Matar Paneer (Green Peas with cottage cheese)

What a rich and delicious recipe it is. The gravy prepared in it just too yummy. My husband is not a great lover of peas and cottage cheese both but when the veggie is prepared this way he simply loves it.

Let us start cooking!!!

Ingredients:
Green peas: 1 cup
Cottage cheese: 50 gm (cut into small cubes)
Onion: 1 medium (roughly chopped)
Tomatoes: 2 medium (roughly chopped)
Garlic: 2-3 cloves
Ginger: 1 tsp grated
Cloves (laung): 2-3
Black peppercorns (kali mirch): 3-4
Cinnamon powder: ½ tsp
Cashews: 4-5
Green coriander leaves: 1 tbsp (washed and chopped)
Chat masala: 1 tsp
Ghee: 2 tbsp
Asafetida: a pinch
Mustard seeds: ½ tsp
Cumin seeds: ½ tsp
Fresh cream: 1 tbsp
Sugar: a pinch
Kasoori methi: ¼ tsp
Red chilli powder: ½ tsp
Coriander powder: 1 tsp
Turmeric powder: ¼ tsp
Salt as per taste
Water: 1 cup

Method:
1. In a grinder, grind together, tomatoes, onion, ginger, garlic, cashews, coriander leaves, laung, kali mirch, dalchini powder, chat masala, to a fine paste.
2. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Add asafetida and mustard seeds. Let them splutter.
3. Now add cumin seeds and fry for a few seconds.
4. Add the mixture just made.
5. Let it cook till the ghee separates from the mixture.
6. Now add water. Let it boil.
7. Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt. Let it cook for a few minutes.
8. Now add the peas and close the lid of cooker.
9. Let the cooker blow 1 whistle on high flame and 3 on low.
10. Let the pressure release by itself.
11. Add fresh cream, sugar and kasoori methi. Mix well.
12. Add paneer cubes and cook for 1-2 minutes.
13. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with naans, kulcha etc.

Tips:
1. After adding paneer, do not cook for too long as this will make the paneer hard.
2. I prefer making it directly in cooker as the procedure becomes quite fast.
3. The quantity of water can vary depending upon the consistency of the gravy you require.

See you soon with a new recipe till then Happy Cooking!!!