Mushroom Paneer Masala

What is Paneer?
If firm tofu and cheese made love, this would make paneer cheese. Its light, keeps its shape hot, not such a strong flavour (close taste to cottage cheese), but great heartiness in any indian curry dish. You would be surprised how good it is!

Ingredients
2 TBSP cooking oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 large red onion finely chopped
            -
2 TSBP butter
            -
3 plum tomatoes finely chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp tumeric
pinch chili powder
1 tsp king masala spice mix
1 tsp garam masala spice mix
1 tsp garlic ginger paste
            -
1 green pepper large dice (optional, usually not inside this dish, but we added it)
2 cups fresh mushrooms sliced (canned works also)
1 cup/8 oz cubed paneer cheese
     NOTE: if you cannot find paneer cheese, google how to make it (easy), OR replace with firm tofu
          
1. Heat oil, add and toast cumin seeds (25 seconds). Add onions and cook till browned.
2. Add butter and stirr till brown and roasted smells come out (5 mins around)
3. add tomatoes and stir / mash it
4. and salt and spices, and green pepper. stir for 5 minutes
5. add paneer, or if using tofu, add it with the peppers.

Garnish: drizzle of cream and fresh chopped coriander.

Best Mushroom Paneer Masala we had in India: 

High Tide restaurant

Palolem Beach, Goa. 

We went back again!