Mutter Paneer, T&T Snakegourd Poriyal/Kura

It took me some time to realise "Less is More"! If you are wondering what I am talking about, it is about the number of columns I was considering in my new template! Though my older one wasn't that bad, I wanted a change. I strongly follow the mantra "Variety is the spice of Life" (although there are exceptions ;) ) Hope you like this new look; please do let me know if there is room for any improvisation!

Coming to our recipe for today, Mutter Paneer is one of those favorite dishes we like to order when eating out. I hadn't considered making it at home, but then one fine day I was bored with the usual Paneer Butter Masala and wanted some different side for the rotis. Hence presenting you the yummy "Mutter Paneer"..

Mutter Paneer
Indian Cottage cheese and Green Peas cooked in rich creamy gravy
Serves 2

What we need:
Paneer - 150 g, cut into 1" inch cubes
Green Peas - 1 cup, frozen/fresh
Onion, big - 1
Tomato, big - 1
Tomato puree - 2 tbsp.
Ginger-Garlic paste - 1 tbsp.
Kasoori Methi (Dry fenugreek leaves) - 4 to 5 tsp., crushed
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp.
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp.
Coriander powder - 1 tsp.
Cumin powder - 1 tsp.
Garam Masala - a pinch
Cumin - 1 tsp.
Salt - according to taste
Heavy cream - 3 to 4 tbsp.
Butter/Ghee - 1 tbsp.
Water - as needed

How to do:
1. Blanch the Onions (i.e. boil them as whole in water for 10 minutes with vetical slits) and grind them to a smooth paste. Chop the tomatoes finely. If you are using fresh green peas, cook/microwave them till they are soft.
2. Heat ghee or butter in a pan and fry the paneer cubes till they start to turn brown. Drain and keep them in warm water.
3. In the remaining ghee/butter, add the cumin seeds. Whey they crackle, add the ground onion paste, followed by ginger-garlic paste and salt.
4. Fry till the mixture turns brown and the raw smell of garlic starts to leave.
5. Now add the tomato, tomato puree (diluted with little water). Fry till the oil starts to separate.
6. Stir in all the dry powders except garam masala and half of the Kasoori Methi and give a good mix.
7. Now add green peas and half a cup of water. Bring to a boil, and add the paneer pieces.
8. Sprinkle the remaining Kasoori Methi, garam masala and add the heavy cream. Mix well and remove from stove top after a minute.

Garnish with fresh chopped coriander and serve with roti, naan or parathas.

Note:
I add chopped tomato to give a texture; you can also omit it and increase the tomato puree.
Be generous when adding cream, it gives a really good taste and texture.
For added spicy tasty, add some chopped green chillies in step 3.

T&T - Snakegourd/Podalangai Poriyal/Kura from Rak's kitchen and Prathiba's blog

Snake-gourd or podalangai falls under the not-so-interesting category for DH. He doesn't fuss, but from his consumption, it will be evident that he doesn't prefer it either. So I was determined to make him like this vegetable. So when Raji and Prathiba posted two different varieties of the same poriyal, I decided to give both a try.

Raji's version:
I add either coconut or onion but not both. So Raji's version was new to me. Adding some dal to the vegetable made it all the more healthy and tasty. It was a welcome change for the usual Poriyal I make and both of us loved it! Thanks Raji dear, for sharing it!

Prathiba's version:
Adding coconut wasn't new, but grinding them along with green chillies and then adding them was something that caught my attention in Prathiba's kura. Turmeric powder altered the boring smell of the vegetable and coconut-green chilli mix enhanced the taste many folds, and made the kura utterly yummy. So thanks Prathy, we both enjoyed every bit of it!
So that's all for now folks! See you all soon! Till then, Happy Cooking, happy Eating and Happy Blogging!

31 comments:

Shama Nagarajan said...

yummy delights

Pari Vasisht said...

The new look looks good, I agree u need change, the paneer looks delectable, makes me even more hungry. It's dinner time must rush.

Padhu Sankar said...

The new look of your blog is great. One second, I thought- Is there some other Rohini,then I saw the curries and spices on the address bar and realized that you have changed the template.I prepare paneer mutter in the same way but will not add the Kasoori methi and heavy cream.

Sandhya Hariharan said...

Lovely template.. Change is anytime acceptable and more welcum...

Heyy btw.. when I click on ur Awards tab.. it takes me to my home page.. strange isnt it...

Paneer Mutter is yumm...I dont have a std recipe for it.. Just do it the way i feel like.. Its always well...

Kanchan said...

Hey nice look :)
Loved your earlier version too, was very clean and neat ! Will take some time to get accustomed to change ;)

Btw as Sandhya mentioned your Award tab takes me to my blogger home, so guess some code n bug finding on :)

Vrinda said...

Yummy mutter paneer and liked both versions,perfect side dish with rice...

priya said...

mutter paneer looks absolutely yummy!...tempting clicks, dear!

Latha said...

Tempting mutter paneer. Lovely template :).

Unknown said...

Nice template!!!The mutter panner sounds wonderful,tempting and warming! Perfect with any bread! nice side dish dear..both the version sounds gr8..:)

Saraswathy Balakrishnan said...

Very nice template my dear..the panner looks very yummy yum yum :)

SE said...

hey nice template..and matar paneer looks delicious..nice varieties with the gourd vegetable.!

Tina said...

Nice template dear..Both looks fabulous.....

Rekha shoban said...

looks creamy...yum yum

Unknown said...

All the dishes look so tempting, love the new layout.

Sushma Mallya said...

love the new look of your blog,looks great and mutter paneer too looks delicious ...

Cool Lassi(e) said...

Hey,
I ate this with Butter Naan yesterday. Looks yummy.

gtyuk said...

I love paneer dishes for rotis too, your mutter paneer looks good along with your tried podalangai varieties, both lokk nice, and your new template too!!! besides I'll have to follow your mantra too :):)

Sreelekha Sumesh said...

Such a yummy curry..Nice template da..:)

Raks said...

I love mutter paneer over paneer butter masala! Nice recipe and thanks for trying out and liking my version of poriyal :)

lata raja said...

Rovi, new look has come out good. Now don't worry if you did not leave a comment or so in my recipes,it is not as though you would not check on me. I have had enough days when, i mean to do something and failed on account of other stuff. You keep blogging good food and we shall all enjoy each others recipes.

prasu said...

wow...love the new look of ur blog dear.......mutter paneer looks vreamy and rich.

Jeyashris Kitchen said...

nice template rohini.what a coincidence,i too planned to post mutter paneer this time.Always my fav one.nice texture

my kitchen said...

Mutter paneer looks great,yummy pudalangai

Dolly Sharma said...

Love ur template. Ur Mattar Paneer looks yummy...

Ash said...

Hey a new look! Yay! I love it when the look changes.... Now it is very simple, yet ELEGANT.... I like that, in life..... Gr8 going..... And yes that matar paneer looks simply mind blowing....as it has come out be perfect....

Ash.......
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Anonymous said...

wake me up in deep sleep and ask me abt matar paneer, u wud never hear a NO from me..looks like a real treat

Priya dharshini said...

luv this paneer mutter..wish to try it..

Dhanya Ganesh said...

Matter paneer looks delicious ,perfect with some rice.

Anupama said...

Nice outlook Ro! The mattar paneer is sooooooooooo creamy that naan appadiye saaptuduven... another recipe that is going in to my bookmarks! :)

Recipeswap said...

Paneer looks amazing!nice new look.

Perspectivemedley said...

yummmmmmy!! :)... looks delicious!