatoes (Chopped)
• 1 1/2 Tsp ( Grated ) Ginger
• 2 Tsp Garlic (Chopped)
• 7 Cashew Nuts + 7 Almonds (Soaked In Lukewarm Water for 40-50 mins)
• 6 pieces of Green Cardamom (Elaichi)
• 1 1/2 ” Piece Of Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini)
• 1/4 Tsp Turmeric Powder (Haldi)
• 1 Tsp Cumin Seeds powder ( Bhuna Jeera )
• 2 Tsp Coriander Powder ( Pisi Dhaniya)
• 1 Tsp Degi Red Chilli Powder (Lal Mirch Powder)
• 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala
• 1 Tsp (Crushed) Fenugreek Leaves (Kasoori Methi)
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 1 Tsp Sugar
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Cooking Oil
• Salt as per Taste

METHOD

1. Dry roast cinnamon stick and cardamom on a hot tava. Grind it with soaked cashew nuts. Use a few teaspoons of water if you face difficulty in getting a paste-like consistency.
2. Similarly, dry roast fenugreek leaves and crush it gently with fingers.
3. Heat oil in a kadai and add garlic. Sauté for a few seconds and add onion and ginger.
4. Cook the ingredients with a pinch of salt till it starts to turn brownish in color. It will take around 8-10 minutes.
5. Add cashew-nut paste to kadai and saute for a few seconds.
6. Subsequently, add chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, cumin seeds powder, coriander powder, degi red chilli powder, garam masala and salt. Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for 8-10 minutes.
7. Turn off the flame and let mixture cool down. Transfer the contents to a jar and blitz the mixture to obtain a paste.
8. Again heat the kadai and transfer mixture to it. Add milk and sugar and stir the contents of kadai. You can adjust seasoning at this stage.
9. Cook  for 5-7 minutes till gravy starts to thicken.
10. Add cottage cheese cubes and sprinkle kasoori methi. Cook for 2 minutes and turn off the flame.
11. Transfer contents to a serving bowl and serve paneer lababdar with tandoori roti /any Indian flat-bread of your choice.