Paneer Lababdar Recipe
Try this easy Paneer Lababdar, a creamy North Indian curry with rich spices and paneer, perfect with naan.
Recipe Source Link:https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/paneer-lababdar/
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Prep Time = 15 minutes
Cook Time = 35 minutes
Total Time = 50 minutes
Category = Sides
Cuisine = Indian
Serves = 4-5
Nutrition Info = 350 calories
Serving Size = 1
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
» For The Onion-Tomato Puree:
- 2 teaspoons cooking oil
- 3 small dried red chilies (sukhi lal mirch)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- 3 green cardamom (hari ilaichi)
- 2-inch cinnamon sticks (dalchini)
- 5-6 peppercorns (kali mirch)
- 4-5 cloves (laung)
- 10-12 cashew nuts (kaju)
- 2 tablespoons melon seeds (kharbuje ke beej)
- 2 medium-sized onion (pyaaj), roughly chopped
- 2 small green chilies (hari mirch), roughly chopped
- 4-5 garlic cloves (lehsun)
- 1 inch ginger (adrak), roughly chopped
- 3 medium-sized tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1/2 cup water (pani)
» For paneer lababdar gravy:
- 350 grams paneer, cubed
- 100 grams paneer, grated
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 tablespoons butter (I used unsalted butter)
- 1 tablespoon ginger, julienned (adrak ke lacche)
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (lal mirch powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi powder)
- 1/2 cup water (pani), or more if needed
- 1 bay leaf (tej patta)
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder (dhania powder)
- 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder (jeera powder)
- 1 tablespoon Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- salt as needed
- 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
- 3-4 tablespoons cream (I used 15% fat cream, you can use any cream you like)
- 2 tablespoons cilantro (coriander leaves), chopped
» For Garnish:
- Grated paneer
- Cream
- Cilantro (coriander) leaves
RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
» How to make onion tomato puree:
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add cumin seeds and dried red chilies.
- Sauté for a few seconds and add cinnamon sticks, green cardamoms, peppercorns, and cloves.
- Sauté for few more seconds or until they release the aroma.
- Add cashews and melon seeds to the pan and sauté for a few seconds.
- Next, add garlic cloves, ginger, green chilies, and chopped onions. Sauté for 3 minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes and mix well.
- Also, add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder and stir well.,
- Pour 1/2 cup of water mix well again. Cook covered for 6-7 minutes or until tomatoes are softened and turn pulpy.
- Uncvoer. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool completely.
- Once cooled, add the sautéed onion-tomato mixture to a mixer/blender jar.
- Blend well to make a fine and smooth puree. The onion-tomato puree is ready. Keep it aside.
» How to make Paneer Lababdar gravy:
- Heat Add 1 tablespoon oil and 2 tablespoons butter to a large pan. Let the butter melt.
- Once butter is melted, add bay leaf and julienned ginger to it. Sauté for a few seconds over medium heat.
- Add Kashmiri red chili powder, and turmeric powder. Mix well and sauté spice powders for a few seconds.
- After that, onion tomato puree along with 1/2 cup water to it. Mix until everything is well combined.
- Cover the pan with the lid and cook for 5-6 minutes over medium heat.
- Open the lid and add garam masala powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and Kasuri methi. Mix everything well.
- Add sugar. Also add salt, if needed. Mix everything well and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Then add grated paneer and give it a mix.
- Cover the pan again with the lid and cook for 3-4 minutes over medium-low heat.
- Remove the lid and mix everything well. Add cream and mix well.
- Next, add paneer cubes and mix them again.
- Cover the pan with the lid and cook for 3-4 minutes over medium-low heat.
- Add cilantro and mix gently. Turn off the stove and keep the pan covered for 3-4 minutes.
- Paneer lababdar is ready. Serve hot with naan, roti, or paratha.
RECIPE NOTES
- Adding some kind of a sweetener is a must in this recipe. I have added sugar. You can swap sugar with honey or maple syrup.
- For the best experience, sprinkle curry with a handful of grated paneer and drizzle with some cream.
- Add a drizzle of melted ghee or butter at the end of the process to make this curry taste even richer in taste.
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