PANEER BHURJI

       Paneer Bhurji is one latest favourite at home.  I have never made this before, though I make quite a number of various other recipes with Paneer.  Paneer is one must-have ingredient in my pantry, and it is always homemade Paneer.  The reason behind homemade Paneer is that I do not get it locally.  And as a norm at home deprivation leads to innovation and that was how I started making Paneer at home.  

    A few years back I had to stay for an Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for my eye condition.  There they had a canteen which served good food.  I was allowed to eat only if I am hungry and Kanji was the only dish allowed to eat.  My daughter, who accompanied me, had a tough time managing with the food there. All three meals a day... Indian Food... Vegetarian... mostly bland.  You have to keep in mind that most of the dishes are cooked for the patients who are staying there for treatment. She went crazy enough, one choosy person, who has quite a lot of specifications & preferences, when it comes to eating and all more in cooking too. Mostly she ended up ordering Rotis or Naans, though as much as a compromise.     One day they had this Paneer Bhurji was in their menu, and she was overwhelmed to see it, as Paneer is her favourite.  Went along and ordered it.  But to her dismay the recipe turned out to be bland and tasteless.  I cannot comment how it was, as I didn't taste it.

    So as usual when we came back I wanted to try this Paneer Bhurji and left alone kept in my to-do list for a long time. And all of a sudden this particular recipe popped up when my daughter asked me for Paneer Bhurji.  She had even sent me a link of a recipe, which I am now searching for in vain.  But since then I have made this Paneer Bhurji quite a number of times, and it has become a family favourite.  I add Cashew paste to Paneer Bhurji which makes it rich and gives a wonderful flavour.  And usually I make Paneer Bhurji in a slight gravy version, add some milk.  Skip adding Cashew paste and milk if you want a drier version of Paneer Bhurji.  Rest of the recipe and ingredients remain the same.

      Paneer Bhurji is an extremely popular recipe prepared with crumbled Paneer.  It's one simple and quick-fix recipes which is more or less similar to Egg Bhurji, but with an utter extravagance. What makes Paneer Bhurji special is the addition of spices, cashew paste and milk.  And you can make it dry or into a slight gravy version.  We like the gravy version as it suits best to be combined up with Chapatis, Roti, Batura, Paratha, Kulcha or Naan.  Or make Pav Bhaji recipe a bit extravagant by serving this Paneer Bhurji instead of the conventional Vegetable Bhaji.

     Paneer Bhurji could be cooked up within minutes.  Fresh homemade Paneer compliments the recipe with a remarkable texture and taste.  Finish off it by garnishing it with freshly crushed Kasuri Methi which adds a wonderful aroma to this Paneer Bhurji.

For a detailed recipe on HOW TO MAKE PANEER, Click here...

Cuisine - North Indian
Course - Side Dish
Spice Level  - Medium - High
Difficulty - Medium
Serves - 3- 4
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 15-20 Minutes
Soaking Time - 20 - 30 Minutes.
Cooking Time - 20 - 30 Minutes

For more recipes with PANEER, Click here...

HOW TO MAKE PANEER BHURJI

PANEER BHURJI

INGREDIENTS:

For Paneer Bhurji Gravy:

Paneer - 2 Cups
Oil/Butter - 2 Tablespoons
Cumin Seeds - 1/4 Teaspoon 
Garlic - 6-8 Cloves
Onion - 2 large
Green Chillies - 3-4
Ginger - 1" Piece
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Teaspoon
Red Chilli Powder - 1 Teaspoon
Coriander Powder - 1 Teaspoon
Cumin Powder -1/4 Teaspoon
Garam Masala/Kitchen King Masala - 1 Teaspoon 
Kasuri Methi(Dried Fenugreek Leaves) - 2 Teaspoons
Tomato - 2 Nos.
Milk - 1/4 Cup
Water - 1/2 Cup
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - a Pinch

 

For Cashew Paste(Optional):

Cashew nuts - 10-12 Nos.
Water - 1/4 Cup

 

For Garnishing:

Coriander Leaves - a few 
Kasuri Methi(Dried Fenugreek Leaves) - 1 Teaspoon

 

For a detailed recipe on HOW TO MAKE KASURI METHI, Click here... 

 

METHOD:

• Soak Cashew nuts in boiling hot water for about 20-30 minutes and grind this into a fine paste and keep it aside.
• Grate or crumble the Paneer and keep it aside.
• Heat Oil/Butter in a pan, splutter Cumin Seeds. Let the flame be at low.
• Immediately add, finely chopped garlic and sauté it for a while.
• Next, add finely chopped Onions, Green Chillies & Ginger & sauté it until onions turn translucent.
• Add, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder & garam masala.
• Fry the spice powders for a while on a very low flame until the raw flavour goes.  Care should be taken not to burn the ingredients.
• Crush the Kasuri Methi, add  to the above and give a quick stir.
• Now, add finely chopped Tomatoes and cook this on a low flame until tomatoes turn soft & cooked.
• Sprinkle a bit of water at this point and cook until oil separates from the mix.
• Now lower the flame and pour in the Cashew Paste and mix well.
• Pour in some water & cook this on a low flame for a few minutes until the mix turns slightly dry.
• Add in the crumbled Paneer and mix well until well combined.
• Now pour in the Milk along with a pinch of Sugar and mix well.
• Cook this on a low flame until the Paneer is cooked through, and it reaches the desired consistency.
• Switch off the flame and garnish Paneer Bhurji with finely chopped Coriander Leaves and crushed Kasuri Methi.
• Paneer Bhurji suits best to be combined up with Chapatis, Roti, Batura, Paratha, Kulcha or Naan.  
• Or make Pav Bhaji recipe a bit extravagant by serving this Paneer Bhurji instead of the conventional Vegetable Bhaji.
  

PANEER BHURJI

 

NOTES:

• Adding Cashew Paste is purely optional in this recipe,  But it gives a wonderful taste to this Paneer Bhurji.
• You can make Paneer Bhurji dry or into a slight gravy version.
• Skip adding Cashew paste and milk if you want a drier version of Paneer Bhurji.  
• The rest of the recipe and ingredients remain the same.
  
• Fresh homemade Paneer compliments the recipe with a remarkable texture and taste.
• Can also use store-bought Paneer for the recipe.