Paneer Makhani - Swasthi's Recipes (2024)

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Paneer makhani is a delicious curry made by cooking paneer in buttery tomato cashew gravy. This super delicious creamy paneer makhani is loved by most Indians & is popular on the Indian restaurant menus. Paneer makhani goes so well with plain basmati rice, jeera rice, roti, paratha or naan.

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This restaurant style paneer makhani is an all-time favorite at home as it super quick to make & tastes amazingly delicious. It can be made just under 25 to 30 mins from scratch.

Paneer makhani is a popular punjabi dish made with paneer, tomatoes, cashews, spices & cream. Paneer refers to Indian cheese & makhan refers to butter. So paneer makhani translates to paneer cooked with butter.

This recipe is different from the paneer butter masala I have shared before. Punjabi paneer makhani is made with very few ingredients and uses no onion making it distinct from the Butter paneer or Paneer butter masala.

This recipe is a must try if you are looking for some easy, yet delicious paneer recipe that can be made with minimum effort.

You can cook your basmati rice on one burner while you make the paneer makhani on the other. You will have your awesome meal ready under half an hour. Do include some fresh sliced onions, carrots, cucumbers & lemon in your meal to perk up the nutrition.

This paneer makhani recipe has roughly been adapted from the Veg makhani and Butter chicken recipes on this blog.

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Related recipes
Malai kofta
Paneer tikka masala
Palak paneer
Matar paneer

How to Make Paneer Makhani (Stepwise photos)

Preparation

1. Chop tomatoes and add them to a blender jar along with cashews. If you do not own a powerful blender then soak the cashews in little hot water for 15 mins. Drain the water and add them to the blender. I do not soak them.

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2. Blend them to a smooth puree. If your blender doesn’t make a smooth puree, then filter the puree. I do not filter as mine does a smooth puree.

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Make Makhani Gravy

4. Heat 1 tbsp butter. Add slit & deseeded chilli, 2 cardamoms, 2 cloves and 1 small cinnamon stick. If you do not have the whole spices then just skip them.

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5. When they begin to sizzle, add ginger garlic paste (or ginger paste). Saute until the raw smell goes away.

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6. Pour the tomato puree.

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7. It will begin to splash immediately, so cover the pan partially. Continue to cook until the tomato puree thickens.

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8. Add red chili powder and salt.

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9. Stir and cook until it begins to leave the sides. You can adjust more or less chili powder now. I added about 1 ¼ tsp red chili powder since mine was not hot, adjust as needed to suit your taste.

Add 1 ¼ tsp garam masala. If your masala is very strong, then use ¾ tsp garam masala and ½ tsp coriander powder. Mix and saute for a minute or 2.

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10. Add about 1 cup water, sugar and mix. You may need to adjust the amount of water slightly.

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11. Cover and cook on a medium flame until the gravy thickens. You can now see butter begins to float on the gravy slightly. There is not much butter used, so you will only see little traces of butter.

Make Paneer Makhani

12. Add paneer (Indian cottage cheese).

13. Sprinkle crushed kasuri methi. Gently stir, cover and cook on a medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes.

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14. Add cream as desired. I add about ¼ cup of cream and cook until it begins to bubble. This quantity goes well for our taste and it balances the sour taste from tomatoes. You can add more or less to your liking.

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Serving suggestions : Paneer makhani can be served with
Indian flat breads like – naan, roti or plain paratha.
Plain or Flavored rice like
Jeera rice
ghee rice
pulao

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Pro Tips

  1. Use good quality paneer from a good brand. You can also check this homemade paneer recipe to make your own just like the way I did.
  2. If using store bought paneer, you can optionally soak it in hot water for 15 to 20 mins before adding to the gravy. This will keep the paneer soft.
  3. This paneer makhani recipe uses cashews to make the makhani gravy creamy. Feel free to replace them with soaked and blanched almonds.
  4. You can also make the gravy ahead and refrigerate. Do not add the paneer & cream while making the gravy. When you are ready to consume, heat until it begins to bubble. Then add paneer & stir in the cream.
  5. Choose ripe tomatoes and avoid the unripe or green ones as they ruin the taste of the paneer makhani.
  6. I do not use artificial colors for my food. I generally use Kashmiri or byadgi chilli powder for good color. .
  7. You can use cooking cream, whipping cream, heavy cream or even vegan cream. You can also skip the cream completely and just increase the amount of cashews.
  8. Avoid over cooking paneer in the makhani gravy as overcooked paneer turns hard, rubbery & chewy.

