Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani

// Paneer Butter Masala - Butter Paneer, or Paneer Makhani is a very popular rich, creamy indian curry made with rich and buttery tomato based gravy.



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Learn to make Paneer Butter Masala Recipe | How To Make Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala | Paneer Makhani recipe with an easy video tutorial.

Paneer Butter Masala is one of the most popular paneer (Indian cottage cheese) dishes which is so full of amazing flavors. It is smooth, rich, buttery, creamy and can be made in a jiffy.

This particular Restaurant Style paneer dish is served in almost all the Indian restaurants.

a pan of paneer butter masala or paneer makhani on a wooden table

Hello hello! I made some cheesy goodness last week. Can you speculate what’s that? Any ideas yet? If you did it, then it’s cool. If not, then it’s a curry! 🙂

What is Paneer Butter Masala?

Indian Paneer Butter Masala aka Paneer Makhani is a rich, creamy, and buttery Indian cottage cheese curry. Paneer butter masala is one of the most popular vegetarian curries served in Indian restaurants. In this dish, paneer is dunked in a buttery, creamy, tangy, spicy and classic sauce. This curry is not just a curry, this is pure deliciousness.

Related: Jaipuri Aloo Pyaaz Ki Sabzi

a pan with paneer butter masala with green garnish on a table

What is Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala?

Let’s talk about this Paneer makhani today. This version of curry is exactly the kind that you get in Indian restaurants. So this particular butter paneer masala can get you the taste you get at Indian restaurants. Why am I sharing it today? Because I know everyone loves this popular Indian curry, and I just realized that I haven’t shared it on my blog.

Paneer Butter Masala is one of the most popular paneer dishes which is so full of amazing flavors. This is rich, buttery, creamy and can be made in no time. This particular paneer dish is served in almost all the Indian restaurants.

Related: Shahi Kadai Mushroom

a plate of paneer makhani on a table with a glass of water

How to make your own paneer (cottage cheese) at home?

I love making paneer, it’s so satisfying! For me, making paneer is so much fun because it is super easy. Really, making your own paneer is as easy as cake. That’s why I prefer to use homemade paneer when it comes to curry or any other recipes made with paneer. Yes, this time also I made paneer at home. If you want to make your own paneer then you can check out the video video on ‘how to make paneer’.

Related: Restaurant Style Paneer Do Pyaza Recipe

a pan of paneer butter masala or paneer makhani is on a table

Can I replace butter with oil for Paneer Butter Masala Recipe?

I guess, no. But you can surely add a combination of butter and oil. I also used some butter in this curry because there is no paneer butter masala without butter. However, I tried to healthified this curry by using a combo of oil + butter.

So I wouldn’t claim that this ranks high on a healthy recipes chart, but I would surely claim that this is a very delicious curry. You know what, I haven’t made this curry in a long time, but I love to have this curry once in a while. And I guess once in a long time, oily and buttery stuff is just fine. The problem comes when you are eating them every day. Isn’t it?

Related: Palak Paneer Recipe

a pan of paneer butter masala on a table with a lemon wedge

Can I replace paneer with some other cheese for Paneer butter masala recipe?

Yes, you can. You can Halloumi, it works well too. Sometimes when I don’t have paneer in hand, I make the same sauce with halloumi, or tofu. Other times I use a combination of halloumi and paneer. I gotta tell you that halloumi tastes just awesome in spicy Indian gravy. YUM YUM!

This time, I only used paneer, but feel free to add halloumi to this curry. Oh well, the more cheese the better! That means spicier cheesy goodness for you and your family! 🙂

Related: How To Make Indian Paneer Stuffed Naan

a pan of paneer makhani on a table with a glass of water

What is the perfect texture of Gravy for paneer butter masala?

Creamy, buttery, and rich. There is butter + oil, onions, ginger-garlic, tomato puree, spices and lots of cream. If you want dark red/orange color like you get in a restaurant then add Kashmiri Lal Mirch. It’s not very hot and gives a nice color.

Go crazy and don’t be afraid of cream! The more cream = More creaminess = Richer taste. 🙂

Related: How to Make Paneer Bhurji

a plate of paneer makhanai on a table with a glass of water

How to make VEGAN version of this Paneer Butter Masala?

If you want to make a vegan version of this curry, then, I have got you covered. You can make the vegan version of the same curry by swapping some ingredients:

  1. Use vegan cheese instead of paneer.

  2. Use Coconut butter instead of butter.

  3. Use Cashew cream instead of cream.

  4. Your vegan butter paneer is ready to devour.

Related: Restaurant Style Matar Paneer Curry

a pan of paneer butter masala on a table with a plate with some flatbread

Why would you love paneer butter masala?

