Chettinad Paneer Masala - Paneer Recipes

You may wonder if one such dish exist, paneer has no connection with south Indian classics.. but why not ?? Try this crazy combination…. plain paneer tossed in my authentic chettinad blend, another simple but exquisite preparation under my roof.

Panner Masala / Chettinad Paneer Curry / Chettinad Curry / South Indian Paneer Curry / Masala

Ingredients-1
20 cubes	Paneer cubes
6	Sambar onion (whole)
1 cup	Onion (chopped)
1/2 cup	Tomato (chopped)
3 cloves	Garlic
1 inch	Ginger
1	Green chili (minced)
½ teaspoon	Turmeric powder
6	Curry leaves(tempering)
3 teaspoons	Coriander leaves (for garnishing)
2	Bay leaf (small)
3 tablespoons	Oil
1½ teaspoon	Salt (or to taste)

Ingredients-2
6 (long)	Dry red chili
2 tablespoons	Coriander seeds
1 teaspoon	Cumin seeds
1 teaspoon	Fennel seeds
1 teaspoon	Black pepper corns
2 teaspoons	Split roasted gram / pottukadalai
2	Cloves
1	Cinnamon (1/2 ” stick)
1	Cardamom
1 teaspoon	Poppy seeds
1	Mace flower(just one petal)
3 pinch	Nutmeg powder
4	Curry leaves (for grinding)
a few	Coriander leaves (for grinding)
2 tablespoons	Dry coconut flakes/ desiccated / coparai thengai

Lets see how to make this Chettinad Paneer Masala …

List of Must haves for this recipe… Sambar Vengayam/ Shallots / Baby onions + the above mentioned spice powder + fresh curry leaves

Paneer doesn’t have much flavor of its own, it totally relies on the aroma of the above mentioned ingredients. So absolutely no substitutes pls…….

In a wide frying pan, toast each spice mentioned in table-2 (Dry red chili, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, black pepper powder, mace, nutmeg, poppy seeds, split roasted gram and curry leaves) for couple of minutes or until you can smell the aroma. Do not over brown them, always toast over low flame. Dry coconut has to be toasted separately until it turns light brown. Let them cool, then grind them along with coriander leaves to a fine coarse paste and keep aside.

In a thick sauce pan, heat oil and sizzle the curry leaves followed by bay leaf and kalpasi. Now add whole sambar onions along with regular minced onions, green chili and fry for 6 minutes. When it becomes tender add the crushed ginger, garlic and tomatoes. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes to make the tomatoes mushy. Now add the ground masala, turmeric powder, salt and keep frying until the oil separate. Now cube fresh paneer and add it to the masala. Stir-fry to coat and garnish with coriander leaves. Switch off and serve hot.

This curry goes well with light mixed vegetable pulav / Brinji / Fluffy rotis / Parathas / Excellent stuffing for Dosa.

Notes