MyMusingsSangSpeak-Pet Puja - Paneer Bhurji (Cottage Cheese Scramble)

Paneer Bhurji (Cottage Cheese Scramble)

Paneer Bhurji is one of the simplest yet most tasty Punjabi recipes. It is vegetarian recipe and resembles the Anda Bhurji a lot. Paneer Bhurji will taste better if you prepare the paneer (cottage cheese) at home. Paneer is made by tearing the milk (this is the literal English translation of Dudh Phaadnaa in Hindi language); jokes apart, it is actually curdling milk by boiling and adding some acidic agent.

Ingredients

Milk - Half litre

Lemon juice - 1 teaspoon (You can substitute with white vinegar)

Onion - 1 chopped

Tomato- 1 medium chopped

Oil - 1 tablespoon

Mustard Seeds - ¼ teaspoon

Turmeric Powder - ¼ teaspoon

Red Chilly Powder - ¼ teaspoon

Garam Masala Powder - ¼ teaspoon

Salt - As per taste

Fresh Coriander leaves - 1 teaspoon, finely chopped (optional)

Method

Bring milk to a boil and add lemon juice/vinegar. Boil for further 1-2 minutes so that the milk is completely curdled. Allow to cool and strain. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds splutter, add chopped onions and fry till they become slightly brown. Now add paneer, chopped tomatoes, turmeric, red chilly, garam masala and salt and stir fry for about 3-4 minutes. Add chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with rotis.

Note - Preparation time is about half hour. This quantity is sufficient for 2 people.

MyMusingsSangSpeak-Pet Puja - Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is one famous recipe of North Indian Punjabi cuisine. It is quite easy to make this one and tastes good with tandoor roti or phulka or chapati. You can use homemade cottage cheese (paneer) or the one that is readily available in market.

Ingredients

Palak(Spinach) – 1 bunch(approx 400 gms)

Paneer(cottage cheese) – 250 gms

Onions – 2 medium

Tomato – 1 large

Ginger -1 inch piece

Green Chillies – 2 nos

Cinnamon Powder – ¼ teaspoon

Garam Masala Powder – 1 teaspoon

Cinnamon whole- 2 pieces

Cumin Seeds – ½ teaspoon

Ghee – 2 teaspoons

Cream- 2-3 teaspoons (optional)

Salt – As per taste

Method

Wash spinach leaves well and chop them (about an inch long). Boil the chopped spinach leaves in water for about 2-3 minutes. Remove the water by straining and allow cold water to run over it. Once the leaves cool down, blend them in a mixer to form a smooth puree/paste. Set aside this paste. Make a paste of onions and keep aside. Grind ginger, green chillies and tomato and keep this paste aside. Cut the paneer(cottage chesse) into cubes and fry very lightly in non stick pan in little ghee and set aside. Heat ghee in a pan and temper with cinnamon and cumin seeds. Now add the onion paste and sauté lightly till onion turns a golden brown. Now add the tomato, ginger, chilly paste and stir well for 2 minutes. To this add the spinach puree and cook for 2- 3 minutes. Add salt, cinnamon powder and garam masala powder and stir well. After a minute, add paneer cubes and let it cook for 2 minutes. Finally, add cream and palak paneer is ready to be served.

MyMusingsSangSpeak-Pet Puja- Mattar Paneer

Mattar Paneer

Ingredients:

Green Peas – 200 gms

Paneer(cottage cheese) cubes - 150 gms

Onions (medium) - 2 nos, made into paste

Tomatoes (medium) - 2 nos, made into paste

Garlic ginger paste – 1 and half teaspoon

Garam Masala – 1 teaspoon

Red Chilly Powder – 1 teaspoon

Cream – 2 tablespoons

Salt – As per taste

Oil – 2 tablespoon

Method:

Heat oil in a pan and fry the onion paste till it turns light golden, then add garlic ginger and tomato pastes and fry well till oil separates. Add green peas, garam masala, red chilly powder, salt and stir well. Add about one and half cups water and cook for 5-6 minutes. Finally add paneer cubes and cook for 3 – 4 minutes. Mattar paneer is ready to be served.