Paneer Pepper Varattiyathu
South Indian-style dry paneer dish with bold pepper flavours
Servings: 3 people
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 200 gms paneer
- 1/2 inch cinnamon
- 3 cloves
- 1 cardamom
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp peppercorns
- 1/8 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper powder
- 5 small onions - crushed
- 1 tbsp crushed ginger garlic
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1/2 tomato - chopped
- 1 sliced big onion
- 2 green chillies - chopped
- Pinch red chilli powder
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Dry roast cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin, fennel, coriander seeds, and pepper until fragrant. Cool and grind to a fine powder. Set aside.
- Chop paneer into cubes. Mix with turmeric, salt, and pepper. Pour hot water to soak and leave it for a while to keep it soft.
- Heat coconut oil in a pan. Add crushed small onions and crushed ginger garlic. Sauté till onions turn pink. Add curry leaves.
- Add chopped tomato, turmeric, salt, and some of the prepared spice powder. Cook till tomato softens.
- Add the soaked paneer (without water) to the pan. Add a little of the soaked water too. Mix gently and cook for a couple of minutes.
- Add a crushed sliced onion, green chillies, more spice powder, red chilli powder, and salt. Fry till onions turn soft.
- Mash some paneer slightly for texture.
- Add more of the spice powder if you like it spicier.
- Finish with a drizzle of coconut oil and curry leaves. Mix and serve hot.