Butter Paneer (lovingly known as Panir Makhani) is not only a very well known dish, but is absolutely scrumptious and can have you salivating just by thinking about it. Try out this recipe in all it’s rich glory, or if you prefer a healthier version, you can use some of our fat and calorie fighting tips. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
Paneer – 14oz (approx. 1/2 kg)
Oil – 2 tsp.
Butter – 4 tbsp (50 gm)
Garlic Paste & Ginger Paste: 1.5 tsp each
Crushed Tomatoes – 1 cup
Paprika or Kashmiri Mirch – 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli Powder – 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder – 1 tsp
Garam Masala – 1 tsp
Salt – to taste
Heavy Whipping Cream – 1/2 cup
Water – 1 cup or to taste
Sugar (optional) – 1 tsp or to taste
Cilantro – to garnish
Method:
1. Cut panir to desired shape.
2. Heat a pan and add Oil and then Butter.
3. Once hot, add Ginger and Garlic paste & saute for 2 min.
4. Add in the Crushed Tomato.
5. Add the dry spices – Coriander Powder, Garam Masala, Paprika, Red Chili Powder and the Salt.
6. Mix and cook till oil separates.
7. Add Paneer and mix gently.
8. Pour 1 cup water and simmer for 5 mins.
9. Lower heat and add Cream.
10. Allow it to come to another boil.
11. Add Sugar and mix well.
12. Garnish with Cilantro and serve hot.
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Hi, I am just making the dish, but i dont have enough cream at home, is it ok if i add some curd to it?? reply asap!!
Thanks.. :))
Hi Nishrin,
Use milk if you have to, curd is not going to work and it may make your cream curdle.
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I never write comments anywhere, but just had to write a message this time, because I wanted to extend my sincere thanks to you for the wonderful website and wonderful recipes you have. The videos are superb. I have long loved to cook, but created nothing but catastrophes in the kitchen. I now have made this paneer butter masala and also the malabar chicken. The paneer butter masala was quite simply the best I have ever tasted. By the second day, interestingly, it tasted restaurant-style! AMAZING! And the malabar chicken instantly made me think of home! I added a little coconut milk and half and half at the end just to take the bite out of the masala. Again, this thanks is from a weary traveler of websites.
My only question for you is this: do you have (or will you in the future) have a cookbook I could buy?
hey i am in love with paneer recipes it comes right after my husband and sex. i even tried it with fried soya and turn out alright.
This came out yummy!! similar to the restaurant taste ..
Anuja & Hetel,
I am new to Indian cooking. This recipe looks great…I do have a couple of questions: 1. Where can I buy ready-made paneer? 2. Is this recipe eaten by itself or put over rice?
Thanks – I have very much enjoyed listening to your videos and will be trying some of the recipes soon.
Kelly
paneer can be eaten with anything. for me i find it takes smooth with rice its your choice and you should try many variation to your likeness & preference. i purchase mine in the supermarket in the vege dept (freeze section)
Dear Hetal & Anuja,
Hetal & Anuja,
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe..I always loved this dish and wanted to prepare it at home. I had a myth regarding the preparation being very tough but to my surprise it’s so damn simple and easy. I tried it at home (with milk ofcourse) and it came out really well. My husband has become a die – hard fan of this dish and keeps asking me to make it almost every weekend.. All thanks to you.. I really like your recipes, very simple but very tasty. Thanks a lot.
All the best and keep going!!.. :)…
Best Regards,
Anupama.
Hi Anupama,
Thanks for your feedback. We’re so glad you and your hubby enjoyed the dish!
This was good even without the cream, since I wanted to keep it low fat… Thanks!
Hey ladies:
I have just finished coking this recipe and it is sooo god! Thanks to you girls, my husband has certified me as an “indian chef” (and I am not Indian)!!
loved it!
Hi Haruko,
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback! We’re so glad you guys are enjoying the butter paneer! 🙂
Hi Anuja and Hetal,
I noticed that in your butter chicken recipe there is methi. Is there a reason why that is not used in butter paneer recipe? Also, can this very fast butter paneer recipe be used for chicken? I am a veggie but some of my friends aren’t.
thanks so much
Hi Judy,
The Butter Paneer recipe was shared with us by a friend so we followed it exactly. You can add methi to it if you like. Also, you can definitely use the butter paneer recipe for chicken.
Many thanks for this receipe, it is soooo delicious!!! and easy!!
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I loved your recipe. I always use this recipe for butter paneer and its amazing. I replaced paneer with tofu cubes. I kind of grilled them in very little oil and followed your recipe. It tastes amazing.
