Kadai Mutter Paneer (Cottage Cheese Side Dish)

(makes about 1-2 cups)
Ingredients -
Cottage Cheese / Paneer - 100 grams
Green Peas / Mutter - handful
Tomato - 1, finely chopped
Capsicum - 1, finely chopped
Cashew Nuts - 3-4
Green Chili - 2-3 finely chopped
Yogurt / Curd - 1 tablespoon
Coriander Powder - 2 teaspoons (Get coriander seeds, dry roast them & grind them into a fine powder)
Red Chili Powder - 3-4 teaspoons
Garam Masala Powder - 2 teaspoons
Dried Fenugreek Leaves / Kasoori Methi - 1 teaspoon
Coriander / Celery leaves - 1 tablespoon
Salt - as per taste (2-3 teaspoons)
Cooking Oil - 2 teaspoons

Method -
1. Marinating the Cottage Cheese / Paneer - Cut the paneer into cubes, and mix with 1 tablespoon yogurt/curd, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon red chili powder and let it rest for about 1-2 hours.

2. Boil the peas in microwave or on the stove, strain water & keep aside.
3. After 1-2 hours, heat 1 tsp oil on a pan. Add the green chili, half of the sliced onions, tomato & cashew nuts and stir till they start changing color.

4. Switch off the flame. Transfer the veggies to a blender, add 2 tsp garam masala, coriander powder / dhania powder, 1/2 tsp salt and blend until you get a smooth paste. (This forms the base your your gravy)

5. Again, heat 1 tsp oil, add the remaining cut onions & satué for 30 seconds & add the capsicum.

6. Add the gravy mixture from STEP 3 to the onion-capsicum and give it all a nice mix. Let it cook on medium-high flame for at least 5 minutes (or taste it regularly to ensure that you no longer get an un-cooked smell ☺). You can add around quarter - half a cup of water to it & let it boil.

Meanwhile - take half cup of warm water. Add the dried fenugreek leaves / kasoori methi & let it rest for 5 minutes.

7. Give the cottage cheese / paneer a good mix & transfer to the gravy cooking it on medium flame. It has to cook for around 2-3 minutes. Add the boiled peas, dried fenugreek / kasoori methi to it & let it boil.

Transfer to a bowl & serve with Roti (Tortilla) or Paratha or Rice or anything you like! ☺