Degchi
Paneer and bell peppers tossed in a dry-roasted, coarsely-ground coriander-chilli masala — named after the wide wok ('kadai') it's cooked in. Quick, punchy and less saucy than other paneer curries.
Quick answer: 40 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Cottage cheese, Coriander powder, Whole red chilli, Cooking oil · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 300 g 10.5 oz Cottage cheese, cubed
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Coriander powder, coarsely crushed coriander seeds, dry-roasted
- 3 pc 3 pc Whole red chilli, dry-roasted and crushed
- 3 tbsp 3 tbsp Cooking oil
- 1 pc 1 pc Onion, cubed
- 2 pc 2 pc Bell pepper, cubed
- 2 tsp 2 tsp Ginger, paste · julienned, for garnish
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Garlic, paste
- 3 pc 3 pc Tomato, pureed
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Salt, to taste
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Garam masala (Optional)
Steps
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- Dry-roast coriander seeds and whole red chillies in a pan until fragrant, then crush coarsely.⏱ Roasting spices · 2 min
- Heat oil in a kadai or wok; fry cubed onion and bell pepper on high heat for 3 minutes, keeping them crunchy.⏱ Frying veggies · 3 min
- Remove the vegetables and set aside; in the same oil, add ginger-garlic paste and fry a minute.⏱ Frying the paste · 1 min
- Add tomato puree, the crushed spices and salt; cook until the oil separates.⏱ Cooking masala · 7 min
- Return the onion and pepper along with the paneer cubes; toss for 4 minutes on high heat.⏱ Tossing paneer · 4 min
- Sprinkle garam masala and julienned ginger, then serve hot with roti or naan.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Kadai Paneer take?
40 minutes in total: about 15 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking.
Is Kadai Paneer hard to make?
Degchi rates it easy. The method has 6 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Kadai Paneer serve?
This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Kadai Paneer halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Kadai Paneer?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: cooking oil, salt. Spice-box items: coriander powder, whole red chilli. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: cottage cheese, onion, bell pepper, ginger, garlic, tomato.
Any tips for making Kadai Paneer?
Dry-roasting and coarsely crushing your own coriander-chilli masala (instead of using fine powder) is what gives kadai paneer its signature texture.
Notes and questions
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Cooking terms in this recipe: Paneer · Karahi