Changes I did make to the recipe is to switch off the stove after adding tofu to the gravy. It gives bitter taste if it cooks. I skipped cream and added more butter abt 1/2 tsp. Very very healthy !
It will taste better if sits for about 1-2 hrs (kind of marinates the tofu with the flavor).
Thanks a lot for the recipe.
Btw, No one will know the difference between paneer and tofu. My friend made it for potluck and the serving bowl was clean by the end of it and…. we didnt know till we cleared the dishes that it was TOFU !! Shame I didnt have another serving 😉
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I like your way of presentation. As u know its the time for all kind of berries.I would like to ask you to show receipe related to blue berry.
Cheers
Vandana
Finland
Dear Hetal & Anuja,
I’ve tried this recipe today, and I must tell you: it was a-mazing! I was very much pleased and surprised. This will definitely be served many more times to come. (Once in a while.) Thanks for sharing this lovely Indian dish with us!
Alwin from the Netherlands
Hetal & Anuja,
Thank you so much for sharing this recepie..i have tried different ways of making paneer and never did i get it as superb as this one turned out! AWESOME isn’t the word..
Its so simple and easy..Usually my husband doesnt like paneer – Now he loves it!
I tried it with fat free evaporated milk..and turned out really well!
Hi, I notice that you comment on sour cream but do not mention if it can be used. I don’t have heavy whipping cream and am considering using a mixture of milk and sour cream. Would this work?
Thank you!
Hi Jiji,
Yes, you can use sour cream. The taste will be a little different but you will get the same kind of richness.
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I am an adherent follower of your website and it has become my cooking bible. Thank you for the detailed recipes. They have remarkably improved my cooking! 🙂
Cheers
Sugathri
MA
Hi Hetal and anuja,
i just tried this recipe.it was awesome:-) It was very simple & easy to make… thank u so much…
Hi Hital and Anuja tried this recipe turned out great. Thankyou.
Awesome recipe , thnx a ton..! 😀
made my mom go thrgh this 1 and we had it for dinner last nite 😀 …turned out be as delicious as the onces i ate in restrnts ^_^
simply 1’f my fav. dishes nw..! ehe.
Hi Mohit,
Glad to hear that it came out well and you really enjoyed it 🙂
Next time, how about you make it for your Mom?
Cheers!
can i use fullcream
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
Your recipe looks awesome….. Is Paneer Makhani same as Paneer Butter Masala? or are they different… By the way I tried Sabudana Khichadi and it came out very well. thanks a lot for adding a lot of spice to my life…..
Madhavi
Hi Madhavi,
Yes, the two are pretty much the same. Everyone has their own little twist to their recipe…but bottom line is the same 🙂
Enjoy!
hi!friends u guys r rocking ……..i prepared paneer but when i put the cubes in gravy it b’came as a shredded paneer…..can u help me with the mistake i made? thanx anuja & hetal
Hi Metra,
Looks like there was still a lot of water in the paneer so it did not hold it’s shape. Check out the video for paneer to get some good tips on how to make it:
https://34.233.61.50/odds-ends/homemade-paneer-indian-cheese.html
Sometimes, it is a good idea to fry home made paneer so it does not crumble in the gravy.
Hope that helps 🙂
hi hetal n anuja,
i jst wanted to knw whts the difference in cottage panner,tofu and cottage cheese,panner .are this types of panner n how do they vary.also plzz tell me does it makesany difference in using typical type of panner in any panner subji??m very confused
Hi sisters…
butter panner luks yummee.. ilke to try 🙂 but can i use thick coconut milk or yoghurt for whipping cream…? reply me..i really want to try it with ur naan rotti…:)
I made this tonight with your Paneer recipe & it was SOOOOOO good! 🙂 It was very simple & easy to make, this was my first time making Indian food. It always seemed so intimidating.
The sauce was ready in no time, the Paneer was the longest to make just because of the hanging & squishing time, but it too was extremely easy. Thank you for bringing flavour, diversity & creativity to my vegetarian kitchen. Many thanks, Namaste.
hi anuja and hetal
i am a strater for cooking so this helps me a lot but a i had a doubt shall i use normal coluring powder instead of paprika pls answer my question
thank u
Hi Vidhya,
Welcome to the wonderful world of cooking! You can use food-coloring if you do not have paprika (or Kashmiri Mirch). We just prefer Paprika bacause it is a natural product.
