Paneer Butter Masala

This is a comfort Junk Food. Health Alert: Try this home made junk food on your "cheat day" and instantly feel transported to food heaven. Quick, easy and kid friendly recipe.

Serves 2 adults and 2 small kids

Ingredients:

Paneer 200 gms cubed

For the gravy:
Oil 1 tsp
Onions 1 large
Ginger Garlic Paste 2 tsps
Tomatoes 1 large
Almonds about 8-10 (soaked in hot water for 15 mins) [healthier alternative to cashews]
Chilli powder 3/4 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Corriander powder 1 tbsp
Garam masala (ideally a meat/ chicken garam masala) 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Tomato Ketchup 2 tbsps
Sugar / Jaggery 1 tsp (Can be skipped)
Milk 1/4th cup
Kasuri Methi (dried fenugreek leaves) 1 tsp crushed


For tempering:
Oil/ Butter 1 tbsp
Cumin Seeds 1/2 tsp
Bay Leaf - 1

Method:
Soak almonds in hot water and keep aside. Chop onions, tomatoes and make ginger garlic paste. Take a tsp of oil in a pan and fry onions and ginger garlic paste till raw smell goes (say 3 mins) and then add tomatoes and fry till well blended in (say another 3 to 5 mins) on medium to low flame. Cool.
Grind this cooled mix of onions and tomatoes along with the soaked almonds to a smooth blend - using as needed the water used for soaking the almonds. Reserve the rest of the water for using in gravy.

Cube the paneer in desired size.

Add to the pan a tbsp of oil or butter (or a mix of the two) and add the cumin seeds. Then add the bay leaf and fry for a few seconds and then add the ground mix of onions, tomatoes and almonds.
After frying for about 2 mins. add chilli, turmeric, corriander powders and the garam masala and fry for 1/2 a minute more and then add reserved almond soaked water and another 1/2 cup water to get desired consistency (the gravy should not be too watery). Add salt to taste, tomato ketchup and sugar and mix well and then add the paneer pieces. Let the curry simmer on medium to low flame for atleast 5 minutes. Check taste and adjust seasoning to your taste. Add milk, mix once and sprinkle with kasuri methi crushed by hand. Give it one boil and immediately switch off the flame.

Pair Paneer Butter Masala with home made whole wheat naan and/ or with steamed white rice/ peas pulao.

Notes:
1. Paneer can be substituted with mushrooms. 
2. Saatvik (no onion / garlic) version can be achieved by avoiding onion and garlic and adding a little more cashew and almond. The ketchup can be a non onion and garlic version or can be completely skipped - instead just add one more tomato to the recipe.   
3. If you do not prefer the sweet version then you might want to skip it and adjust seasoning accordingly. Just ensure that the tomatoes are sweeter and not on the sour side. Also try using a little full cream to bring down the acidic level of the gravy in such a case.