One of the numerous benefits of going home to visit my folks is the chance to eat my mum’s wonderful food. She is a great cook. And I know most people think that of their mum’s cooking, but my mum seriously is an amazing cook!
Our plan nowadays involves me watching her make certain dishes, at least one every visit, and writing the recipes down, because, as she likes to remind me, “not in a morbid way or anything”, she won’t be around forever!
This time, I requested a particular dish for Hubby Dearest, who is home alone, pining for us. He often craves for a dish called Shahi Paneer. Shahi is the word associated with the royalty, so it is essentially quite a rich, sumptuous curry with paneer, which is Indian cheese.
Mum had planned to make it for me take home anyway, but the cooking process became a full on tutorial, and I thought I would be a good member of the Blogily, and share the processes.
Please forgive me, but there are no amounts for the ingredients, as my mum uses andaaza. This basically is when you just know! It’s a skill I think many mothers hone over the years while cooking the family favourite dishes!
So here goes…
Ingredients
![2016-03-31_13.02.28.jpg](https://butismileanyway.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/2016-03-31_13-02-28.jpg?w=232&h=232)
Some of the ingredients
Paneer, cubed
Onions, ground to a paste
Cumin seeds
Fresh tomatoes
Tinned chopped tomatoes
Turmeric
Salt
Pepper
Garam masala
Kasoori methi
Milk
Single cream
Cashew nuts
Coriander
Method
- Add a little oil to a large saucepan and heat. Add cumin seeds and onions that have been ground to a paste. Cook on a low heat until the onions start to change colour, to a light golden brown.
- Grind ginger, garlic and chillies and add to the onions, cooking for a few minutes.
- Grind the fresh tomatoes, and blitz the chopped tinned tomatoes too. ( You gotta love the grinder!) Add these to the pan. Be generous with the tomatoes, they help to make a beautiful gravy for this dish.
- At this point, add turmeric, salt, black pepper and garam masala, to taste.
- This mixture needs to simmer gently until it begins to separate, and you see the oil rise to the top. Make sure the tomatoes are cooked well.
- Take a handful of dried Kasoori methi in the palm of your hand and grind it to a sort of powder before adding to the pan. Another Mum tip: Griding the dried leaves with your hands actually releases the flavour better!
- Time to prepare the cashews. Toast a handful of cashew nuts. Mum used the microwave for about 2 minutes… Who knew you could toast nuts in the microwave?! Use a pestle and mortar, or that faithful grinder to grind the nuts then add them to the mixture.
- Using a hand blender blend the masala mixture in the pan. Shahi paneer requires a smooth sauce.
- Add milk during the blending and, and some hot water.Give it a good whizz, then taste, and adjust seasoning if required.
- Add the cream then cook on a low heat for a short while.
- Meanwhile, we need to get the paneer ready.
- Cube the paneer, then lightly fry it until the colour starts to go golden brown. Drain the paneer and add it to the sauce.
- Allow to cook for a few moments then turn off the heat. Sprinkle fresh coriander over the top, and the dish is ready!
Another mum tip, if you are eating straight away that is fine, but if you are planning on allowing it to cool for later, or freezing it, decant into a glass or earthenware container to cool. She is convinced the tomatoes and cream could react to the pan metal.. though she isn’t sure!!!
Enjoy this dish with naan bread.
FIT FOR A KING!
Mum made a huge VAT of this for us, so I will be freezing some too!
Apr 02, 2016 @ 17:09:46
Gosh that looks and sounds delicious, and there are NO Indian food places in my neighborhood. How sad for me!
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Apr 02, 2016 @ 17:18:22
Oh no!! You’ll just have to come to me!
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Apr 02, 2016 @ 17:20:16
I so would! In a heartbeat! I love to eat and chat and laugh 🙂
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Apr 02, 2016 @ 17:39:35
Me too! A match made in heaven!
One day…!
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Apr 01, 2016 @ 06:55:39
Wow, Sis, you could start a cook blog! Fantastic post! Have to print it when I am home! Hope I don’t forget!
