When you talk of Indian Restaurants, there are a few dishes that will always pop in your mind – Paneer Tikka Masala, Paneer Makhni, Paneer Butter Masala and also the same dishes, but with chicken. What makes these dishes so alluring and lip smacking? It’s the aromatic tomato sauce/gravy. If you get that right, you can make these dishes effortlessly at home. Here is a detailed recipe of Makhni Sauce that I had shared earlier. It’s a keeper. So, go ahead and give it a try! By the way, the sauce also works amazingly on wraps with grilled chicken or veggie. Paneer, as we all know, is one of the most preferred vegetarian options for rich curries. It’s often either Paneer or Cauliflower but do a survey and you will realize that paneer tops the list. We eat Paneer at least once a week, mostly in forms of curry. It is fast cooking and packed with protein.
What Makes Paneer Butter Masala so tasty?
Paneer Butter Masala is also sometimes known a Paneer Makhni! The name might give you a feeling that it’s the addition of butter. Well, butter does make everything better but, it’s the spices that go in along with the creamy tomato puree in this curry which do the magic.
Kasoori Methi (Dried Fenugreek Leaves)- This is one of the key spices that make the gravy so aromatic. You absolutely need it and cannot replace it with any other spice mix.Whole Spices – Cinnamon Stick, Cardamom, Fennel and Cumin Seeds.Ground Spices – Cumin Powder, Fennel Powder, Kashmiri Chili Powder, Garam Masala Powder and Cinnamon Powder.
While most of the people don’t add Cinnamon Powder in this curry but I learnt this many year back from a friend and it elevates the taste to a whole new level. It adds a mild sweetness to the overall taste of the curry.
Tomato Puree – The rich red hue of the gravy comes from Tomato Puree. If its peak season for tomatoes, surely make tomato puree at home. But if not, use the canned puree. I always use canned puree for these rich curries as it gives the absolute best color to the Paneer Butter Masala.
Whether you pair it with rice or bread, this restaurant style rich creamy Paneer Butter Masala is a treat. And it can be made quite effortlessly, even on busy weeknight.
Here are some more Paneer Recipes for you to try:
Matar Paneer Spicy Chili Paneer Badami Paneer (Paneer In Almond Gravy) Paneer Bhurji Curry
