4.9 from 90 votes
Paneer Makhanwala
Paneer Makhanwala is a rich curry featuring paneer cubes in a smooth makhani paste made from cooking onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cashews and whole warm spices like mace, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. The ground paste blends into butter, chilies, and spices to form a vibrant, creamy sauce with kasuri methi and garam masala enhancing aroma. Light cream adds silkiness and subtle sweetness balances the savory depth, creating a comforting, velvety paneer dish.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
338 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Indian
Ingredients
For makhani paste
- ¾ cup onion 80 grams or 1 medium to large onion, chopped
- 1.5 cups tomato 160 to 170 grams or 3 to 4 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 1 inch ginger - chopped or 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
- 3 to 4 garlic small to medium sized, chopped or ½ teaspoon chopped garlic, cloves
- 2 mace single strands
- 2 to 3 green cardamom
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 2 to 3 cloves
- 2 tablespoon cashews or about 10 to 12 cashews, whole
- 1 cup water
Other Ingredients
- 2 to 2.5 tablespoons butter - softened
- 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
- 1 to 1.5 teaspoon red chili powder or deghi mirch or sweet paprika, kashmir variety
- 1 green chili - slit
- salt as required
- 1.5 cups water or as required
- 250 to 300 grams paneer - cut into cubes or squares (cottage cheese)
- ¼ cup light cream or cooking cream of low-fat cream
- ¾ teaspoon kasuri methi - crushed (dry fenugreek leaves)
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon sugar or add as required
For Garnish
- 1 tablespoon light cream or cooking cream
- 1 to 2 tablespoons paneer optional, grated
- 1 inch ginger - julienne
- 1 to 2 tablespoons Coriander leaves cilantro, chopped
Instructions
Making makhani paste
- First mix chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cashews, mace, cinnamon, cloves and cardamoms with 1 cup water in a medium saucepan.
- Cook everything without a lid till the tomatoes and onions soften. Cook for about 14 to 15 minutes on a medium flame. Allow this mixture to cool.
- When the ingredients are warm or cool, add everything including the stock (the water in which the ingredients were cooked) in a good blender or grinder. Grind to a smooth and fine paste.
- Remember there should be no small pieces of cashews or spices. Everything should be ground very well till fine and smooth.
Cup of Yum
Making paneer makhanwala
- Heat butter in the same pan or another pan. Make sure the pan is dry when you add the butter. Add tejpatta (Indian bay leaf) and sauté for a few seconds.
- Add the ground makhani paste. Stir well to mix with the butter
- Add kashmiri red chili powder which gives a good color and is less spicy. You can also use deghi mirch or sweet paprika
- Stir well and saute the masala on a medium heat.
- Keep stirring often. You have to sauté the masala till you see the butter leaving the sides. It has to sautéed really well. This takes time but patience is the key.
- Sauteing the masala paste takes about 20 to 22 mins on a medium to medium-high heat. Check the step by step photos (picture number 9) for the consistency of how the masala paste should be before you proceed to the next step.
- Add slit green chilies, salt and water. Again stir very well to make an even curry mixture. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Then add sugar and again stir. If you want to add honey instead of sugar then kindly check the notes section below.
- Add the paneer cubes. Mix gently and switch off the heat.
- Lastly add the light cream, crushed kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves) and garam masala powder.
- Mix very well and switch off the heat. Check the taste of gravy and add more salt or sugar as needed.
- Serve paneer makhanwala garnished with cream, grated paneer, ginger julienne, and cilantro leaves, hot or warm with naan or roti.
Nutrition Information
Calories
338kcal
(17%)
Carbohydrates
11g
(4%)
Protein
12g
(24%)
Fat
28g
(43%)
Saturated Fat
16g
(80%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
71mg
(24%)
Sodium
334mg
(14%)
Potassium
259mg
(6%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
917IU
(18%)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
1mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
1mg
Vitamin B6
1mg
Vitamin B12
1µg
(42%)
Vitamin C
11mg
(12%)
Vitamin D
1µg
(5%)
Vitamin E
1mg
Vitamin K
8µg
Calcium
361mg
(36%)
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
17µg
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Magnesium
31mg
(8%)
Phosphorus
68mg
Zinc
1mg
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 338
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 338kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 28g | 43% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 71mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 334mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 259mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 917IU | 18% |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B6 | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B12 | 1µg | 42% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Vitamin D | 1µg | 5% |
| Vitamin E | 1mg | |
| Vitamin K | 8µg | |
| Calcium | 361mg | 36% |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 17µg | |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
| Magnesium | 31mg | 8% |
| Phosphorus | 68mg | |
| Zinc | 1mg |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.