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Matar Paneer

Sweet green peas and soft paneer cubes in a homey onion-tomato gravy — the weeknight curry that fills North Indian kitchens with warmth.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 25 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Matar paneer is the weeknight hero of North Indian home cooking, the curry that appears on dinner tables from Punjab to Delhi when time is short and appetites are big. Sweet green peas and creamy cubes of paneer simmer in a modest onion-tomato gravy that lets the ingredients speak for themselves. It is comfort food in the truest sense, humble enough for a Tuesday and good enough for company.

A homestyle curry with a whisper of sweetness

The peas pop with sweetness against the soft, milky paneer, and the gravy is homey and uncomplicated, warmed by cumin, coriander, and a gentle heat from green chilies. Crushed kasuri methi at the end adds an earthy, almost herbaceous note that makes the whole kitchen smell like an Indian home. Ladle it over rice or soak it up with roti for a meal that never disappoints. This is the curry that smells like coming home after a long day.

Craving more? Explore all North Indian Kitchen recipes.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet and lightly brown the paneer cubes on two sides, about 3 minutes. Set them aside.
  2. Heat the remaining oil in the same skillet. Add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle, then add the onion and cook until golden, about 6 minutes.
  3. Stir in the ginger-garlic paste and green chilies and cook for 1 minute.
  4. Add the tomato puree, turmeric, ground coriander, and salt. Simmer for 6 minutes, until the gravy thickens and the oil separates slightly.
  5. Add the peas and 1/2 cup of warm water and simmer for 5 minutes, until the peas are tender.
  6. Fold in the paneer, garam masala, and crushed fenugreek leaves, plus the cream if using. Simmer gently for 3 more minutes and serve hot with roti or rice.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Use frozen peas; they are sweeter and brighter than most fresh ones. Gently fold the paneer into the gravy so the cubes stay intact and creamy.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook25 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →