Healthy "Kadai Paneer"

Hiya Folks, howdy? How has the New Year been treating you all? Are you all religiously following the "New Year resolution" list?? I for one, have been busy with work, home and friends...have been running around like a headless chicken. Now I am back with a lovely "vegetarian recipe" that is a family favorite. I tried this recipe from Adukula Vishesham once and have been hooked every since. I just changed the way I cooked this dish while staying true to the base recipe.

Ingredients:

• 14 Oz/400g Store-bought or Home-made Paneer/Home-Style Cheese/Indian Cottage Cheese
• 1 Small Red Onion, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 Large Green Bell Pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 Large Red Bell Pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 Large Carrot, peeled and julienned(cut into matchsticks)
• 1 Medium Ripe Tomato, pureed
• 3-4 Green Chilies, poked at several places, with crown intact
• 1 Tbsp Ginger-Garlic paste
• 1/2 Tsp Turmeric powder
• 3/4 Tsp Baking powder
• 1 Tsp or more of Cracked Black Pepper
• 1/2 Tsp Dry Fenugreek Leaves/Kasuri Methi
• Salt to taste
• Olive Oil for shallow frying

Procedure:

• Keep all the cut veggies handy.

• Heat an Iron pan with "very little" oil. Once the Kadai/Pan/Wok gets very hot throw in the julienned carrots. Saute the carrots until the tips are browned, about 2 minutes and remove it to a plate.

• Add a tsp of oil and saute the cut red and green bell peppers. Saute the peppers at a very high heat until they are browned at the edges. Remove it to a plate.

• Cut the Paneer into small rectangles and fry it "lightly" in a tsp of oil in a non-stick pan. Do not brown the Paneer. Just shallow fry it about 1-2 minutes per side but it shouldn't be browned or turn firm.

• To the same Kadai, add the green chili and ginger/garlic paste.

• Pour the tomato puree, chili powder, coriander powder and salt. Let this mixture cook and turn into a paste.

• Add the slit onions and fry it until it turns nearly translucent.

• Sprinkle dry fenugreek leaves.

• Move back the crisped carrots and peppers to the pan.

• Add the "lightly fried" paneer pieces.

• Gently mix the entire contents of the Kadai and turn off the stove in 2-3 minutes.

• Move it to a serving bowl/serving dish and enjoy it as is or with Roti/Naan or Lemon Rice/Ghee Rice.

Makes 5-6 Servings
A few of my favorite Paneer dishes-

• Spinach and Paneer "Paalak Paneer"

• Paneer, Spinach and Onion Tortilla Pizza  "Fast Fusion Pizza"

• Paneer and Veggie Kofta Curry

Enjoy!