Mattar Paneer (Peas and Paneer in Spiced Tomato Gravy)
Traditionally, roasted and crushed cashews are puréed with cooked onions and tomatoes to make the base for this comforting vegetarian dish. This version skips the hassle of puréeing and instead uses a hefty amount of cashew butter for the same nutty flavor and creamy texture. Red chile powder, ginger and garlic provide the perfect backbone for the sauce. Substitute tofu for paneer if you like; the mildness of either lends itself well to this unexpectedly luxurious dish that is so much more than the sum of its parts.
¼ cup ghee or neutral oil
½ pound paneer or extra-firm tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes and patted very dry
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
½ teaspoon ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
½ teaspoon garlic paste or freshly grated garlic
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
¾ teaspoon kashmiri or other red chile powder
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
3 medium plum tomatoes, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons cashew butter
8 ounces frozen (no need to thaw) or fresh green peas (about 1¾ cups)
3 tablespoons heavy cream or cashew cream (optional)
½ teaspoon garam masala
Rice or roti, for serving
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
278 calories; 24 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 13 grams monounsaturated fat; 6 grams polyunsaturated fat; 10 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 8 grams protein; 422 milligrams sodium