Vegan Matar Paneer with Tofu

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This vegan matar paneer (aka mattar paneer and mutter paneer) with tofu and inexperienced peas is wealthy, creamy and packed filled with fantastic elements. I’ve used totally different methods to extract as a lot flavour from the greens and spices used on this dish.

A vegan-friendly model of a mater paneer shouldn’t be as accessible at Indian eating places as you’d suppose. Many use ghee, cream and/or yoghurt, and naturally paneer (cottage cheese).

The standard method is to have paneer in a dish with inexperienced peas in a mildly spiced tomato gravy. I got down to make a vegan model (additionally gluten-free) of matar paneer so you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from this flavour-packed dish!

Utilizing tofu instead of paneer

To make this dish vegan, it’s frequent to make use of tofu as an alternative of the paneer, which is exactly what I’ve used on this recipe.

Paneer is cottage cheese with a gentle style (not tacky), so it resembles the style and texture of agency tofu. The primary distinction is that it’s milkier, which is to be anticipated from a dairy product.

I’d sometimes advise to flippantly fry the tofu earlier than including to the curry, nevertheless, I discovered that the oil and crust can hold the sauce from soaking into the tofu on this recipe.

Paneer can also be normally fairly agency so I added the tofu on the finish since you don’t need it to be too mushy.

The tofu right here, like paneer, does a incredible job of absorbing the flavours of the gravy. At first, I used to be frightened that it will style an excessive amount of like uncooked tofu, however it actually works! No uncooked tofu style right here, phew…

It’s essential that you simply use agency tofu for this recipe to attain the best consistency and an natural one if potential.

Peas are the hero of the present

I’ve already highlighted the significance of the tofu (paneer) for this recipe, however peas share simply as a lot of the limelight. The small bursts of goodness are the proper flavour and texture mixture on this lovely wealthy tomato sauce.

In North India, the place this dish originates from, they make it through the winter months when recent peas are in season. So, if in case you have entry to recent peas, please be at liberty to make use of them instead of frozen.

We use frozen natural peas and so they add a pleasant candy flavour to this recipe.

Alternative ways to serve matar paneer

There are a lot of methods to serve matar paneer. We regularly eat it with both basmati rice, or my vegan naan, which is one in every of our favorite recipes!

Different methods you’ll be able to serve it’s with roti, paratha (Indian stuffed bread), several types of pickled greens, potatoes, and chapati.

If you wish to hold this recipe gluten-free, serve it with any rice.

Ideas when making this vegan matar paneer

Matar paneer is usually made utilizing recent tomatoes, and I undoubtedly suggest retaining that custom for additional flavour. Nevertheless, for those who don’t have entry to recent tomato, you need to use canned tomatoes as an alternative.

I selected to make use of cashews on this recipe so as to add the creaminess that you simply’d get in a matar paneer. The addition of cream or yoghurt usually achieves this. I felt that cashews create a fantastically wealthy and creamy flavour with out being overpowering. Frying them off originally offers the masala (gravy sauce) a nuttier depth.

In case you don’t have cashews or are allergic to them, swap them out for coconut cream. Add the coconut cream in the direction of the tip if you’ve added water or inventory to the gravy.

Listed below are some extra vegan curries to strive!

Creamy Pink Lentil Curry (Vegan-Pleasant)
Vegan Dal Makhani (Black Lentil Dal)
Vegan Palak Paneer with Candy Potato
Cauliflower Potato Curry with Coconut Milk

In case you do that recipe, let me know! Would love so that you can depart a remark and score beneath. If you wish to go that additional mile, tag us on Instagram or share your picture of the recipe on Pinterest.

Substances

Four tbsp impartial oil (I used rice bran)
⅓ cup (50g) uncooked cashews
1 medium onion, diced
Three cloves of garlic, diced
½ inch recent ginger, grated or minced
1 medium inexperienced chilli, chopped (deseeded for those who like)
Three medium (500g) tomatoes, diced
1-1 ½ tsp good-quality salt
½ tsp cumin powder
¾ tsp garam masala
¼ tsp chilli powder or extra for additional warmth
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
Three tbsp tomato paste
1 ¼ cup veg inventory or water (have in mind if utilizing inventory that you simply alter the salt ranges accordingly)
250g agency tofu, cubed (any extra water pressed out utilizing a paper towel)
1 ¼ cup (160g) frozen peas
Contemporary coriander for garnish

Directions

In a wok or massive skillet on medium-high warmth, add 2 tbsp of the oil and add the cashews.
As soon as the cashews begin to color, add the onion and saute till it begins to caramelise. This can take a few minutes.
Add within the garlic, ginger and inexperienced chilli and saute for an additional couple of minutes till they begin to soften and launch their aroma.
Add within the recent tomatoes and salt to style and prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes, then take away from range.
Fastidiously switch to your blender (watch out, it will likely be sizzling!) and mix till good and easy. In case you would like to attend for it to chill just a little earlier than mixing the elements, accomplish that. Alternatively use an immersion blender, you may simply should take the gravy out of the skillet if utilizing this technique as soon as performed.
Place the identical skillet again on medium warmth, wipe it out clear then add the opposite 2 tbsp of oil to the pan.
Add within the cumin, garam masala, chilli, cinnamon and saute for 30 seconds to a minute to launch all of the aromas within the spices.
Add within the tomato paste and stir nicely to mix.
Pour within the tomato base from the blender and add the water/inventory. Stir nicely and simmer for 15 minutes. It’s going to spit just a little because it thickens so watch out when stirring. If you would like a thicker gravy, prepare dinner for a further 3-5 minutes.
Add within the tofu and peas and prepare dinner for five minutes.
Take away from warmth and garnish with coriander. Modify seasoning to style and serve together with your alternative of sides as beneficial above. I like mine with basmati rice and naan.