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Recipe Card

Paneer Makhani - Swasthi's Recipes (21)

Paneer Makhani Recipe

Paneer makhani is a delicious, creamy & rich dish made of paneer in cashew tomato gravy. Serve paneer makhani with plain rice, flavored rice or any Indian flat breads like roti, naan or plain paratha.

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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Cook Time25 minutes minutes

Total Time30 minutes minutes

Servings4

AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

To puree

  • 16 to 18 cashewnuts or blanched almonds
  • cups tomatoes or 400 gms

Other ingredients

  • 2 cups paneer (200 grams Indian cottage cheese)
  • 1 tablespoon butter (can use upto 2 tbsps)
  • 2 green cardamoms (elaichi)
  • 1 inch cinnamon piece (dalchini, optional, but recommended)
  • 2 cloves (optional, but recommended)
  • 1 green chili (slit & deseeded, optional)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste or crushed (or ¾ tsp ginger paste)
  • ¾ to 1 ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder (adjust to taste)
  • salt as needed
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar (to balance the flavors)
  • teaspoon turmeric (haldi) (optional)
  • teaspoon garam masala (adjust as needed)
  • ½ teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
  • ¼ cup cream (adjust to suit your taste)

Instructions

Preparation

  • If using store bought paneer, then soak it in hot water for 15 to 20 mins.

  • Drain the water and use. This will keep the paneer soft.

  • Blend together tomatoes and cashews to a smooth puree.

  • If you do not have a powerful blender then just soak cashews for 10 to 15 mins in hot water.

  • The tomato puree has to be smooth.

  • If you find your puree coarse, then pass it through a strainer.

How to Make Paneer Makhani

  • Heat a pan with butter. saute cloves, cinnamon, cardamoms and green chili.

  • Then saute ginger garlic paste for 2 mins until the raw smell has gone.

  • Transfer the tomato puree to the pan.

  • The tomato puree will begin to splash so be cautious.

  • Cover partially and cook until the puree thickens.

  • Add chili powder, turmeric and salt.

  • Saute until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.

  • Next add garam masala and saute for 1 to 2 mins.

  • Pour 1 cup water and sugar. Adjust the amount of water as needed to make a gravy.

  • Cook until the paneer makhani gravy thickens & you see traces of butter or grease on top.

  • Add the paneer & kasuri methi to the makhani gravy.

  • Stir gently and cook covered for 2 mins on a low heat.

  • Pour the cream and allow to bubble.

  • Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with cream and coriander leaves.

  • Serve paneer makhani with roti, naan or jeera rice.

Notes

  1. If you are making ahead then just make the makhani gravy and refrigerate. When needed allow the gravy to bubble and then add paneer and cream.
  2. To use almonds, soak them in hot water for 30 mins. Peel off the skin and blend along with tomatoes.
  3. You can totally skip the cream in the recipe.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts

Paneer Makhani Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 503Calories from Fat 369

% Daily Value*

Fat 41g63%

Saturated Fat 24g150%

Cholesterol 109mg36%

Sodium 300mg13%

Potassium 437mg12%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 19g38%

Vitamin A 680IU14%

Vitamin C 13.8mg17%

Calcium 599mg60%

Iron 2.1mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

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About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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Paneer Makhani - Swasthi's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between paneer butter masala and makhani? ›

Ideally, all three dishes are one and the same. However, when some restaurants list butter masala and makhani separately on their menu, the difference lies in the level of spiciness. In such cases, butter masala is on the spicier side, and makhani is less spicy and on the sweeter side.

What is the difference between shahi paneer and paneer Makhni? ›

A: They are similar in spiciness, but this (the paneer makhani) is a little bit more spicy. The shahi paneer has a creamier sauce, which seems to tone the spice level down somewhat. If the shahi paneer is at your upper limit of spiciness, you'll probably want to avoid the makhani.

What is the difference between paneer tikka and paneer butter? ›

What is the difference between paneer butter masala and paneer tikka masala? Paneer butter masala is essentially cooked in butter, has a smooth silky curry to which raw paneer is added. But paneer tikka masala is made with grilled paneer and is predominantly spicy and has some texture in the curry.

Should you fry paneer before adding to curry? ›

Paneer is already cooked.

