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Matar Paneer served in a bowl with a spoon
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Restaurant-Style Matar Paneer Recipe

Matar Paneer Masala is a delicious, restaurant-style vegetarian curry that’s packed with rich flavors and creamy textures. This North Indian classic combines soft paneer cubes with sweet green peas in a spiced tomato-based gravy, making it a comforting and satisfying meal. It’s an easy one-pot dish that comes together in under 60 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions. Serve it with naan, roti, or rice for a wholesome and flavorful Indian meal!
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine North Indian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 people
Calories 244.68kcal

Ingredients

To Prep The Paneer

For The Ground Paste

  • ¼ cup cashews
  • 1 onion
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 3 green chillies

To Make The Gravy

Instructions

To Prep The Paneer

  • Cut the paneer into one-inch cubes.
  • Soak them in warm water and set aside. Let them remain in the water until needed in the recipe. This keeps them soft and prevents it from becoming chewy.

To Make The Ground Paste

  • Place cashews in hot water for 15 minutes to soften them. This helps create a creamy, rich texture in the curry.
  • In a blender jar, add the soaked and drained cashews along with onion, garlic, ginger, and green chilies. Blitz until smooth to form a flavorful puree. Set the onion-cashew paste aside for later use.

To Make The Gravy

  • Heat butter and ghee in a pot. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Then, add Kashmiri chili powder, regular chili powder, and turmeric powder. Sauté for 30 seconds to release their flavors.
  • Add the blended onion-cashew paste along with ½ cup of water. Sauté on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
  • Stir in the canned tomatoes and salt. Cook for 10-12 minutes until the mixture thickens and the raw tomato smell disappears. Cover the pot if it starts to splutter, and stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.
  • Add the green peas along with water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pot and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the green peas to soften and absorb the flavors of the curry.
  • By now, the curry should have reduced and thickened, creating a rich and flavorful base.
  • Stir in coriander powder, cumin powder, and cardamom powder. Mix well to enhance the depth of flavor.
  • Gently add the Indian cottage cheese cubes and fold them into the curry. Let them simmer for 2 minutes, allowing them to absorb the spices and flavors.
  • Sprinkle crushed Kasuri methi, fresh cilantro, and garam masala. Mix well, turn off the heat, and keep the pot covered for a few minutes. This helps the flavors meld together beautifully.

Notes

To save time, you can use ready-made cashew paste instead of soaking and blending cashews. If you want to make this Dhaba-style Matar Paneer without cashews or nut-free, substitute them with tahini, khus khus (poppy seed) paste, or coconut milk for a creamy texture. If the tomatoes or canned tomato puree taste too tart or sour, balance the flavors by adding a teaspoon of sugar. When cooking the tomatoes, be patient—the longer they cook, the richer and tastier the Indian paneer with green peas curry will be. Once you add the cubes, avoid overcooking or overmixing, as this can break the cubes or make them rubbery. For an extra restaurant-style touch, finish the curry with a splash of milk, fresh cream, or yogurt just before serving. You can make this paneer peas masala without onion, and garlic if you want.

Nutrition

Calories: 244.68kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.74g | Protein: 9.97g | Fat: 17.94g | Saturated Fat: 9.88g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.02g | Trans Fat: 0.06g | Cholesterol: 41.31mg | Sodium: 237.08mg | Potassium: 315.25mg | Fiber: 3.39g | Sugar: 4.86g | Vitamin A: 460.27IU | Vitamin C: 20.33mg | Calcium: 292.86mg | Iron: 2.09mg