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Heat 2 Tbsp of ghee in a pan over medium heat.
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Ghee is clarified butter originally from India, giving the dish a rich flavour and aroma.
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If you do not have ghee, you can use vegetable oil or butter for the same effect, although the flavour will not be the same as that of ghee.
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With the ghee hot, add three chopped shallots and one cubic inch of minced ginger into the pan.
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Stir occasionally to fry the shallots and ginger till they begin to lightly brown.
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This generally takes about 4-5 minutes.
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Browning the shallots browns the sweetness; it adds depth to the overall flavour of the curry.
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Add the spices: Now, after the shallots and ginger have a nice brown colour, add the garam masala, cardamom powder, ground coriander, and chilli pepper flakes to the pot.
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Stir everything together with the shallots and ginger.
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This helps break down some aromatic oils in the spices and, therefore, reach a much more potent flavour and aroma.
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Now add to the pan the chopped plum tomatoes, 1/2 cup of cashew nuts, lightly chopped.
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The tomato will yield an acidity with sweetness for the curry, whilst the nuts provide the creaminess. Heat for one minute and stir constantly.
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Once the tomatoes have softened a little, you can then put the cooked mixture in a food processor.
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Process it up until it's smooth and forms a yummy, thick, and almost creamy sauce for eating.
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Add some water if it's too thick to make the blending process smoother. Pour the pur e back into your pan over a medium heat. This will be the sauce for your curry, full of the flavour from spices, shallots, ginger, and tomatoes.
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Now, it is the paneer's turn. Cut 200 gms of paneer cheese into cubes and lightly stir into the sauce. Heat through for about 3-4 minutes.
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Don't let the paneer overcook, as then it becomes rubbery.
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For the final texture, add ⅓ cup yoghurt to the pan and stir well.
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This will provide a tangy creaminess to the dish to balance out the spices, as well as make the curry richer.
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Stir gently so that the yoghurt doesn't curdle by mixing it in with the sauce. It takes about 2-3 minutes.
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Once everything is hot and well combined, remove the pan from the heat.
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Serve your paneer korma hot, garnished with a handful of fresh cilantro or a few flakes of chilli for added colour.
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This pairs perfectly with steamed basmati rice, naan, or paratha.
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And if you want that extra rich flavour, you can add a tablespoon or so of cream at the end to make it that much more creamy.
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If you like your curry to be spicy, you can add a little more of the flakes to taste.
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You can make this curry ahead of time and reheat it. That makes it a fantastic meal prep recipe.
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This paneer korma curry is the real deal: a recipe not just for a dish but for a celebration of flavours.
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It's like a culinary journey into the heart of Indian cuisine, served with love and care, shared for comfort and satisfaction.