Hi Anuja and Hetal,
This dish turned out really well for me although I think I put a bit too much sugar in it. Otherwise it was creamy and wonderful. Do you happen to have a recipe on your site for a creamy coconut curry? I am looking for a recipe like that as I love coconut. Thanks so much…
Here are a few dishes that require coconut:
Potato Stew:
https://34.233.61.50/curries/potato-stew-a-dish-from-kerala.html
Sprouted Mung Curry:
https://34.233.61.50/curries/sprouted-mung-curry-indian-recipe.html
Egg Curry:
https://34.233.61.50/curries/egg-curry.html
And here is a dring that requires coconut:
Sol Kadi
https://34.233.61.50/beverages/sol-kadi-an-exotic-indian-drink-recipe.html
Hope that helps!
Hi Hetal and anuja
i just wonder- can i make this recipe with plain tofu?
thank you
hadas
Hi Hadas,
You can substitute tofu, but the taste and texture will be different. It will probably still taste great!
Hi Hetal and anuja
i just tried this recipe. and needless to say it was awesome:-) .
I had bought cream for this purpose and the carton says it needs to be consumed withing 7 days of opening. I’m not too sure if i can finish it so fast.
do you have any tips on howi can store it,if at all i can store it?
thanks
A great way to store excess cream is to freeze it in an ice cube tray. After it freezes, you can transfer the cubes to a freezer style ziploc bag and keep it in the freezer. Next time you need cream, you can just take out a few cubes at a time and add them to your recipe.
thank you for this tip hetal:-)
Your dishes are good…But can u show some more recipes jst like Pani puri or may be a white sauce pasta or some sandwich kinda’ stuff?
Since i moved to LA. I miss my mom’s food. But i realised i cant have her for my whole life. I miss her so much and so her food. I been a 2 years already and i haven’t eaten anything cooked by her. So i finally learnt my self some stuff. So tomorrow i am going to cook dal. Thanks you very much, your website is very helpfull.
Hello ladies,
Looks yummy..
Want to try this out soon..
Can I use 1 cup of puree made with fresh tomatoes..not the ready made one ?
waiting to hear from u..
thanks in advance..
Yes, fresh tomatoes are fine. We use the canned ones at times because they have a fantastic color and readily available. feel free to use fresh.
Enjoy!
Hey,
I wast just wondering if you could add turmeric and/or bay leaves to this recipe?? (:
Yes, you can use any or both!
Anuja,
One more question – I dont have crushed tomatoes. I read your comment on how to make it.
However, I just got a canned whole peeled tomatoes and was wondering if I can run it in a food processor and make puree out of it and use it instead of crushed tomatoes?
Christina,
We are all for using stuff on hand instead of running out to buy the ‘perfect’ item. Food Processing the can will be just as good!
Go for it!
Hetal/Anuja,
Can I use evaporated milk instead of heavy whipping cream? Would the taste be comparable?
Thanks,
Hi Christina,
Yes, in this recipe, Evaporated Milk works great. You can use regular or 2%.
Enjoy!
Thank you! Anuja. Really appreciate your quick reply. I am going to try it this weekend. Reshmi chicken will have to wait till I get whipping cream.
u guys rock….surprised my wife wid paneer makhani..next wk pizza
Wow! Lucky wife…am sure she loved it!
Hi Hetal Anuja,
The dish looks awesome… I just wanted to confirm.. Is the heavy whipping cream the same as we get in Target store as Sour cream…
I am little confused to use that cream and not sure if its salted or unsalted… nothing mentioned on the box.. pls let me know
Hi Sapna,
Heavy whipping cream is different than sour cream. It comes in a cardboard carton similar to half and half and is in a liquid form. It is called whipping cream because if you whip it in a steel bowl that is resting on top of ice, you can actually make a thick whipped topping for desserts.
Sour cream is basically similar to hung curd.
The flavor is very different for both.
Hi Hetal..
Thanks a lot. you know what i tried this dish today and had invited some of my friends at home.. It turned out awesome..they enjoyed it like anything..
again thanks a lot
Hey is there an alternative to cream or malai?? Just milk maybe?;-)
Thanks,
PG
A great low-fat alternative is low-fat Evaporated milk or just low-fat cream. Milk would also work but it might become too watery and may not have the desired creaminess that this dish requires.
Dear both:
i’m expecting reply for the above queries. thanks.
Dear Hetal & Anuja,
Can we able to prepare whipping cream at home?
Or let me know substute for this… Thanks in advance
Your recipe serve how many people? i am throwing party and i will have 10 people coming over. How much quantity i will be neading?
Hi Hemisha,
This recipe will serve approx 6 so you could double up the recipe.
hi,
can i use tofu instead of paneer?thank u in advance.I live in laredo,Tx.i don’t have any indian stores here.that’s the reason to my question.
thank u in advance.
