Restaurant Style Kadhai Paneer without cream

Every north Indian like Paneer recipes in one form or the other. But most of the recipes are cooked with too much of oil and in cream, that you feel guilty after eating it. Here is my version of Kadai Panner with less calories, where I have replaced cream / malai with milk and use very less oil or butter. I normally also go light on spices. So, if you like more spicy food, you can adjust it accordingly.

Ingredients

• 1 big Capsicum (take green or red) cut in blocks
• 3 big onion cut in big pieces
  
• 2-3 cloves garlic 
• block of ginger
• 2 green chilies
• 3-4 big tomatoes (cut in big pieces) 
• 100 gms paneer
  
• 6-7 cashews (optional)
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp. coriander and turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder, cumin powder, cinnamon powder, garam masala
• pinch of black pepper
• dried kasturi methi leaves
  
• coriander leaves
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3 tbsp. Oil

Procedure

• Cut capsicum and 1 big onion in big blocks as shown in pic below and saute it till capsicum is little golden brown. I have used yellow but better is to use either red or green capsicum as yellow one is not very visible in the gravy at the end. Once done take it out in tissue paper.
  

• Cut paneer in shape of your choice like rectangular, cube or triangle. Saute it in same oil till it is golden brown and take it out in tissue paper.
  

• For gravy, heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and add ginger, garlic and 1 green chili. Add onion and saute till it is golden brown.
  

• Add tomatoes and saute till it is little soft. Add little salt to speed up the cooking process. Optionally you can also add cashews here.
  

• Now let the mixture cool down and grind it in the grinder.
  

• You can also strain the mixture if you want
  

• Heat butter or oil in a pan and add turmeric powder and red chili powder. Add the mixture prepared above.
  

• Cook it for 4-5 minutes in medium flame
  

• Add spices like coriander powder, cumin powder, black pepper, cinnamon powder and garam masala and let it cook again for another 5-6 minutes with lid on
  

• Add capsicum and onion and let it cook for another 3-4 mins
  

• Sprinkle some crushed Kasturi methi leaves
  

• Finally add paneer and cover the lid and stop the flame.
  

• Garnish it with strings of ginger and coriander leaves
  

Pizza Paratha

Here is yet another recipe, an Indo-Italian, Pizza recipe in Indian style i.e. Pizza Paratha. You can add the toppings of your choice as you would prefer in your pizza. We will prepare the paratha stuffing with the Pizza ingredients, and you will experience the unique taste of paratha.

Ingredients

• 1 finely chopped medium size onion
• 1 finely chopped capsicum
• 2-3 big tablespoons of corn
• any topping of your choice
• 2-3 tablespoons of Pizza sauce
• cheese slice
• shredded cheese (optional)
  
• Herbs (Oregano, basil leaves powder etc. of your choice)
• salt to taste, pinch of black pepper
• Whole wheat flour dough
• ghee
  

Procedure

• Whole wheat flour dough recipe is not included here. The recipe is same as what you prepare for normal paratha. But just add some salt in dough while preparing it, if you already don't add it. 
  

• Add chopped onion, capsicum, corn, herbs, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. You can also add chopped green chilies here based on your taste. 

• Now add pizza sauce and mix it well 

• Prepare a flat roti from the dough as shown below. 

• Place a cheese slice in the middle of the roti. 

• Now add the mixture on top of the cheese. You can also add some shredded cheese here depending on how much cheese you or your kids like.

• Now we have to make a triangle. First apply some water using finger tip on the border of the roti, so that it sticks properly when you fold it. Now, fold the base from 1 side as shown below. 

• Now fold from another side. 

• Finally fold from bottom. 

• Heat pan in medium flame first. When it is hot enough, transfer the stuffed paratha on the pan and put the flame to low (since we have cheese in the filling, we would like it to melt properly). 

• Once done from 1 side, flip it to the other side. 

• Now apply ghee and flip it once again. Apply ghee on the other side as well and let it cook in low flame for some time till it is nicely done. Press it gently in between on pan so that it becomes little crispy. Pay special attention to the edges. Serve it hot.
  

Vermicelli / Jave

Ingredients

• 1 potato thinly cut
• 1 onion parallely cut in pieces
• 1 carrot cut in pieces
• 1 bowl of peas / mutter
• 2 cups of roasted vermicelli
• Spices (Salt, turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, garam masala, ajwain)
• 5-6 pieces of cashew (optional) 
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• butter 
• coriander leaves for garnishing
  

 

Procedure

• Heat oil in a pan. Add ajwain when oil is hot. Add onion and bay leaves (optional) and saute it for 2-3 minutes. 

• Add potatoes and carrot and optionally cashews. 
  

• Add peas. Cover the lid and let it cook for some time. 

• Keep on mixing it time to time to avoid it from getting burnt. Add coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and salt to taste and let it cook again in low flame with lid covered till potatoes and carrot are little soft. 

• Add roasted vermicelli. 

• Add water around 1.5 times the quantity of vermicelli used. The proportion of water used is very important. If used too much, it will be all sticky and if used too less, it will not cook properly. 

• Cover the lid and let it cook again for around 7-8 minutes in low flame till all the water evaporates. You can also cook it till it is about 95% done and close the flame (or remove it from the burner). Let it stand there with lid closed for some time. The steam present will cook it eventually. 

• Serve it hot with butter and garnish with coriander leaves. It tastes better with some pickle as well like mango or green chili pickle.
  

Sparkling Strawberry Mocktail

This is strawberry season and we need something to fight against the heat. This is very easy, 2 minutes preparation recipe. You will not stop drinking it after having it once. Very good in hot weather to keep you hydrated.

Ingredients

• a bowl full of strawberries 
• you can either mix it with other fruits of your choice (like some pieces of watermelon and grapes) or prepare only with Strawberries.
• 2-3 teaspoons of sugar or as per your taste
• 1 teaspoon of black salt or rock salt or as per your taste
• cold soda water / Sprite / Sparkling water
• Ice cubes (optional)
  

Procedure

• Cut all your fruits and form a paste in mixer. 
  
• Add sugar and black salt as per your taste in the paste and mix well.
• Now pour the paste or the mixture in serving glass till the glass is around 1/4th full. 
• Add soda water slowly to retain gas bubbles.
• Ice cubes can be added while serving (optional)
  
• Tip: If you add soda water in jar where you prepared the mixture and then pour in glass, you will loose most of the gas from the soda