Matar Paneer with a twist!

Sometimes when you are too scared to experiment with dishes, it turns out to be so good and different. It happened to me when I tried to alter a routine matar paneer(Indian cottage cheese with peas in tomato gravy) to something which I never did. I used peas puree instead of putting it as whole! ..Yes and believe me it was worth trying!

Ingredients:
2 cups Green peas fresh or Frozen
200 gms Paneer cubes (Indian cottage cheese)
1 inch Ginger piece
2 cloves garlic

2 green chilies
2 medium sized tomato.
2 cloves (laung)
2 Bay leaves (tez patta) optional
1/2 tsp. Cumin seeds
1/4 tsp.turmeric power
1/2 tsp Red chili powder
1 tsp. Coriander powder
1/2 tsp. Garam masala powder
Salt (as per taste)

2 tblspn Oil
Chopped Cilantro /Coriander leaves

1 pinch asafoetida 

Method:

Boil or thaw peas in microwave or on stove for few mintues until they turn tender.

Cool it down and blend with tomatoes,green chillies,garlic and ginger.Keep this paste aside.

Now heat oil in a deep pan and add cumin seeds,cloves, asafoetida(hing) and allow them to splutter.

Add all dry spices except garam masala followed by peas paste while cooking it on medium heat.

Let it cook with the lid on for 7-8 minutes or until oil seperates from the gravy.

Now add Paneer cubes to this gravy and leave it on low heat for few more minutes so that paneer absorbs the gravy.Be gentle while adding paneer to the gravy as vigorous mixing can make it mushy.

Add garam masala ,garnish with cilantro and serve hot with Roti or naan.

Note:

-You can try the same gravy with boiled potato cubes instead of paneer. It will be a different taste for sure.