Serves: 4
Total Calories: 1,811

1 cup Coconut Milk or store-bought
8 ounces (1 recipe) Paneer Cheese or store-bought
1/4 cup Dessert Masala
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
2 to 3 cloves fresh garlic (large), peeled
5 to 6 quarter-size slices peeled fresh ginger
1 to 3 fresh green chili pepper, such as serrano, stemmed
10 raw cashew nuts, coarsely chopped
1 large tomato, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 stick cinnamon (1-inch)
4 green cardamom pods, pounded lightly to break the skin
4 cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground mace
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon Garam Masala
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

1. Prepare the coconut milk. Prepare the paneer cheese then cut into 1 1/2 x 1/2-inch thick rectangles. Prepare the dessert masala.

2. In a food processor or blender, process together the onion, garlic, ginger, green chili peppers, and cashews about 1 minute to make a smooth paste. Transfer to a bowl, add the tomato to the food processor, and process until puréed.

3. Heat the oil in a large nonstick wok or saucepan over medium-high heat and cook the bay leaves, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom pods, and cloves, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium and add, the nutmeg and mace, then the coriander and garam masala. Stir about 30 seconds, then add the onion paste and cook, stirring, until well browned, about 10 minutes.

4. Add the pureed tomato and cook, stirring constantly, until the juices evaporate, about 3 minutes. Add the paneer cheese, peas, salt and coconut milk. Cover the pan, lower the heat, and simmer until the paneer pieces are soft and the sauce is thick, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with black pepper, and serve.

From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 4
Total Calories: 1,811
Calories from Fat: 723

More Recipes from the 1000 Indian Recipes Cookbook:
* Paneer Cheese
Basic Paneer Cheese Scramble
Crunchy Paneer Cheese Pâté
Curried Paneer Cheese and Potatoes
Curried Paneer Cheese with Peas and Potatoes
Grated Paneer Cheese with Minced Cauliflower
Griddle-Fried Paneer Cheese
Marinated Paneer Cheese with Ginger-Lime Pickle
Marinated Paneer Cheese with Saffron Yogurt Sauce
Nine-Jewel Paneer Cheese Curry
Oven-Bakes Paneer Cheese with Puréed Cilantro
Paneer Cheese Balls
Paneer Cheese Bites with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Paneer Cheese Chile-Fry with Crispy Ginger
Paneer Cheese Curry with Coconut Milk
Paneer Cheese Curry with Two Onions
Paneer Cheese Glazed with Puréed Tomatoes
Paneer Cheese Scramble with Apple-Ginger Chutney
Paneer Cheese Scramble with Morel Mushrooms
Paneer Cheese Scramble with Soybeans
Paneer Cheese Wedges with Chickpea Flour
Paneer Cheese Wraps
Paneer Cheese with Baby Spinach and Fresh Fenugreek Leaves
Paneer Cheese with Cauliflower and Broccoli
Paneer Cheese with Coconut and Corn
Quick Spinach with Crumbled Paneer Cheese
Royal Paneer Cheese Curry
Sautéed Paneer Cheese with Green Chutney
Seared Paneer Cheese in Lemon Cream
Seared Panner Cheese with Caper Sauce
Silky Paneer Cheese Curry with Red Chili Peppers
Spicy Diced Paneer Cheese with Ajwain Seeds
Spicy Peppered Paneer Cheese
Spinach with Paneer Cheese
Stir-Fried Paneer Cheese with Onions and Bell Peppers
Stuffed Paneer Cheese Balls in Creamy Tomato Sauce