STIR-FRY PEPPERS AND PANEER

Nothing can cure your evening hunger better than this quick and easy batch of stir-fry peppers and paneer.

Whenever I don't feel like cooking or spending an hour in a kitchen I always make a small snack for myself. Last weekend, I made a batch of stir fry peppers and paneer. It's a 15 minutes recipe. I was so surprised when I tried this easy, quick vegetarian snack. It turned out really delicious. It's my perfect go-to recipe. It can be served as a starter or a nice main course dish if you have a big enough bowl. It's colorful and loaded with fresh tastes. It's an incredibly appetizing and a delicious side dish that goes well with steamed rice, vegetable platter or any of your favorite dish.

This snack is quick and easy to make and sure to wake up your sleepy taste buds. You can also make this recipe on a lazy weekend or for thanksgiving. It's a great party appetizer to serve your guests. The paneer in the recipe provides with a lot of protein and calcium and the crunchy bright colored bell pepper provides with a lot of vitamins, folate and antioxidants.

It's an Indo - Chinese dish, inspired with Asian sauces using Indian ingredients. It's quite an easy dish to make. You just need 3 veggies and few ingredients to make this delicious starter. If you don't have the Indian spices available near you, add salt and pepper and it'll taste exactly the same. I added the green bell pepper in this dish. Feel free to use your favorite bell pepper. You can add any of your favorite veggies in the snack, so just be creative and surprise yourself!!

Do try these lightly fried onions, pepper and paneer cubes mixed with Indian spices. Drizzle some red tomato sauce, vinegar and/or lime juice and you'll love it! I totally adore the combination of peppers and paneer. They add crunch, color and sweet flavor to the meal. I'm sure you'll love it too!!

STIR-FRY PEPPERS AND PANEER

Serves : 3-4 People

Preparation time : 5 minutes

Cooking time : 15 minutes

Author: The Food Root

INGREDIENTS 

250 grams - Indian cottage cheese (paneer), cut them into 1/2 inch cubes

2 medium size - Bell peppers or capsicum, cut them into  1 inch square pieces

2 medium size - Onions, sliced

2 tablespoon - Olive oil

1/2 inch - ginger, peeled (grated)

5-6 - garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 green chillies, chopped

1 teaspoon - Salt or as per taste

1/4 teaspoon - Turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon - Red chili powder

3/4 teaspoon - Coriander powder

1 tablespoon - Vinegar

1 tablespoon - Red tomato sauce

1 tablespoon - Lime juice (optional)

chopped coriander leaves

METHOD

1. Heat olive oil or butter in a non-stick skillet. Add grated ginger followed by chopped garlic cloves over medium to high heat. Cook for 40-50 seconds.

2. Add a sliced onion and sauté it for 3-4 minutes.

3. Add all the spices - salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder and coriander powder. Mix it well.

4. Next, add capsicum and chopped green chillis and toss it. Stir occasionally for 3-4 minutes on high/medium flame.

5. Add Paneer cubes and reduce the heat of the skillet. Toss it for 2-3 minutes. 

6. Drizzle some red tomato sauce, vinegar and/or lime juice. Stir fry to combine!

7. Garnish them with chopped coriander leaves and transfer immediately to a serving bowl. Serve it hot!

NOTES

1. If you don't have the Indian spices available near you, add salt and pepper and it'll taste exactly the same.

2. Feel free to use your favorite bell pepper in the dish.

PANEER BHURJI - SCRAMBLED COTTAGE CHEESE

A quick and simple paneer bhurji to mop with hot phulkas or any bread of your choice!

Paneer bhurji, a simple North Indian breakfast where cottage cheese is scrambled and sautéed with ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes and spices. It makes a delicious light breakfast when served with hot phulkas, and are great protein rich fillings, for sandwiches, rolls and wraps. This dish is often served in the Dhabas (roadside eateries) with tandoori rotis and naans. For vegan version, you can substitute cottage cheese with tofu. 

You can make cottage cheese at your home or buy it fresh from the market. It's a super delicious side dish and wrap filling recipe! It's neither too spicy, nor too bland. It packs in protein, fibre and healthy fats. It's a simple recipe that gets ready in less than 15 minutes. I got 3 servings out of this recipe. It's a great side dish to make when you're out of fresh vegetables but need something healthy and delicious to eat.

This recipe doesn't call for dozen of spices, it can be made by adding few simple spices. I haven't done much. Just the tempering of ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, few spices, and, combining the mixture with scrambled cottage cheese and it's done! Enjoy the dish with hot phulkas or any bread of your choice, or roll the filling into a wrap or make sandwiches.

Give it a try and let me know if you like it! Sorry, I've been MIA for last couple of days. I wasn't well the whole of last week but am better now. Stop by again, as next few weeks are shaping up to be good with few posts on a pipeline!! 
Happy Wednesday Y'all!!! 

PANEER BHURJI - SCRAMBLED COTTAGE CHEESE

Serves: 3 People
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 12-15 minutes
Author: The Food Root

INGREDIENTS

200 grams - Cottage cheese (paneer)

2 medium size - Onions, chopped
1 medium size tomato, chopped

2 tablespoon - Olive oil or clarified butter

1/2 inch - ginger, peeled (grated)

4-5 - garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 green chillis, chopped

1/4 teaspoon - Turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon - Red chili powder

3/4 teaspoon - Coriander powder
1 teaspoon - Salt or as per taste

chopped coriander leaves

METHOD

1. Heat olive oil or clarified butter in a non-stick skillet. 

2. Add grated ginger and chopped garlic, stir it, until they are crisp and brown, for about 40-50 seconds on medium flame.

3. Add chopped onions, sauté it, until lightly softened, for about 3-4 minutes on medium flame.

4. Add chopped tomato and stir for 2-3 minutes on medium flame.

5. Next, add chopped green chillis and spices - turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and salt. Mix it well.

6. Scramble the cottage cheese and add it in the mixture. Stir well to combine. Cover the pan for 2-3 minutes.

7. Remove the pan, and garnish it with chopped coriander leaves. Turn off the stove and transfer the paneer bhurji immediately to a serving bowl.

8. Serve it hot with tandoori roti or any bread of your choice!

NOTES

1. It's a super delicious side dish and wrap filling recipe for sandwiches, wraps, rolls and even paranthas!

2. For vegan version, you can substitute cottage cheese with tofu.

3. You can also add peas and capsicum in the dish but it's totally optional.