Paneer Butter Masala: 5 Best ways to Make like-restaurant

🧈 Paneer Butter Masala: A tasty journey that fills the mind with happiness!

1.Introduction:

Paneer Butter Masala – Its name and smell are enough!

Just think… a buttery, creamy, slightly sweet and slightly tangy Paneer Butter Masala with hot tandoori roti. Did your mouth water?

For paneer lovers, this dish is not just a recipe, it is an emotion. It is mandatory to get this dish in every restaurant, dhaba or wedding buffet in India.

2. What is Paneer Butter Masala?

This dish is a rich and creamy North Indian curry that contains:

A tadka of butter

Tomato-onion based gravy

A touch of fresh cream

And soft, juicy paneer cubes

This recipe is mostly made restaurant-style, but I am going to show you an easy way to make it at home.

3. Ingredients: The secret to taste! Let's first look at the ingredients of Paneer Butter Masala:

A. Main Ingredients:

Paneer – 250 grams (homemade or store-bought)
Butter – 2 tablespoons (essential!)

3. Tomato – 3 medium (pureed)

4. Onion – 1 large (finely chopped)

5. Fresh Cream – 3 tablespoons

6. Ginger Garlic Paste – 1 tablespoon

B. Spices:

Red Chili Powder – 1 tsp (Kashmiri for color)

2. Garam Masala – ½ tsp

3. Coriander Powder – 1 tsp

4. Turmeric – ¼ tsp

5. Kasuri Methi – 1 tsp (crushed)

6. Salt – as per taste

7. Sugar – 1 tsp (to balance tang)

C. Extra:

Cooking oil – 1 tbsp

Water – as needed

5. Step-by-Step Recipe: Make restaurant-like taste at home:

A. Step 1: Tomato Gravy Base

Blend tomatoes to make a smooth puree.

In a pan add some butter and fry ginger-garlic paste in it.

Now add tomato puree and fry for 5-7 minutes till the oil separates.

B. Step 2: Onion and Spices

In a separate pan add some butter or oil and fry onion paste.

Now add spices – red chili, turmeric, coriander powder.

Mix and cook for 3-4 minutes.

C. Step 3: Rich Touch to Gravy

Combine onion-tomato masala.

Now add cream and cook for 2 minutes on low flame.

Add some water and bring the gravy to desired consistency.

D. Step 4: Paneer and Final Touch

Lightly fry the paneer cubes or add as-is (your choice).

Now add it to the gravy and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add garam masala, sugar and kasuri methi and mix.

E. Step 5: Serve with Love

Garnish with fresh coriander. Serve with butter naan, tandoori roti or cumin rice. And yes, the taste gets doubled with a glass of tea or lassi!

6. Tips for Perfect Paneer Butter Masala:

A. Tomato selection: Choose a slightly tangy variety – Desi tomatoes are best.

B. Cream substitute: If you don’t have fresh cream, you can use malai.Want to keep the paneer soft? Soak it in hot water for 10 minutes.

C. Kasuri methi: Don’t skip it – this is the original dhaba wali fragrance!

Do you want onion garlic version? Skip onion & garlic and use cashew paste – super tasty and Jain-friendly too.

7. Paneer Butter Masala vs Shahi Paneer: What's the Difference?

Both dishes are star items of North Indian cuisine, but there is a lot of difference in taste and ingredients.

Paneer Butter Masala has a more buttery and tangy flavour in which tomato-based gravy is used, while Shahi Paneer is a little sweeter and richer, as it uses cream, khoya and dry fruits.

Paneer Butter Masala is a little spicy, while Shahi Paneer has a royal and subtle flavour – as the name itself suggests “Shahi”!

8. Health Angle: Is it Healthy?

Paneer Butter Masala is an indulgent dish, but if you modify it a little, it can be healthy too:

Reduce the butter

Use curd instead of cream

You can make oil-free gravy

Homemade paneer is more soft and digestible

9. Interesting Facts: Do you know?

This dish is also called Butter Paneer, Paneer Makhani or Makhani Paneer in some places.

It originated from the dhabons of Punjab.

This dish is the No. 1 ordered veg item in Indian restaurants all over the world!

10. Serving Suggestions: Not just Paneer Butter Masala, do you want the full combo?

What to serve with Paneer Butter Masala?

Butter naan

Lachha paratha

Steamed rice or jeera rice

Mint raita

Salad with onion rings & lemon

Roasted papad

And if the evening is cold, then a glass of sweet lassi makes the mood!

11. Final Thoughts:

The taste that pleases the heart
This dish is not just a recipe, it brings the comfort of home and the royal feel of a restaurant together.
This dish has:

The softness of butter

The tang of spices

And the love of paneer 💛

If you have not tried this recipe, then try making it today yourself.

FAQ's :

1. What is Paneer Butter Masala made of?

Paneer Butter Masala is made with paneer (Indian cottage cheese), butter, cream, tomatoes, cashews, and a blend of aromatic Indian spices. The gravy is rich, smooth, and slightly sweet.

2. Is Paneer Butter Masala spicy?

Paneer Butter Masala is mildly spicy with a touch of sweetness. It has a creamy texture and is less spicy compared to other Indian curries like Kadai Paneer or Paneer Tikka Masala.

3. What is the difference between Paneer Butter Masala and Paneer Tikka Masala?

Paneer Butter Masala has a rich, buttery, and creamy tomato-based gravy. Paneer Tikka Masala, on the other hand, uses grilled or roasted paneer pieces and has a spicier, smokier flavor profile.

Read And stay healthy. “THANK YOU”