'Mindblowing' Palak paneer..! (microwave)

Continuing with my MW cooking this time i decided to try palak paneer..i've had palak paneer from several sources & tried making it several times before but never tried it in MW & i've never liked it either ..whenever someone says "OOhs & Aahs "about it i wonder what is so great bout it ..i just pick & eat the paneer pieces & discard the gravy..
..this dish i call it "mindblowing "palak paneer 'cos it is simply mindblowing ..i was bowled over..!!i licked up the gravy till the last drop !!
& because it was made in the MW it was quite easy too...Also it is not very rich 'cos it has only 1 tbsp of butter & 1/4 cup milk..
Ingredients:

1. ginger - 1/2 " piece
2. garlic - 4-5 flakes
3. onions - 2 chopped
4. green chilly - 1 chopped
5. cumin seeds - 1 tsp
6. oil - 2 tbsp
7. coriander powder - 2 tsp
8. garam masala - 1/2 tsp
9. tomatoes - 2 chopped
10. kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves) - 2 tbsp
11. Spinach leaves - 300-400 gms
12. butter - 1tbsp
13. red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
14. salt to taste
15. sugar - 1/4 tsp
16. milk - 1/4 cup
17. paneer(cottage cheese) - 200 gms (cubes)

How i made it:

In a large microproof bowl put oil, cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, onions, green chilly, coriander powder & gram masala. Mix well. Micro HI for 5 mts.

Add chopped tomatoes & kasoori methi. Mix well. Add washed spinach leaves (no need to chop them). Micro HI for 8 mts.

Cool spinach .Blend with 1/2 cup water.

Transfer the spinach puree to the same microproof bowl. Add butter, red chilly powder, paneer, salt , sugar, milk & 1/4 cup water. Mix well.

Micro Hi for 5 mts. Serve hot ..Its superb !!!

the original recipe by Nita mehta required 600 gms of spinach .i reduced it to 350gms.

Handi paneer

Yet another paneer dish for you all..i simply cant seem to do without paneer ..this delicious dish is made like this..!
Ingredients:

1. onions - 2 (chopped)
2. ginger - 1/2 " piece (grated)
3. turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
4. chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
5. garam masala - 1/4 tsp
6. tomato - 1 (chopped)
7. green chilly - 1 (chopped)
8. bay leaf - 1
9. Yoghurt - 1/2 cup (beaten)
10. Paneer - 100 gms
11. coriander leaves - 1 tbsp (chopped)
12. salt to taste
13. fresh ground pepper

Method:

Heat oil in a pan. Saute onions till golden brown. Simmer flame & add ginger, turmeric powder, red chilly powder, garam masala & stir fry for a minute.

Add tomato, green chilly and bay leaf. Stir fry. Allow to cook on low flame for 7-8 mts.

Add curd & cook till it becomes dry. Now pour 1/2 cup water & bring the contents to boil. Add paneer & coriander leaves & stir. Cook till the spices coat the paneer pieces.

Finally add salt & pepper to taste.

Matar mushroom

For matar mushroom u need:

button mushroom - (cut in quarters) - 12-15
frozen peas - 1 cup
onion - 1 large
tomato - 2
ginger garlic paste- 2 tbsp
red chilly powder - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
coriander powder - 1 tsp
garam masala - 1 tsp
cardamom - 2 pods
cinnamon - 1 small piece
fresh ground pepper
salt to taste
oil - 2 tbsp

method:
Heat oil in a pan.

Fry cardamom & cinnamon.

Add onion, ginger-garlic paste, tomato one after another sauteing each for about a minute or 2.

Now add the powders. Fry again till the raw smell goes.
Finally mushrooms & matar with salt & 1 cup of water.Let it cook well .

Add fresh ground pepper.
Garnish with coriander leaves if u like.

Lahsuni dal

A daily dish..

Ingredients:

1. Masoor dal(red lentils) - 1 cup
2. onion - 1 chopped
3. tomato - 1 chopped
4. turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
5. chilly powder - 1 tsp
6. coriander powder 1/2 tsp
7. hing (asafoetida) - 2 pinches
8. garlic - 9-10 (peeled & whole)
9. garlic - 2 chopped
10. ghee - 2 tbsp
11. mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
12. cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
13. curry leaves - few
14. salt to taste

Method:

• Wash & cook dal with onion, tomato, turmeric powder ,chilly powder ,hing , salt & about 21/2 cups of water in a pressure cooker until 1 whistle.


• Let the cooker cool by itself. remove dal & keep aside.


• Heat ghee in a pan. Add mustard, cumin seeds. let it splutter. Add curry leaves & garlic( both chopped & whole). Saute till garlic turns light brown. Add this to the hot dal.


• Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves.

Vishu sadya

Paneer Jalfraezi

This is a quick recipe when you are really running short of time .

Ingredients:

1. Paneer(cottage cheese) - 400 gms
2. tomatoes - 2 med sized
3. capsicums - 2 med sized
4. onions - 2 med sized
5. ginger - 2" piece
6. green chillies - 1-2
7. coriander leaves - 1/4 med bunch
8. whole red chillies - 2
9. cumin seeds - 1 tsp
10. red chilly powder - 1 tsp
11. turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
12. vinegar - 1 1/2 tbsp
13. garam masala powder - 1 tsp
14. oil - 3 tbsp
15. salt to taste

Method:

• Cut paneer into 2" long pieces.Cut toamtoes & capsicums into 2" long slices.Cut onions into thick slices & separate the different layers.
• Cut ginger into julienne.Finely chop green chillies & coriander leaves.
• Heat oil in a wok.Add cumin seeds.when they crackle add broken red chillies.Add ginger julienne ,green chillies and onions.Saute for a minute.
• Add red chilly powder and turmeric powder.Stir well and add capsicum.Cook for 2 mts.Add paneer fingers and toss.Add salt and vinegar and cook for 2 more mts.Stir in tomato pieces and garam masala.
• Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves.

Paneer Makhani

Paneer is one of my favourite things ..though my hysband hates it ..I can have it in any form ..Paneer Makhani is a famous dish and goes well with chappatis..Its rich so we need to forget our calorie count ..but my idea is that its ok to binge once in a while..

Ingredients:

1. Paneer(Cottage cheese) - 300 gms
2. Tomatoes - 5 chopped roughly
3. ginger - 1" piece(chopped)
4. Butter - 2 tbsp
5. Oil - 2 tbsp
6. Sugar - 1 tsp
7. Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp
8. Tomato ketchup - 1 tsp
9. Cashewnuts or Melon seeds - 4 tbsp soaked in a little water & ground to a paste
10. Kasoori Methi (dried fenugreek leaves) - 2 tsp
11. Milk - 1/2 cup (approx.)
12. Cream(optional) - for garnishing

Method:

Fry paneer pieces in 1tsp oil.Microwave tomatoes & ginger in a deepdish for about 4 mts .Tomatoes become soft & skin peels off easily.Blend this to make a puree & keep aside.Heat oil & butter in a pan.Add the puree,salt sugar,red chilli powder & garam masala.Saute till oil separates(it takes a litle while).Now add tomato ketchup.Continue cooking over medium flame.Add cashew paste & kasoori methi.Mix & fry for 1 mt.Add 1/2 cup water & cook .Finally add paneer pieces,milk.Cover & cook for 3 mts on low flame.Garnish with cream & kasoori methi .Serve hot.

*U may omit the cream if u want.If u still want to garnish u can do so with milk as well..