Shahi Paneer is a popular North Indian cheese curry made with paneer, onions, cream, and spices. The cheese is made by adding an acidic liquid to milk, and the dish is often served with Indian bread. Similar dishes include Kadai Paneer and paneer butter masala.
Shahi Paneer is one of the most popular cheese dishes in North India. It is a type of cheese curry consisting of cottage cheese paneer, onions, cream and a variety of spices. This dish is often served with some type of Indian bread such as poori, nan or rumali rotori. There are a number of similar dishes that use cheese in Indian cooking, including Kadai Paneer and paneer butter masala.
The first step in making paneer shahi is to prepare cottage cheese paneer. This cheese is made by adding an acidic liquid such as vinegar or lemon juice to milk. The reaction causes the curds and whey to separate. The curds are collected in cheesecloth, squeezed and then dried for several hours. They are then pressed under a weight for another two to three hours, after which the paneler is ready for use.
The spice base is created with a paste made from garlic, ginger and onion which is fried in oil. Spices are then added to the dish, the most common being chili powder, cardamom, turmeric and garam masala. These are cooked until they become aromatic. Some recipes also call for the paneer to be diced and then browned in the pan as well.
The cashews are then added to the pan and allowed to cook slightly. Some variations also call for dried fruit such as raisins or currants. These can also be added and left to cook. The ingredients are cooked until the mixture begins to dry out in the pan.
The milk is added to the pungent mixture and then reduced to create a thick sauce. Cubed paneer is added to the reduced milk sauce. If the paneer has been previously browned in the pan, it will hold its shape and texture better, while raw paneer may start to break down in the sauce.
After the paneer has been heated up, the dish is complete. Some preparations have paneer shahi served in a bowl or shallow dish with a swirl of cream in the center and garnished with chopped fresh coriander. When served as a condiment, it can simply be placed in a convenient dish for dipping.
Several Indian dishes are similar to shahi paneer, but focus on different ingredients. The Paneer Butter Masala starts out in the exact same style but includes butter, tomatoes and cream to make for a very rich dish. Kadai paneer also starts out the same as shahi paneer but includes slices of peppers, fresh tomatoes and cumin to create a spicier flavored dish.
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