Indian Paneer with Bell Peppers

An easy, tangy and spicy dish with Indian Cottage Cheese and Bell Peppers

I would like to call this dish ‘Paneer As You Like It’. Amused and confused? Has Shakespeare got anything to do with this? I wish!!
Well, I named this dish so because it is a super versatile and easy dish with ample scope for you to play around with some of the main ingredients. Read how 🙂 

Let’s start with Ingredient One – Paneer. If you are allergic to dairy or lactose intolerant, try using tofu. It will be as delicious! Also adding tofu will make it an all-vegan recipe.

Ingredient Two – Bell Peppers – I know capsicum (green bell peppers) is readily available in India. You could use only that. It gives a more peppery flavor to the dish. Green pepper can always be added or substituted in this recipe in place of red/orange/yellow bell peppers.

Ingredient Three – Cherry Tomatoes – If you cannot get these tiny things just chop some more of the regular red tomato (in addition to the half mentioned in ingredients) and add it when you are supposed to add the cherry tomatoes.

Ta-da! Now see why I say this is such a flexible, easy-going dish?

{Serves 2-4}

Ingredients you will need:

500 gm Paneer or Indian cottage cheese, cut in cubes
1 ½-2 cups sliced bell peppers (red, yellow, orange) or capsicum (green pepper)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp butter
1 medium onion, sliced
½ tomato, chopped
½ cup cherry tomatoes
1 tsp cumin (whole)
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp dry mango powder or amchur powder
1 tsp peppercorn
Salt according to taste

Method for cooking:

1) Heat Oil+butter in a pan. Add cumin seeds and peppercorn and let it crackle for 20 seconds or so.

2) Add the sliced onions and shallow fry till light brown. Add half the tomato at this point with coriander powder, paprika, some salt and amchur powder. Cover and cook this well on medium heat.

3) Add the paneer, some more salt, stir well, cover and cook for 5-7 mins or so.

4) Now add in the bell peppers and cherry tomatoes, stir well, cover and cook for 5-10 mins, then uncover and cook for sometime so that if at all any water is released, it dries up. That’s all you have to do. Enjoy this hot with roti/rice or pulao.

It’s easy, healthy, gluten free and quick. A great weekday meal option.
Paneer is usually readily available in all Indian grocery stores outside India. Try it, you will love it. 🙂

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