If you love paneer then you will surely love this delicious paneer curry. This incredibly delish curry is a treat for paneer lovers. The gravy is thick, rich, and bursting with creamy and spicy goodness!! This curry goes so well with naan or any other flatbread.

Related: Potato Paneer Stuffed Roasted Red Cabbage Cones with Sriracha Sauce

Related: Creamy Fruit and Nut Couscous Paneer Pudding with Chocolate

a pan of paneer butter masala paneer makhani with green garnish on a table
a pan of paneer butter masala on a table with a glass of water

You may also like these other paneer recipes:

  1. Mint Coriander Tandoori Roti

  2. Besan  Stuffed Lauki Curry

  3. Rajasthani Khoba Roti

  4. Achaari Aloo Gobi

  5. Steamed Besan Gatte Ki Sabzi


Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani (Step-by-step photo instructions)

Making Butter Paneer:

  1. Heat 4 tablespoons butter and oil in a pan over medium heat.
  2. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-1 for Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani
  3. Also, add the bay leaves, cloves, black cardamom and sauté for few seconds.
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  5. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes.
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  7. Now, add ginger-garlic paste, Kasuri methi, and turmeric powder.
  8. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-4 for Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani
  9. Sauté everything for 2 minutes.
  10. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-5 for Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani
  11. After that, add salt and tomato puree. Mix well.
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  13. Cook covered for 4-5 minutes.
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  15. Add Kashmiri red chili powder, kitchen king masala, garam masala powder, and 1/4 cup cream.
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  17. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes.
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  19. Add paneer cubes and mix well.
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  21. Now add 2 tablespoons of cream and mix everything well.
  22. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-11 for Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani
  23. After that, add 1/3 cup of water, and 2 tablespoons butter. Mix well.(You can add more water, if needed).
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  25. Cook covered for 7-8 minutes or till oil leaves the sides.
  26. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-13 for Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani
  27. Garnish paneer butter masala or paneer makhani curry with coriander leaves, some cream, and serve hot with naan.
  28. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-14 for Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani

Recipe Card


Paneer Butter Masala - Paneer Makhani [Recipe]

Recipe Image
Paneer Butter Masala - Butter Paneer, or Paneer Makhani is a very popular rich, creamy indian curry made with rich and buttery tomato based gravy.
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 42 reviews)

Prep time 🕐 Cook time 🕐 Total time 🕐
35 mins
Category ☶ Cuisine ♨ Serves ☺
Sides Indian 4-5
Nutrition Info ⊛ Serving size ⊚
205 calories 1 serving

INGREDIENTS

For Paneer Butter Masala:
  • 1.5 cups paneer, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 3 + 2 tablespoons butter, (you can reduce the amount of butter)
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 2 bay leaves (tej patta)
  • 4 cloves (laung)
  • 2 black cardamom (moti or kali elaichi)
  • 3/4 cup onion paste
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 2 tablespoons dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder (halid powder)
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/2 cup tomato puree
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kashmiri red chili powder (you can also use regular red chili or cayenne pepper powder)
  • 2 teaspoon kitchen king masala (you can replace it with curry powder)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala (optional)
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons fresh cream
  • 1/4 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS:

Making Butter Paneer:
  1. Heat 4 tablespoons butter and oil in a pan over medium heat.
  2. Also, add the bay leaves, cloves, black cardamom and sauté for few seconds.
  3. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes.
  4. Now, add ginger-garlic paste, Kasuri methi, and turmeric powder.
  5. Sauté everything for 2 minutes.
  6. After that, add salt and tomato puree. Mix well.
  7. Cook covered for 4-5 minutes.
  8. Add Kashmiri red chili powder, kitchen king masala, garam masala powder, and 1/4 cup cream.
  9. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes.
  10. Add paneer cubes and mix well.
  11. Now add 2 tablespoons of cream and mix everything well.
  12. After that, add 1/3 cup of water, and 2 tablespoons butter. Mix well.(You can add more water, if needed).
  13. Cook covered for 7-8 minutes or till oil leaves the sides.
  14. Garnish paneer butter masala or paneer makhani curry with coriander leaves, some cream, and serve hot with naan.

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NOTES:

  1. You can use any vegan cheese instead of paneer
  2. You can replace butter with coconut butter or margarine.
  3. You can use cashew cream instead of cream.


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