Recipe of the Day: Paneer Khurchan

Paneer Khurchan is a tasty North Indian recipe which is a blend of melt-in-the-mouth paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and a combination of spices with crunchy vegetables. 

“Khurchan” is a Hindi term which refers to “scraping,” thereby suggesting the cooking technique in which paneer and vegetables are sautéed and scraped slowly from the pan to acquire flavor. People who like aromatic, spicy, and restaurant-style paneer recipes will love it.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

•  Available at short notice and readily
• Full of strong Indian spices
• Perfect for an easy weeknight meal or a special event!
• You can have it all with naan, rice, or roti.

Ingredients

(Serves: 3-4)

For the Main Dish:

• 200g paneer (cut into thin strips)
• 1 medium onion (sliced)
• 1 medium capsicum (sliced)
• 1 medium tomato (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 green chili (chopped)
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• ½ teaspoon garam masala
• 2 tablespoons fresh cream (optional, for richness)
• 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup (for a tangy flavor)
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil or ghee
• Fresh coriander leaves (for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves, crushed)

Instructions

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics

1. Heat oil or ghee in a pan on medium heat.
2. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
3. Add sliced onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.
4. Add the ginger-garlic paste and chopped green chili, and sauté for another minute.

Step 2: Cook the Vegetables

5. Add sliced capsicum and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly soft but still crunchy.
6. Add chopped tomatoes, salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder.
7. Cook until the tomatoes become soft and the spices are well combined.

Step 3: Add Paneer

8. Add paneer strips and gently mix.
9. Stir-fry on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes while scraping the bottom of the pan to enhance the smoky flavor.

Step 4: Finish with Cream & Spices

10. Add tomato ketchup and mix well.
11. Pour in fresh cream (if using) and mix gently to coat the paneer.
12. Sprinkle garam masala and crushed kasuri methi for an extra burst of flavor.
13. Turn off the heat and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve Paneer Khurchan hot with butter naan, tandoori roti, or jeera rice.
• Pair it with raita or a simple green salad for a complete meal.