Desi Chilli Paneer ~ Indian Cottage Cheese spiced up with Red Chillies

Chilli Paneer is a regular in our household, whether we make it ourselves or do a take out. However, after a while the same old taste indo-chinese flavour became dull...we all wanted something new from chilli paneer. Once, I was making dum aloo and I thought, why not add the same masala to paneer as well? It would either be a hit or a miss...in this case it was a HIT!

You will need :-

• 500 g cubed paneer
• 4-5 tbsp oil
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp cumin and coriander powder
• 1-2 tbsp tamarind pulp
• 15-20 garlic cloves
• 5-6 dried red chillies
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 20-25 g fresh root ginger
• 1-2 tbsp plain flour
• lemon juice
• fresh chopped coriander

METHOD:- Pre heat the oven. Place paneer on a baking tray, sprikle plain flour and mix well, so that the flour coats very well. Now add some oil and coat it on paneer. Bake the paneer until it turns light golden .Meanwhile place garlic, ginger, cumin seeds and red chilies in the grinder and with little water grind coarsley. Heat the oil , add cumin seeds, bay leaves and paste. Fry the paste for 1-2 minutes, add coriander and cumin powder and salt. Cook the paste for few minutes on a slow heat. Add the tamarind pulp and baked paneer. Mix very well and let the paneer cook for a while. Garnish with fresh corinder and lemon juice and serve . Enjoy !