No Onion, No Garlic, Nut Free Paneer Butter Masala
Servings: 4 people
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The festive season is in full swing in India. Our kitchens are bustling in preparation for Diwali with sweets and savory snacks. Stocking them up to enjoy during the festivities.I have previously shared recipes for sugar-free, nut-free besan ladoos and sugar-free moong dal ladoos along with other sweet treats.Diwali is also a time for families to get together and share meals. If you are looking for mealtime mains that balance health with taste, check out this recipe for no onion, no garlic, nut-free paneer butter masala. A take on the popular paneer dish with a twist. Paneer cubes in a rich, creamy, butter-based bottle gourd (lauki) tomato gravy that will have you licking your fingers. The perfect nut-free option this festive season. Your family and friends would not be able to guess the magic ingredient. Compliments are a given. It could become your family favorite too.Here's to healthier eating and celebrations!
Ingredients
- 200 gms paneer (cottage cheese)
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups grated bottle gourd (lauki)
- 1-2 green chillies chopped
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
- 2 tsp cumin powder (jeera)
- 2 tsp coriander powder (dhania)
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 tsp kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
- 1 tbsp chopped green coriander leaves for garnish
Coarsely ground garam masala
- 6 cloves
- 10 peppercorns
- 1" piece of cinnamon
- 1 black cardamom
- 5 green cardamoms
- 1 star anise
- 1 piece of mace
Instructions
- To begin, heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan. Add in a bay leaf
- Add chopped tomatoes, grated bottle gourd (lauki), and chopped green chillies. Saute for a few minutes.
- Add in a tsp of salt. This helps the tomatoes cook faster. Mix well. Cover with a lid and cook until the tomatoes and bottle gourd are cooked and the liquid dries up.
- Remove to a bowl. Allow it to cool completely. Blend it into a smooth puree and keep aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil and butter in a pan.
- As the butter melts, add the coarsely ground garam masala. Mix.
- Add in the tomato and bottle gourd puree. Mix well.
- Now add the dry masalas – Kashmiri red chilli powder, turmeric powder (haldi), cumin powder (jeera), and coriander powder (dhania). Mix well and saute until you can see the oil appearing on the sides.
- Add in the cream. Mix well.
- Finally, add the paneer cubes along with crushed kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves). Mix until the paneer is well-coated. Cover it with a lid and simmer for a few minutes. Check the salt and add more if required. Adjust the gravy as per your taste.
- The No Onion, No Garlic, Nut Free Paneer Butter Masala is ready to serve. Garnish it with chopped green coriander leaves and serve hot with lachcha paranthas or naan.
Video
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This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.
This post is a part of ‘Feeling Festive Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters
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Nilshree Yelulkar
October 22, 2024 @ 10:43 pm
I could never imagine cooking any paneer sabzi without Onion and garlic, but your recipe looks worth giving a shot. As on festivals we avoid consuming onion and garlic, this recipe has come at right time for me.
Harjeet Kaur
October 23, 2024 @ 5:14 pm
Grated Lauri is amazing in paneer butter masala, Madhu ji. Instead of onion it thickens the gravy and camouflages the lauki for fussy eaters. I will surely try out this recipe soon. Thank you for sharing a unique but simple recipe.
Ambica Gulati
October 24, 2024 @ 8:43 am
Bottlegourd puree is a completely new concept for me. I had presumed that it would be cashew paste instead of onions and garlics. But I would like to try this, low cal also.
Anonymous
October 25, 2024 @ 9:21 am
No onion, no garlic, no nut! Wow, I’m curious to follow this recipe and taste this. It still looks so good despite not including the usual basics.
CINDY DSILVA
October 25, 2024 @ 9:21 am
No onion, no garlic, no nut! Wow, I’m curious to follow this recipe and taste this. It still looks so good despite not including the usual basics.
Manali
October 25, 2024 @ 1:02 pm
I was on the lookout for a paneer recipe for Diwali. I’ve never tried making one without onion and garlic. Sounds different as well as yummy. This will be it for this Diwali then!
Reubenna Dutta
October 25, 2024 @ 3:18 pm
I mostly add onion and garlic in my paneer recipes. But this one seems so tasty and perfect for days of Puja.
Abhijit Ray
October 25, 2024 @ 7:44 pm
A very innovative creation indeed. Great for those who don’t like onion and garlic. Let them enjoy this one.
For me give me some onion, garlic ka tadka.
No fun minus onion.
Chinmayee Gayatree Sahu
October 25, 2024 @ 8:12 pm
Lauki gravy and Paneer in it … wow! Sounds so unique. Thank you Aunty for sharing this recipe. I am going to try this soon
Preeti Chauhan
October 26, 2024 @ 6:22 pm
This recipe is a blessing for days when you run out of cream or cashews or when you wish to cook without onions like during fasts. I think it is a very clever way of making them eat lauki too :))
Janaki
October 26, 2024 @ 6:25 pm
Lauki in a paneer receipe? That’s innovation aunty. How does Lauki help in this? Does it add to the flavor or makes the gravy thick? Just asking for my information.
