North Indian home and dhaba classic
Matar Paneer Recipe (Peas and Paneer Curry)
Smooth base. Soft paneer. Peas last.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenMatar paneer is soft paneer and sweet peas in a smooth, mildly spiced gravy. It goes wrong when the paneer is rubbery or the peas turn grey. The fix is soaking paneer in hot water, blending the onion-tomato base smooth, and adding peas and paneer only near the end.
The 3 laws of matar paneer
Why this recipe works
Chunky gravy
Smooth gravy feels restaurant-style.
Hard paneer
Hot water softens it.
Early peas
Peas stay bright.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Curry
The NineFoods paneer gauge
Is the paneer soft?
Press a cube of paneer with a spoon before adding it.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Base
- Cook onions, tomatoes and cashews in 1 tbsp oil until soft.
- Cool and blend smooth.
Fry the paste
- Crackle cumin, add ginger garlic, the paste and spices.
- Fry until oil separates.
Peas and paneer
- Add water and peas, simmer 5 minutes.
- Add paneer, garam masala and methi.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Overcooked or dry.
Fix next time
Soak in hot water and add at the end.
Why
Cooked too long.
Fix next time
Add peas for the last 5 minutes.
Why
Tomatoes raw.
Fix next time
Fry the paste until oil separates.
Why
Reduced.
Fix next time
Add hot water.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Paneer | Main | Tofu or boiled potatoes |
| Cashews | Body | Melon seeds or cream |
| Frozen peas | Convenience | Fresh peas, add 3 minutes earlier |
| Oil | Bhuna | Ghee |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Roti, paratha or jeera rice.
Store
Fridge 3 days. Freezing makes paneer crumbly.
Reheat
Warm on low; soak dry paneer in hot water before adding back.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the paneer soft) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Matar Paneer FAQ
How do I make paneer soft?
Soak it in hot salted water for 10 minutes before adding.
Can I use frozen peas?
Yes, straight from frozen.
Can I make it without onion and garlic?
Yes, use tomato, cashew and ginger only.
What can I use instead of paneer?
Firm tofu or boiled potatoes (aloo matar).