Mutter Paneer (Green Peas with Cottage Cheese)

Mutter Paneer or Green Peas with Cottage cheese, a North Indian delicacy and a big favourite at home.
The best mutter paneer I've had till now was in a Dhaba or Roadside Shack, while driving from Patna to Darjeeling. We accidentally stopped by this place, cause the gas station guy filled "petrol" in our "diesel" car and had to be repaired. Yet the journey was very good, thanks to the lovely weather and the lovely Mutter Paneer.
The Mutter paneer was so delicious with freshly made phulkas (Indian bread), I can never forget the taste.


Ingredients :
Green Peas - 200 gms
Paneer or Cottage Cheese - 200 gms
Onion - 1 large
Tomato - 4
Ginger - 1 inch
Garlic - 3 cloves
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric/haldi - 1 tsp
Cumin/Jeera powder - 1 tsp
Butter - 1 tbsp
Grated Paneer/cottage cheese - 1 tsp
Coriander leaves - chopped


Method :
Par boil the green peas till soft. Drain and keep aside.
Cut paneer into bite sized cubes and keep aside.
Grind or finely chop onions, ginger, garlic and keep aside.
Blanch the tomatoes and make puree and keep aside.


Take a heavy bottomed pan, put butter  along with a few drops of olive or vegetable oil.
This will prevent the butter from burning.
Now add the chopped/ground onion, garlic and ginger and fry well till the onions become light golden.
Add red chilli powder, turmeric, cumin and coriander powders and fry for 30 secs.
Then add the tomato puree and fry well, about 2 mins.
Now add green peas and paneer or cottage cheese pieces and mix well.
Add salt to taste.
If the gravy is too thick add 1/2 cup water, mix well, add cover and boil for about 5 mins.
Mutter Paneer is ready.
Garnish with grated cheese/cottage cheese/paneer and chopped coriander leaves.
Can be served with Chapatis (Indian bread) or Ghee rice or Jeera rice and Pulao.