Kanchan Singh
October 27, 2024 @ 6:52 am
I love love your recipes they are quick and simple. This no garlic onion paneer is perfect for navratri and sharads.
Shifali
November 8, 2024 @ 10:45 am
I have never thought of any recipe of paneer using lauki. It is a blessing for all fussy eaters who don’t like eating lauki. Loved the recipe.
Dr. Aparna Salvi Nagda
October 27, 2024 @ 8:26 am
Lauki in Paneer? I’m amazed at how you could have thought about such a healthy substitute to the regular cashews and onions. Being a Jain, I’m happy to discover this recipe.
Anjali Tripathi Upadhyay
October 27, 2024 @ 10:08 am
Many of my friends avoid garlic and onion, so I’ve gotten into the habit of making paneer and other sabjis in same way. At first, I wondered if my family would miss the extra flavors, but surprisingly, my kids ended up loving it. Now, it’s become a regular way I cook.
RIDDHI DOSHI
October 27, 2024 @ 1:02 pm
I like how detailed your ingredient list and ‘Method’ sections are. I have many jain friends and this recipe will come in handy when they visit. Thank you.
Aditya Sathe
October 27, 2024 @ 1:11 pm
Thanks for sharing this delicious looking recipe. We have bumbarded with onion garlic so much that we have forgotten that food can and will taste good even without it.
Ratna
October 27, 2024 @ 3:34 pm
Lauki is a fabulous and totally unexpected option! Will definitely try, especially when I need a dish that my son will like and I can also make on days when I cannot use onions and garlic in my cooking! Thank you for this share
Sameer Gudhate
October 27, 2024 @ 7:24 pm
What a delightful recipe!
I love how you’ve given a healthier twist to the classic Paneer Butter Masala by using bottle gourd and keeping it nut-free.
It’s perfect for the festive season when everyone is looking for tasty yet nutritious options.
I can already imagine the rich, creamy texture and how it would pair beautifully with lachcha parathas!
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful dish!
Samata
October 27, 2024 @ 7:37 pm
No onion no garlic paneer I can cook and that I specially do while cooking bhog on Janmashtami and other puja days. It is difficult to cook bhog as u can’t taste it… but thankfully all who ate appreciated it 😍
Ishieta
October 27, 2024 @ 9:41 pm
Lauki in paneer??? Not in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought to pair them, leave alone cook them…. But now you have me curious to try this out for myself 😁
Neha Sharma
October 27, 2024 @ 10:29 pm
What a fantastic recipe, Madhu aunty! I love how you’ve made a classic Paneer Butter Masala accessible for everyone by skipping onions, garlic, and nuts. The addition of bottle gourd is such a clever twist, it’s a great way to sneak in some extra nutrition while keeping the dish creamy and delicious. Can’t wait to try this out for Diwali celebrations!
Ritu Bindra
October 28, 2024 @ 12:58 am
This recipe is a winner and such a hit. You just cannot figure out that it has lauki as the base. Such a perfect creamy texture. Trust you to get us to eat our veggies although I do love lauki.
Sindhu
October 28, 2024 @ 9:56 am
Oh wow I didn’t know that lauki can be substituted in the gravy to give you the rich taste. This seems to be a keeper thanks for sharing aunty
Harshita Nanda
October 28, 2024 @ 7:09 pm
Lauki was such an unexpected addition to the recipe. I mean I get it, since the recipe is without any nuts, but it still blew my mind!
Deepti Menon
October 28, 2024 @ 7:47 pm
Wow, adding lauki to make this paneer dish creamier and healthier is such a great idea. You should actually bring out an entire cook book with such healthy recipes. The dish looks great as well. Kudos!
Docdivatraveller
October 29, 2024 @ 8:11 pm
These kind of recipes are extremely handy during the festival days. I will try this for my in laws.
Sivaranjini Anandan
October 30, 2024 @ 7:49 pm
Bottle guard puree instead of onion tomato paste. This seems to unique and deserves a try. Recipe creation ❤️.
Jeannine
October 31, 2024 @ 1:45 pm
Having a daughter with nut allergy, I’m always on a lookout for recipes that are nut free. I’ll try this out but am pretty sure will be a hit with my family! Thanks for sharing!
Tomichan Matheikal
October 31, 2024 @ 3:42 pm
Good recipe for festival.
Happy Diwali.
I love paneer dishes.
Tanvi Agarwal
November 6, 2024 @ 5:46 pm
This is wholesome, something tasty without onion is unimaginable for me when it comes about paneer dish. Gotta try this soon
Sindhu
November 6, 2024 @ 11:17 pm
What an amazing way to make a rich gravy and it is satvic too .thanks for sharing this recipe