Matar Paneer (Green Peas and Cheese Curry)

Easy? Oh yeah. The hardest part was frying the paneer-everything else was just stirring. The recipe is from The Spice Box by, Manju Shivraj Singh. It is an older book and somewhat hard to find, but the recipes are quite simple for westerners to make sense of. Definitely a book worth purchasing if you see it.

You Will Need:

Paneer (see previous recipe)

3 tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

4 medium onions, finely chopped

1/2 cup hot water

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

4 teaspoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon cayenne (this will be very hot-for a mild curry, use 1/4 teaspoon-it will be plenty)

3 teaspoons ground coriander

salt to taste

1 cup yoghurt

1 cup cooked peas

1 teaspoon garam masala

Fry paneer in oil or ghee until golden. Set aside.

In a heavy frying pan, heat the oil and add the cumin seeds. Fry two minutes. Add the onions and cook until browned. Add 1/2 cup hot water, garlic, and ginger. Simmer five minutes.

Add the tomato paste, spices and salt. Stir and cook a few minutes. Add the yoghurt and simmer ten more minutes. Add the peas and garam masala powder. Before serving, add the paneer.