Paneer Bhurji

Today we were in a mood to have something light and different for our meal....the weekends are generally like that - it starts with getting up late,  having dosa or chilla or sabu khichdi or powa...(you get the drift ) for breakfast...

Lunch and dinner also tends to be aloo paratha with curds - or sandwich and soups - idli or rava idli - handwo....etc...

This makes a change from our regular dal, rice, subzi, chapati & salad routine....

Paneer bhurji is one such very light meal - quick to prepare and absolutely yummilicious...is there such a word ? ....if not we should create it....
It can be had as a side to a main meal of course - but it goes very well with toasted sandwich too..

So with that plan in mind ....I asked for extra milk in the morning, we have a very obliging and courteous milkman...and nowadays with the ubiquitous mobile...( everyone ...man,woman, child and pet having one)....it was a simple matter to call at the crack of dawn...I also get a good morning madam from him ( hence the courteous tag )...and got the milk for my paneer...

I love making paneer at home whenever possible...and when that is not so, we have a place where we get fresh paneer which is  very soft and tasty...
But today I was in the mood for some made at home...so as per my earlier post of home made paneer ...made some and then later the bhurji...

Ingredients:

200 gms paneer - soft and crumbled
1 medium onion
1 medium tomato
1 - 2 green chillies as per taste
1 capsicum ( optional )
1/4 tsp tumeric powder
1/4 red chilli powder ( optional )
1/2 cumin seeds
2 tsp oil
Salt to taste

Method :

Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds.
When it splutters add chopped onions ( if using capsicum, add at this stage )...
After the onions become translucent, add tomato and green chilli - cook till it becomes soft.
Add the dry powders, salt...you can add coriander powder too (optional )...
Add the paneer after crumbling it...and mix thoroughly...
Let it cook for a couple of minutes covered - sometimes the paneer releases water - if it does - cook till the water is dried up...
Switch off the gas and serve.
Enjoy !!!

How to make paneer...at home

It's been some days since I last blogged - not that I have not been cooking....but somehow got too busy with other matters....but today I have made paneer and plan to make paneer bhurji, so decided that this requires a mention...

There is nothing like fresh home made paneer ....and it is the most simplest thing to do...esp. if using in a dish like paneer bhurji where it does not even require to be set....it can be used in it's original crumbly form...

So here's how you can make paneer...

Ingredients:


1 litre of milk
juice from 1 lemon or few tsps of vinegar


Method:


Bring the milk to a boil...and reduce the flame.
Start adding the juice of the lemon (or vinegar ) slowly while stirring till the milk separates into whey and paneer...
If it is not completely separated - you could add some more lemon juice...
Sieve the mixture through fine mesh or muslin cloth


In case you need to use paneer in cube form - then at this stage you should cover the paneer in the muslin cloth and press a heavy dish or stone over it for about 1 hour...this enables the water to be removed totally and also hardens the paneer...allowing you to cut it into pieces as required for your dish. You could also refregirate it for a while before cutting it.


However if you need to use for paneer bhurji as I plan to ...then it can be stored as it is just after separating the whey....

This gives about 200 gms of paneer.
Enjoy !!!