Matar paneer (green peas and paneer)

 

  

Ingredients:

·       2 cups  paneer or tofu cut into cubes

      ·       2 to 3 cups green peas
      ·       1 medium sized onion diced
      ·       2 pods garlic (optional) cut into pieces
      ·       ½ inch ginger cut into pieces
      ·       4 medium sized tomatoes
      ·       2 tbsp yogurt
      ·       1 inch cinnamon stick
      ·       3 or 4 green cardamom
      ·       2 black cardamom
      ·       3 or 4 cloves
      ·       1 bay leaf
      ·       1 tsp coriander powder
      ·       ½ tsp cumin powder
      ·       ½ tsp garam masala
      ·       ½ tsp turmeric powder
      ·       ½ tsp chili powder
      ·       Salt to taste
      ·       2 tbsp oil
      ·       Cilantro for garnish

Directions:
 

       1.   Grind onion, ginger and garlic into a paste.

       2.   Puree raw tomatoes.

       3.   To hot oil in the sauce pan, add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and bay leaf.
       4.   After one minute, add onion masala paste.
       5.   When the oil is separating, add turmeric, chili, coriander, and cumin powders.
       6.   Add the tomato puree.
       7.   When the mixture starts boiling, add the green peas and keep cooking on low heat
       8.   Add paneer pieces.
       9.   Add salt and garam masala.
      10. After 3 to 4 minutes, add the yogurt. Let cook for 2 more minutes.
      11. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.

Notes:

      If preferred, the paneer can be either deep fried or shallow fried to make it tastier.

      Many Indian stores in USA keep fried paneer in the frozen food section.
      Paneer can be replaced by baby potatoes.