Hi Priya,
You could use tofu but the taste and texture will be different. You can make your own paneer at home. It’s pretty easy. Check out this video when you get a chance.
https://34.233.61.50/2008/03/17/homemade-paneer-indian-cheese/
hi hetal,
thank u very much for ur prompt reply.i’ll try paneer soon.
Another one of those yummy dishes!!
Thanks sounds promising 🙂
Just a suggestion to your site… can you add a search box.. that would make it easy for us to search up recipes you have added a while back! On your main page only a few are visible!
Thanks again and keep these yummy recipes coming 🙂
Hi Satya,
We have a search box on the right hand sidebar, if you scroll down a bit.
Also, there are tabs at the top of the homepage that will help you pick different categories.
duh was thinking that was for the web!! 🙂 Thanks!
tried it out…..its yummmmmmmmy…..but extra time at gym:-) as hetal said!!!!!
Hello Hetal and Anuja,
Beautiful looking paneer dish. but i have a question that can i use powdered cashews nuts to this dish while cooking it.
Hi Rupa,
Yes, you can add cashews. It will have a different flavor but will taste great. If you get a chance, check out our Shahi Paneer video.
https://34.233.61.50/2007/06/02/shahipaneer/
hi,
This receipe looks great. I have a doubt. can i use Tomato paste(canned one) instead of crushed tomatoes.planning to try today so expecting reply soon.
thank u
Hi Swetha,
Tomato paste will have a different flavor. It is usually cooked down. You can crush fresh tomatoes and use them. You can blanch them in hot water for 1 minute and put them in ice water to remove the skin.
thank u hetal ..
what’s difference between paprica & redchilli powder?
Paprika is powdered red bell pepper which is also known as capsicum…. less spicy and a rich deep color.
Hope this helps.
PS: Google-ing ‘paprika’ will also help!
This recipe looks super easy and delicious. I have a question though, in many recipes you use canned tomatoes, is it the same if we take few tomatoes and crush/puree them in a food processor? I am not use to using canned anything and I’ve noticed in your recipes you use a lot of canned tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes. I know there is a difference between tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes, but please help regarding the crushed tomatoes.
Thanks.
Hi Pinal,
Tomato sauce is cooked and provides a different taste than crushed tomatoes. Diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes are raw, except that some heat has been used to sterilize the product or to remove the skin.
so…
You can substitute fresh tomatoes for recipes that call for diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes or tomato puree.
Thanks Hetal, this helps a lot!
hi Hetal & Anuja,
i saw your onion and tomato paste recipe longtime ago. i want to make paste and store it, but i couldn’t find that recipe. so, can u please let me know where can i find the recipe???
thanks
Here it is: https://34.233.61.50/odds-ends/how-to-make-masala-in-bulk.html
Hi Hetal,
thank you so much for your reply
both of you have a sweet voice. 🙂
Yummmmmmmmmy!!!!!
hi anuja and hetel,
both of you have a nice hairstyle,where do you guys get your haircut done.
OMG. Dear Swetha,
For heaven’s sake, this is a cooking show. Please ask something related to that only. And I believe they’ll be too busy to reply to this kind of non-related questions. Thank you!
thanks asha and by the way you are not anuja and hetel and please kindly mind your job and even though this is a cooking show there is no such rule that we should not ask personal quetions AND ITS UPTO ANUJA AND HETEL WHEATHER THEY WOULD LIKE TO REPLY OR NOT.Nothing wrong in appreciating them about their hairstyle and curious to know where they both get their hair cut done.
Thanks Swetha for the compliment!
Thanks Asha for speaking on our behalf, but at times we feel close enough to our viewers and don’t see any harm in answereing questions that are not related to cooking (Ofcourse, we draw a line at some stuff)! We know you meant well and we are touched by the gesture. Who does not like to get complimented, including us;)
Swetha, going back to your query, we get our hair cuts at a local palour here in TX. Thanks again for the compliment.
hi anuja can i use full cream pls give me a replay
Hi Harshal,
Yes, you can use full cream milk. Evaporated milk is just a little healthier option 🙂
thank you so much for your reply i did make this butter paneer it’s so good like restaurant.thank’s agian
Hi anuja,
You mentioned evaporated milk as healthier option..so let me make sure i am clear evaporated milk and heavy cream that you listed in the ingredient list is one and the same?
Hi N,
We have made this recipe using heavy whipping cream. However, if you want to reduce the fat and calories, you can substitute Evaporated Milk. The dish will not be as rich but it is great for every day eating. Heavy whipping cream and evaporated milk are different products.