Paneer Khurchan is a delicious and flavorful Indian dish made with paneer (Indian cottage cheese) that’s cooked with onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and spices until it’s rich and creamy. The word “Khurchan” refers to the scraped bits of caramelized flavors that form at the bottom of the pan during cooking. Here’s a simple recipe to make Paneer Khurchan:
Ingredients:
- 250 grams paneer, cut into cubes or strips
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1 bell pepper (capsicum), thinly sliced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 green chilies, slit lengthwise
- 1-inch piece of ginger, grated or minced
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons oil or ghee (clarified butter)
- Fresh coriander leaves (cilantro) for garnish
Instructions:
- Prepare the Ingredients: Cut the paneer into cubes or strips and set aside. Slice the onion and bell pepper thinly. Chop the tomatoes and slit the green chilies lengthwise. Grate or mince the ginger and garlic.
- Saute the Aromatics: Heat oil or ghee in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and let them splutter. Then, add the minced garlic, ginger, and slit green chilies. Saute for a minute until fragrant.
- Cook the Onions and Bell Peppers: Add the sliced onions to the pan and saute until they turn translucent and start to caramelize. Then, add the sliced bell peppers and cook for a few more minutes until they are slightly softened.
- Add Spices: Add the turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, and salt to the pan. Mix well to coat the vegetables with the spices.
- Cook with Tomatoes: Add the chopped tomatoes to the pan and cook until they soften and turn pulpy, stirring occasionally. This will take about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Paneer: Once the tomatoes are cooked, add the paneer cubes or strips to the pan. Gently mix everything together, taking care not to break the paneer pieces.
- Cook until Khurchan Forms: Allow the paneer to cook for a few minutes until it absorbs the flavors of the spices and vegetables. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. As the paneer cooks, you’ll notice browned bits forming at the bottom of the pan, which is the Khurchan.
- Garnish and Serve: Once the paneer is cooked and the flavors are well combined, sprinkle garam masala over the dish and garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves (cilantro).
- Serve Hot: Paneer Khurchan is best enjoyed hot with roti, naan, or rice.
Enjoy this flavorful and aromatic Paneer Khurchan as a main course or as a side dish with your favorite Indian bread!
