Butter-Roasted Paneer With Tomato Curry

Published November 1, 2022

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Total Time
30 minutes
Rating
4(1,019)
Comments
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Roasting mild paneer with yogurt and ghee (or butter) gives it a complex, toasty flavor that’s balanced by the spices and gentle acidity of a quickly made tomato curry. This recipe is adapted from Anita Jaisinghani of Pondicheri in Houston. She prepares her own paneer several times a week to use in curries, salads and crumbled over roasted vegetables. But store-bought paneer will work well here and makes this satisfying dish supremely weeknight friendly. Serve it with rice or flatbread on the side, if you like, to catch the heady sauce. If you have dried fenugreek leaves, you can crumble a tablespoon or so into the curry right at the end. Melissa Clark

Featured in: Creamy Paneer, Tangy Tomatoes and a Gorgeously Easy Dinner

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Ingredients

Yield:3 to 4 servings
  • 1 to 1 ¼ pounds paneer, cut into 1-inch cubes (2 to 3 packages, depending on size)

  • 5 to 6 tablespoons plain whole-milk Greek yogurt

  • 3 tablespoons ghee or unsalted butter, melted

  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as vegetable, safflower or grapeseed oil

  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

  • ½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds (optional)

  • 2 cardamom pods, cracked

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced or finely grated

  • 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger (from about ¾-inch piece)

  • 2 teaspoons garam masala

  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

  • Pinch of ground cayenne or red-pepper flakes

  • 1 (15-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes

  • ½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (3 to 4 servings)

14 grams carbs; 115 milligrams cholesterol; 599 calories; 12 grams monosaturated fat; 7 grams polyunsaturated fat; 24 grams saturated fat; 48 grams fat; 1 gram trans fat; 3 grams fiber; 921 milligrams sodium; 30 grams protein; 7 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Step 2

    In a mixing bowl, combine paneer, 3 tablespoons yogurt and ghee. Toss until paneer is well coated, then spread it in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Roast until the edges are golden, about 13 to 18 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    While the paneer is in the oven, make the tomato curry: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add cumin, fenugreek (if using), cardamom and cinnamon, and let cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add onions and sauté until tender and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, 1 teaspoon garam masala, turmeric, cayenne and ½ teaspoon salt, and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Using the back of a wooden spoon or your hands, break up tomatoes into pieces and add them, along with their liquid, to the skillet. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir to combine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook until the mixture has thickened slightly, 6 to 8 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Remove the pan from the heat and stir in cilantro, remaining 1 teaspoon garam masala, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of yogurt, depending on how creamy you want your sauce. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed.

  6. Step 6

    Add paneer to pan and gently toss until well coated. Let paneer sit in the sauce for at least 10 minutes to absorb its flavors. Reheat gently over low heat, if needed. Garnish with more cilantro and serve.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
1,019 user ratings
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Comments

Ys, you could. Use the extra-firm tofu and bake it just like the paneer. It's more delicate than the paneer so stir into the tomato curry carefully.

I’d like to try this with tofu instead of paneer. Thoughts?

One cardamom pod = 1/6 tsp ground cardamom

I made this for my ailing mother with a mixture of paneer, tofu, and plant-based chicken for the proteins. Incredibly delicious, but the tofu & chicken couldn't hold a candle to the flavor of the paneer after being roasted in butter and yogurt. The rich, deep yogurt flavor carried through the paneer in a way it didn't for the other proteins. Will make it with 100% paneer next time. Stunning. No leftovers.

this is delicious. I made the recipe proportions but instead of the full amount of paneer, I used half and a can of kidney beans and then threw in half a bag of chopped spinach. I also made a bi-annual trip to the bulk spice section of the local grocery store so all spices were fresh. served over steamed short grain brown rice 10/10

Doubled the curry but not the paneer, found it a little thick at the end, maybe due to the onion size, but added water to thin and still totally delicious since it is already so nicely spiced.

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Credits

Adapted from Anita Jaisinghani

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