Achari Paneer Recipe

Ingredients for Achari Paneer

• Paneer - 300 grams cubed
• Yogurt / Curd - 1 cup
• Turmeric Powder / Manjal Podi - 1 tsp
• Lemon Juice - 2 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Asafoetida / Hing / Kaya Podi - ¼ tsp
• Oil - 3 to 4 tbsp
• Coriander leaves a handful finely chopped

For Roasting & Crushing:

• Mustard Seeds / Kaduku - 1 tsp
• Cumin Seeds / Jeerakam - 1 tsp
• Nigella Seeds / Kalonji - 1 tsp
• Fennel Seeds / Saunf / Sombu - 1 tsp
• Coriander Seeds / Whole Daniya - 1 tsp
• Dry Red Chillies - 3 to 4
• Fenugreek Seeds / Methi / Vendayam - ¼ tsp

How to make Achari Paneer

1. I soaked paneer in warm water for 15 mins to make it get soft. Now take curd, turmeric powder, lemon juice, salt in a bowl and mix well. Add paneer in and mix well. Set aside for 5 mins.
2. Now take the roasting spices, except dry red chillies..Take it in a dry pan and roast them on low heat till it gets toasted. Remove it to a plate and cool it down.
3. Now take this in a blender or use a mortar and pestle to crush them roughly. Set aside.
4. Heat oil in a pan, add in chillies and fry them, remove them to a plate and cool it, then break it into small pieces. Set aside.
5. Now in the same oil, add a pinch of asafoetida and the paneer and toss them well in oil. Fry them on medium high heat till the paneer gets a nice colour.
6. Now add in the achari spices and broken chillies. Mix well.
7. Add in coriander leaves and mix well.
8. Serve.