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Apr 01, 2016 @ 07:07:11
😊 let me know if you try and make it!
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Apr 01, 2016 @ 07:12:29
For sure!!!! 🙂
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 23:09:09
you’re so lucky, my mum is not a great cook, never was
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 23:11:11
You wanna come share mine ? 😊
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Apr 01, 2016 @ 00:31:16
sure :-), just don’t make mine too spicy
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Apr 01, 2016 @ 00:34:19
No worries … that’s where I don’t fit the Indian stereotype… I can’t do spice or chilli! !!
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Apr 01, 2016 @ 01:19:20
lol
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 19:26:03
Yum is right. Not sure I’ve ever seen Paneer, is there an equivalent cheese that would work ? Is it mild or sharp ? Thanks, Ritu.
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 19:33:36
You can get it in the supermarkets in the international cheese section or mum says baked ricotta could work.
Alternatively if you have any Indian grocery shops they stock it 😊
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:55:20
😱 I’m drooling Ritu 🙀
Wish you could upload the cooked result onto your blog for us to download and enjoy for dinner tonight LOL 🐵
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 17:12:34
I’m I’m Birmingham… its not that far from Manchester! !! Come on over!!!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 17:17:23
LOLOLOL 😘
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 17:18:45
Indian household remember! A guest is God! ! 😁
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 18:21:48
Especially a large hirsute one with long pointy fangs 😄😄😄🐵
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 18:53:39
Have you seen half my family? ?!! 😂😂😂🐒🐵
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:33:38
Maam!
Seeing all this makes my mouth water.
I only wish it was on my Dinning table..
Fully involved to eat it.
Shiva
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:35:34
Lol!!! Maybe one day. ..!!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:40:50
One day may become several days cause I know it shall be served with lots of LOVE.
Isn’t?
Shiva
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 17:10:49
😊
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 18:44:35
m hungry 😦
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 18:54:27
If only you were all closer! !!!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 19:23:50
yeah i wish .. although for this dish you know how mad punjabi’s are ..
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 19:25:44
Oh I know! !! My husband loves it!!!!
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Apr 04, 2016 @ 11:21:44
hahahahah .. good for him .. 🙂
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Apr 04, 2016 @ 12:29:11
😊
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:31:51
You made me do it! I figured out how to save posts on WP so that I could find this recipe again. I have been thinking of doing that for a long time, but this recipe made me finally set a list. Thanks!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:35:11
Well I’m flattered that this post made you do that !
You must let me know if you try it! !!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:44:19
I will certainly do that.
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 17:11:08
I look forward to the results!!!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:28:30
Lucky you! I will have to make this sometime. Indian food is my absolute favorite and I make it frequently. When I replenish my dals, etc. I always chat with the owner of the store, since she, like your mom, has great tips for all kinds of dishes. 😀
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:29:53
There are so many tips!
I say to my mum, we need to compile them.. and have a little publication! 🙂
Let me know if you try it, and how it goes!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:31:48
Will do! I make something similar with spinach. If your mom makes pickle, I’d love to see what kind and how she makes it!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:34:15
She does all sorts of chutneys and pickles… my mother in law too! I’ll get the recipes!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:35:31
Thanks! I am looking forward to that! 💐
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:36:14
😊
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:11:55
Oh my goodness your mum and my mum should get together and cook.. My mum is such a wonderful cook too!! She makes the best Malaysian food. Yum.. 🙂
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:27:19
Yum!!!!!! That would be a great fusion!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:28:34
Definitely! 🙂
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 16:29:59
🙂
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 15:51:31
I thought you were on a diet…
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 15:55:06
Its not for me… the Hubby! I’ll just be heating and tasting… that’s what I call it, anyway!! ;P
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 15:56:08
Cheating!
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Mar 31, 2016 @ 15:58:14
😜😜😜
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Apr 01, 2016 @ 19:30:36
lol
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