There is something about making a good paneer dish that makes everybody a little bit more involved in what is going on in the kitchen. This could be because of the aroma of onion, garlic and spices. Maybe it is the promise of hot rotis coming to the table. Either way, paneer has earned its place in family meals. Keep milky mist paneer in the fridge and there is always something decent that can be made for dinner, even when there is not much time to think about it.
A Paneer Curry That Does Not Need Much Fuss
For an easy curry, cut paneer into cubes and give them a fry in a little oil. They only need some colour on the outside. Take them out and use the same pan for the gravy.
Fry the chopped onions along with the ginger and garlic until they are soft. After that, add the tomatoes, cumin, turmeric, chilli powder, and garam masala to this mixture. Make sure the tomatoes are cooked properly because if you don’t cook the tomatoes properly, your sauce can have a raw flavour.
If you like the curry to be very smooth, then grind this mixture. If you prefer having it slightly chunky, then do not worry. Add cream to it, add the fried paneer and let it get warm.
Let The Tikka Get A Little Charred
Paneer tikka is definitely one of those dishes which seem a lot more complex than what they really are. Marinate in yoghurt, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, garam masala, turmeric and chilli powder. Include chunks of paneer, onion and capsicum and ensure that all of them are coated well.
Then cook the pieces until the vegetables soften and the paneer gets those slightly dark edges. An oven or air fryer is convenient, but a hot frying pan works perfectly well. In fact, the pan gives some lovely browned bits.
When A Rich Butter Masala Sounds Right
There are evenings when something creamy just feels right. Paneer butter masala is made for those nights.
Stir tomatoes, cashew nuts, ginger and garlic in butter and spices until they become soft and smooth. Add cream and kasuri methi if there is some around, then gently stir in the paneer.
Milky mist paneer is best added towards the end. Letting it bubble away in the gravy for a long time can make it firm, and soft paneer is much nicer here.
Make The Grocery Basket More Useful
When shopping groceries online, it may seem convenient to purchase just the ingredients needed for a particular recipe. It would be wise if you picked ingredients that can be used in several recipes. Yoghurt can be used for tikka and raita. Tomatoes and onions can become curry bases. Capsicum can be included in a tikka, a fried rice dish or even in a simple veggie recipe.
This way, buying groceries becomes easier. It will also help avoid forgetting your vegetables, which might be rotting in the refrigerator.
Dinner Does Not Need To Be A Feast
A family meal can be surprisingly simple. Put one curry on the table, add some tikka, make rice or rotis and bring out a bowl of chutney. That is enough food for a satisfying dinner.
Everyone can help themselves and add whatever they like. Extra chilli for some, more chutney for others. There is no need for every plate to look identical.
Leftover tikka can become tomorrow’s wrap filling. Extra curry can be taken for lunch. Even the vegetables bought while shopping groceries can be used the next day again.
Good Food Without the Extra Fuss
The best home cooked meals don’t necessarily require the most work. A delicious paneer curry, some smoky tikka and something warm to eat with can transform an ordinary night into a special one. Keeping milky mist paneer handy takes care of the main ingredient, while sensible shopping groceries means the spices, vegetables and other basics are already waiting when dinner time rolls around.
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