MethodTo make the paneer marbles:
- Combine the mashed paneer, finely cut ginger and green chillies together in a bowl.
- Boil milk, add saffron, stir constantly and cook until milk is reduced to half.
- Divide the reduced saffron milk into 2 equal quantities and pour one quantity over the paneer mixture. (Reserve the other quantity for the gravy)
- Add salt to taste, red chilli powder and chopped basil leaves. Mix well.
- Make small marbles of the paneer mixture.
- Roll the marbles lightly and evenly in the cornflour.
- Deep fry in hot oil on medium heat. Drain on absorbent paper, set aside.
For the gravy:
- Peel and coarsely chop the onions.
- Combine the onions, bay leaves, black cardamoms and half a cup of water in a pan, bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and cook until onions are transparent and the liquid is dry.
- Make a paste of the boiled onions in a blender. Keep aside.
- Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed pan.
- Add boiled onion paste, ginger and garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 mins.
- Add chopped ginger and green chillies, stir cook for another 2 mins.
- Add coriander powder, red chilli powder and fry the masalas until the ghee floats on top.
- Add tomato puree, bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and cook until the ghee leaves the masala again and the ghee floats on top.
- Add yoghurt, stirring constantly, fry the masala until the ghee leaves the maslaa again.
- Mix the cashewnut paste with the remaining (reduced) saffron milk, crushed pineapple and the cream.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, add the paneer marbles, garam masala, salt to taste and half of the freshly chopped coriander.
- Bring to a boil and remove from heat immediately.
- Add the washed seedless grapes.
- Mix gently making sure you do not break the paneer marbles.
- Adjust salt. Garnish with coriander
- Serve hot with parathas or naan.
Ingredients: For the paneer marbles:
700 gms. paneer, mashed
3 tsp. chopped ginger
1 tsp. red chilli powder
15 strands of saffron
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp. finely chopped basil leaves (tulsi)
2 green chillies, chopped
3/4 or 1 cup cornflour
Salt
Sunflower oil for frying
For the gravy:
1 cup ghee
2 cups chopped onions
1/2 cup water
2 bay leaves
2 black cardamoms
2 tsp. garlic paste
3 tsp. ginger paste
1 tbsp. finely chopped ginger
6 green chillies, finely chopped
2 tsp. red chilli powder
2 tsp. coriander powder
1&1/4 cup fresh tomato puree
3/4th cup crushed pineapple
1/2 cup small seedless grapes
1/2 cup cream
1 cup yoghurt, beaten
5 tbsp. cashewnut paste
Salt
1 tsp. garam masala
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves