Paneer do pyaza is a very tasty vegetarian recipe from India. The key ingredients of this dish are paneer i.e. Indian cottage cheese and onions. Perfect to be served with rice, naan, or any other Indian bread.
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If you get invited to an Indian house and they know that you are a vegetarian then expect at least one Paneer dish in the meal you are invited for.
What is Paneer
Paneer is a fresh, unaged, non-melting farmer cheese from India, also known as Indian cottage cheese. It’s the most popular vegetarian ingredient in the Indian subcontinent and you will find a huge variety of Paneer recipes in this region of the world. It’s a very tasty and versatile ingredient and can be used in everything - starters, curries, stir-fries, rice dishes, desserts, salads, bread, sandwiches….. whatever you can imagine.
Meaning of Do Pyaza recipes
In Hindi, ‘Do’ means 2 and pyaza or pyaz means onion. ‘Do pyaza’ here means that onion gets used in this dish in two different forms and stages.
Not only Paneer is cooked in this way, but you will find a variety of do pyaza recipes in India like Chicken do pyaza, mushroom do pyaza, bhindi do pyaza, etc.
Generally, a lot of onions are used in do pyaza recipes. Some of them are used to make an onion-ginger-garlic paste. This paste is used as the base to make do pyaza gravy. Remaining onions are diced, shallow fried and added to the recipe towards the final stage.
It’s also a very easy to make recipe and the only major effort required is in peeling and chopping the onions.
How to make
Making paneer do pyaza is very easy, you just need to follow the steps given below:
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Grind one large onion with ginger and garlic to make a smooth paste. Take the paste out in a bowl and keep aside.
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Make a smooth paste of tomatoes and green chilies in the same grinder.
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Peel the medium size onion and separate its layers. Dice the onion layers into medium-sized pieces.
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Heat some oil in a pan and shallow fry the onion pieces till they become translucent. Take them out on a paper towel and keep aside. Shallow fry the paneer cubes in the same pan till they start turning brown. Take them out on a paper towel and keep aside.
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In the same pan, add cumin seeds and let them splutter. You may add some more oil if required. When the cumin seeds stop spluttering, add the onion-garlic paste and fry till it turns golden brown.
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Add salt and all the dry spices except fenugreek leaves and garam masala, saute for a few seconds. If the paste is too dry add around 2 tablespoons of water so that the spices don't get burnt.
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Now add the tomato paste to the pan and fry till the tomatoes turn mushy and are nicely cooked. Once the tomatoes are done, add around 1.5 cups water and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
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Next add in the shallow fried paneer, onion cubes and dry fenugreek leaves powder, garam masala. Mix well. Cook for around 1-2 minutes and then switch off the gas.
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Garnish with chopped coriander leaves or chopped green chilies and thinly sliced ginger. Serve hot with any Indian bread or rice and dal.
How to serve
- Paneer do Pyaza can be served in any major meal of the day. It can be served with naan or any other Indian bread. You can also enjoy it with a simple rice dish like jeera rice.
- This delicious paneer dish can also be wrapped in a roti, tortilla or any other wrap bread, toasted and enjoyed as a tasty vegetarian wrap.
More, Easy Paneer recipes
If you like paneer and looking for more easy paneer recipes then don't miss to try the following recipes:
More, easy vegetarian Indian recipes
Looking for some easy vegetarian Indian recipes? The following recipes are perfect for you:
- Gobhi Matar Methi-Indian cauliflower recipe
- Bhindi ki sabzi- Indian okra recipe
- Kerala style pepper mushroom
- Aloo Baingan- vegan & gluten free
- Dry Aloo Matar
In case you try any of my recipes then please don’t miss to rate it in the comments section below.
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Step by step photo instructions
Recipe
Paneer do pyaza
Ingredients
- 3 cups paneer cubes Indian cottage cheese
- 2 red onions 1 large, 1 medium-sized
- 2 medium sized ripe tomatoes
- 5-6 garlic cloves
- A small piece of ginger
- 1-2 green chilies
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder or as per your taste
- ½ tablespoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon kasoori methi dry fenugreek leaves powder
- Salt as per taste
- 1.5 tbsp cooking oil
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- 1.5 cups water
Instructions
- Grind one large onion with ginger and garlic to make a smooth paste. Take the paste out in a bowl and keep aside.
- Make a smooth paste of tomatoes and green chilies in the same grinder.
- Peel the medium size onion and separate its layers. Dice the onion layers into medium-sized pieces.
- Heat some oil in a pan and shallow fry the onion pieces till they become translucent. Take them out on a paper towel and keep aside. Shallow fry the paneer cubes in the same pan till they start turning brown. Take them out on a paper towel and keep aside.
- In the same pan, add cumin seeds and let them splutter. You may add some more oil if required. When the cumin seeds stop spluttering, add the onion-garlic paste and fry till it turns golden brown.
- Add salt and all the dry spices except fenugreek leaves and garam masala, saute for a few seconds. If the paste is too dry add around 2 tablespoons of water so that the spices don't get burnt.
- Now add the tomato paste to the pan and fry till the tomatoes turn mushy and are nicely cooked. Once the tomatoes are done, add around 1.5 cups water and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Next add in the shallow fried paneer, onion cubes and dry fenugreek leaves powder, garam masala. Mix well. Cook for around 1-2 minutes and then switch off the gas.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves or chopped green chilies and thinly sliced ginger. Serve hot with any Indian bread or rice and dal.
Notes
- Cut equal-sized pieces of onion, and paneer.
- Try using red onion in this recipe but if you don't have that, use whichever variety is available.
Ruchi
Paneer Do Pyaza is one of my most favourite paneer curry . Looks so tempting . Just need chapati to finish it off.
Greenbowl2soul
Thank you Ruchi, I love it too.
Bless my food by Payal
I do have made Mushroom do Pyaza many a times but never paneer do pyaza. I am damn sure it must also be equally delicious. Looks great.
Jayashree T.Rao
Your stir fry looks so delicious, I often pair this with hot rotis. One of the favourites at home.
Greenbowl2soul
Thanks Jayashree.
sasmita
Dopyaza recipes are always a hit for my family members. I specially love it to core. The vegetarian dopyaza using paneer looks really so yum. I would love to pair with some hot phulka .....
Greenbowl2soul
Thanks a lot Sasmita.
Mayuri Patel
Vandana, I really don't like the way most restaurants serve paneer do pyaza, they leave too much gravy and use too many tomatoes. I love how you've made your sabji semi dry where at least one is able to enjoy the paneer and the onion rather than just the gravy. Book marking this recipe to try out.
Greenbowl2soul
Thanks a lot Mayuri, I also love it in semi-dry form.
Lata Lala
Paneer do pyaza is universal favourite. And yes you are right when invited if you are a vegetarian then paneer is definitely be served.
Loved your detailed recipe.
Greenbowl2soul
Thanks a lot Lata.
Geetha
Do pyaza is one classic dish that never fails to impress people. Paneer do pyaza is to die for and this makes a perfect dish for parties. Lovely share...
Greenbowl2soul
Thanks Geetha.
amrita
Do pyaza is a perfect dish to go with any Indian flatbread... Very nicely step by step written recipe...
Greenbowl2soul
Thank you so much Amrita 🙂
Pavani
What a delicious paneer recipe. My kids LOVE paneer and your recipe will be a hit with them. Thank you for sharing this delicious dish with us.
Greenbowl2soul
Thanks Pavani, glad that you liked it.
Swati
This looks so yummy and inviting.. would love to have it with fresh hot chapati.. and aren't these perfect for wraps.. kids will love this way!!