Restaurant Style Methi Chaman

Instructions

Step 1. Blanch Methi & Palak leaves

Step 1. Firstly clean and rinse Methi & Palak Leaves properly, then take a pan heat 1 cup water to blanch leaves, add methi leaves let it soften and settle after 2-3 minutes add palak leaves after another 3-4 minutes turn off gas and with help of strainer or tongs lift the leaves from hot water and place them in a bowl of cold water wait for 2-3 minutes, keep the stock aside

Step 2. Sauté Paneer (Cottage Cheese)

In a pan add 3 to Teaspoon oil and let it heat once oil is properly heated place paneer cubes and quickly Sauté Paneer Don't fry/Sauté Paneer on a low flame this makes Paneer chewy and loses the texture instead quickly frying makes it crispy brown on the outer side and soft from inside

Step 3. Blend Blanched leaves
Drain leaves from cold water and blends them properly

Step 4. In a pan heat 2 to 3 Teaspoon Mustard oil, let it heat properly till smoke start to come out of it now add half teaspoon jeera let it splutter

Step 5. Simmer the flame and add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, half teaspoon red chili powder, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon dry ginger powder keep stirring to avoid masala from blazing

 

Step 6. In a small bowl take 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida add a bit of water dissolve it and pour into the pan let that heavenly aroma fill your senses

Step 7. Now add 1 tablespoon besan/Gram flour (In authentic dish gram flour is not used, I've tweaked it a bit as Besan/gram flour helps in gravy binding and keeps consistency thick as required) stir it well. once besan is properly fried add blended puree of methi palak leaves

Step 8. Mix the puree and masala well and to adjust the consistency of gravy use the stock we've kept aside while blanching leaves

Step 9. Add salt to taste and 1 teaspoon sugar mix it properly, take 1 tablespoon Kasuri methi crush it by rubbing between your palm, and spread on the gravy, crushing Kasuri methi releases its aroma and enhances the taste

Step 10. Add fried paneer cubes mix it all and cover the pan for 2 minutes on low flame