Paneer Mircha ( பஜ்ஜி மிளகாய் பன்னீர் மசாலா )

Paneer Mircha  ( பஜ்ஜி மிளகாய் பன்னீர் மசாலா )

                                




Ingredients:
Anaheim chili /
Banana pepper or capsicum annuum ( பஜ்ஜி மிளகாய் ) - 5
Cottage Cheese / Paneer  ( பன்னீர் )  - 100 g
Tomato ( தக்காளி )   - 1
Red chilli ( காய்ந்த மிளகாய்) - 2                
Onion  ( பெரிய வெங்காயம்)  - 1
Ginger ( இஞ்சி ) - 1/2”
Garlic ( பூண்டு )  - 3 cloves
Shajeera ( சாஜீரா) - 1/2 tsp
Dry red chili ( காய்ந்த மிளகாய் ) - 2
Turmeric powder ( மஞ்சள் தூள்) - 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder ( தனியா தூள்)  -  1/2 tsp
Oil. ( எண்ணெய்)- 1tbsp
Butter ( வெண்ணெய் ) - 1tbsp

Steps:
Soak the dry red chili in warm water.
Peel, slice the onions garlic and ginger. Chop the tomatoes, cut paneer into strips. cut the pepper into half and slice lengthwise into halves.
In a blender, blend the soaked chili together with turmeric and coriander powder.
In a skillet heat oil, add shajeera. As it cracks add the sliced banana pepper.
Saute for 2 minutes. Remove from oil and keep aside.
To the same skillet, add butter. As it melts fry ginger and garlic well. Add onions followed by tomatoes. Saute for two minutes.  Add the chili paste and stir well. Add diced paneer.
As it cooks, oil leaves the sides, then  add the sauted banana pepper. Mix well.
Cook for a minute. Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with coriander leaves.

My Notes:

An authentic punjabi dish.

Paneer is always associated with commonly prepared mutter paneer masala gravy - paneer with green peas.Sometimes with mushrooms, or other vegetables etc., But this recipe is rare and cannot find in restaurants. 

It goes well with pulkas and rotis. Can try with zeera rice.

Recently I tried this and became a hit with my family as well a Chinese friend of my elder son.