The naming of Indian dish is very interesting. It is not only based on its main ingredients and method but sometimes it’s based on utensils used to prepare that dish too. Here kadai paneer name came from Indian cooking pot ‘kadai’. 😀 It’s a spicy delicious paneer dish and people like it with roti, paratha and naan. Generally, people make it dry but some people prefer it with shiny and creamy gravy too. This special kadai paneer recipe may solve your problem and you can enjoy this with jeera rice, pulao, and plain rice too.
Paneer is always favorite dish for vegetarian people but non-vegetarian people also like it so much. It’s white color, softness, and lovely flavor gives it a special character so that you can add vegetables and spices with it and make so many tasty dishes (paneer masala, shahi paneer, paneer bhurji, paneer pasanda and much more.

You must have tried some other paneer dishes too and definitely liked those. Now you can try this one too if you have not yet tried this one. If you have tried this or made at home then please let us know about your experience.
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Kadai paneer recipe – with gravy
Ingredients
- Paneer – 200 gm (cut into small cubes)
- Onion – 2 medium sized
- Tomatoes – 2 large sized (puree)
- Ginger garlic paste – 2 tsp
- Peanuts – 15-20 pieces
- Cashew nuts – 5-6 pieces
- Red chili powder – 1 tsp
- Coriander powder -1 tsp
- Garam masala – 1/2 tsp
- Kasauri methi – 1/2 tsp
- Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
- Oil – 1 tablespoon
- Ghee – 1 tsp
- Salt – according to taste
- Coriander leaves – for garnish
Use a flat kadaai (or karahi) to cook… 😀
Method
- Heat a kadaai (Indian cooking pot) and roast peanuts and cashew nuts and use a dry grinder to grind that
- Add oil into kadaai & heat, now add onion and still well and add salt according to taste
- When onion-color turns to brown then add ginger garlic paste and cashew nuts & peanuts paste
- Now add coriander powder, red chili powder & turmeric powder and cook all spices
- By that time you should prepare tomato puree and add it to the masala
- Add paneer cubes into the masala or thick gravy, you can add water if needed
- Cover the kadaai and cook for 3 minutes more in low flame, now add ghee, kasuri methi & garam masala
- Add water according to required gravy and cook for 3-5 minutes more
- Add coriander leaves & finely sliced ginger pieces (optional) and switch off the oven
- Serve hot
Additional tips
You should use ripe tomatoes, otherwise taste will not be good. Fresh cream can be added too. If you are using fresh cream, then you can avoid peanuts & cashew nuts to add. Add water according to gravy required as too much gravy can spoil the actual taste of kadai paneer.
If you like this kadai paneer recipe and tried this at home then reply here and let others know.
- Paneer – 200 gm (cut into small cubes)
- Onion – 2 medium sized
- Tomatoes – 2 large sized (puree)
- Ginger garlic paste – 2 tsp
- Peanuts – 15-20 pieces
- Cashew nuts – 5-6 pieces
- Red chili powder – 1 tsp
- Coriander powder -1 tsp
- Garam masala – ½ tsp
- Kasauri methi – ½ tsp
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Oil – 1 tablespoon
- Ghee – 1 tsp
- Salt – according to taste
- Coriander leaves – for garnish
- Heat a kadai (Indian cooking pot) and roast peanuts and cashew nuts and use a dry grinder to grind that
- Add oil into kadai & heat, now add onion and still well and add salt according to taste
- When onion-color turns to brown then add ginger garlic paste and cashew nuts & peanuts paste
- Now add coriander powder, red chili powder & turmeric powder and cook all spices
- By that time you should prepare tomato puree and add it to the masala
- Add paneer cubes into the masala or thick gravy, you can add water if needed
- Cover the kadai and cook for 3 minutes more in low flame, now add ghee, kasuri methi & garam masala
- Add water according to required gravy and cook for 3-5 minutes more
- Add coriander leaves & finely sliced ginger pieces (optional) and switch off the oven
- Serve hot
Paneer is the most preferred food to any vegetarian people, but non-vegetarian people (like me) also like this. There are many dishes which are made of paneer but this kadai paneer is one of my favorite vegetarian dishes. So what is your favorite dish? Is it on the list of your favorite dishes too?
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