So it's not essential that you cook it prior to adding to curry. Some people like a golden brown colour on the outside. If you like, you can shallow fry, deep fry, or grill paneer before adding it to a curry. This will create a golden crust on the outside.

Which is better paneer tikka masala or paneer butter masala? ›

Paneer tikka masala and paneer butter masala both have same makhni gravy( a tomato based gravy with lots of butter) but the paneer pieces in paneer tikka masala are marinated and cooked on skewers in a tandoor then added in gravy whereas in paneer butter masala paneer pieces are raw or deep fried then added in gravy.

Is paneer makhani like tikka masala? ›

They are both popular paneer recipes but the way you make them is different. For the tikka masala, we first marinate the paneer, grill it and then add to the curry. For the paneer makhani, the sauce is made with nuts, onions, tomatoes and then paneer pieces are added to it directly.

Which is more tasty paneer butter masala or shahi paneer? ›

Similar dishes include paneer butter masala and Kadai paneer. The subtle difference between paneer butter masala and shahi paneer is that more of whole spices are used in paneer butter masala, whereas shahi paneer has a sweeter taste when compared to paneer butter masala.

Which is the tastiest paneer? ›

One of the most popular and a favorite Indian paneer recipe is Paneer Butter Masala. A smooth, velvety, creamy tomato based gravy with soft and succulent paneer cubes. The dish is a vegetarian take on Butter Chicken but fairly easy to make than butter chicken.

Which is more tasty paneer butter masala or kadai paneer? ›

Kadai Paneer is a spicy gravy recipe which uses a lot of spices to give it a robust bold flavour. However, paneer butter masala is a sweetish creamy cashew nuts and tomato based curry which uses mild spices and nuts. The gravy is much subtle and rich and is slightly on the sweetish side.

Why is paneer tikka so expensive? ›

But when you try to buy paneer dish from restaurants the cost includes many charges such as Cost of raw material, cost of Labor, Rent, Tax part, Maintenance cost, Miscellaneous and Profit margin etc.

What is the closest cheese to Indian paneer? ›

Cottage cheese and ricotta cheese are two milk products that are similar to paneer. They both have a mild flavor and are made from cow's milk, like paneer.

What are the three types of paneer? ›

Mattar paneer (paneer with peas) Shahi paneer (paneer cooked in a rich Mughlai curry) Paneer tikka (a vegetarian version of chicken tikka, paneer placed on skewers and roasted)

Why put paneer in water after frying? ›

After frying, if the paneer becomes hard, let the raw paneer soak in normal water for 10 minutes. This is because cooking extracts the paneer moisture making it hard or rubbery to eat. On the other hand, putting the paneer in water keeps it soft and gives the necessary moisture (if lost while cooking).

Why do people soak paneer in water before? ›

10 minutes makes it extra soft and crumbly! This is perfect for times when you are making a. bhurji, grilled sandwich, or topping a pizza with.

Why does paneer become hard after frying? ›

Paneer cooking mistakes: Over cooking paneer, that too in high temperature, may affect the fat molecules in paneer, resulting in its tough and chewy texture. Hence, it is always suggested to cook paneer on medium heat, until it holds the shape.

Is makhani the same as masala? ›

Butter chicken, traditionally known as murgh makhani (pronounced [mʊrɣ ˈməkʰaːni]), is an Indian dish originating in Delhi. It is a type of curry made from chicken with a spiced tomato and butter (makhan) sauce. Its sauce is known for its rich texture. It is similar to chicken tikka masala, which uses a tomato paste.

What's the difference between masala and makhani? ›

The difference visible in the names is the same as the difference in their flavours. Chicken Makhani uses a lot of "makhan", or butter (in its traditional style of cooking) whereas Tikka Masala involves more "masala", or spices.

Is paneer makhani the same as paneer tikka masala? ›

Is Paneer Makhani the same as Paneer Tikka Masala? Although both dishes are made with tomato and butter-based gravy, paneer tikka masala tends to be slightly spicier and utilizes onion with aromatics. In some recipes, the paneer is also marinated, cooked on skewers in a tandoor, then added into the gravy.

Is paneer makhani the same as butter chicken? ›

Butter chicken is one traditional Indian food that defines the cuisine across the world. To put it simply, paneer makhani is the vegetarian cousin of the famous Indian food butter chicken, where succulent pieces of chicken are replaced with humble paneer cubes.

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