I call this a 5-minute quick and easy paneer recipe! If you are looking for quick, easy, and simple paneer recipes, nothing tops this. This is flat-out the fastest recipe for paneer curry on my blog. You only need a slab of fresh paneer and a handful of pantry staple spices to bring this dish together.
This Bengali recipe for paneer curry is vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free. It can be easily modified into a vegan recipe by replacing paneer with tofu. The recipe card includes a video of this quick and simple 5-minute paneer recipe.
Did I shock you there? I know I am guilty of it because when I posted this Paneer Curry recipe on my Instagram, it sent a wave of frenzy among my channel followers. Is this possible? Can it be? Really?? These were the comments that flooded my post. But this is true.
Like various other Bengali dishes, this one here uses pantry-staple ingredients like seasonings and spices for a deliciously easy paneer recipe. As you might have noticed lately I am sharing recipes that seldom go overboard in terms of ingredients.
My previous recipe of Orange Rice barely used 5 ingredients (I mean if you skip Salt & Sugar!)
Ingredients for this 5-Mins Quick & Easy Paneer Curry Recipe
- Paneer or Fresh Indian Cottage Cheese – alternate would be Tofu or any alternate vegan cheese
- Ginger
- Whole Spices like Cumin Seeds, dry Bay Leaf
- Hing or Asafoetida – omit if unavailable
- Powdered Spices like Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder
- Garam Masala Powder
- Dry Fenugreek Leaves
- Fresh Coriander Leaves or Cilantro for garnish
Detailed recipe for this simple paneer curry recipe
- Take 2-3 tbsp of water in a bowl. Add all the dried powdered spices, like turmeric, Red chili powder, cumin, coriander, and garam masala along with grated ginger and kasuri methi. Stir it and let it soak.
- Now, heat the oil in a pan. We have used Mustard Oil here, you may however use any other oil at your convenience to make this simple paneer recipe. As it heats up, bring down the heat and temper it with bay leaf, cumin seeds, and asafoetida or hing. Hing is a very strong spice here. It aids digestion and helps reduce bloating. However, if you do not prefer it or don’t have it in your pantry, feel free to skip it
- Now, add the green chilies and the spice mix. Here I would like to tell you to use your judgment in case of chillies. If you prefer heat and can handle spicy food, then be as liberal as you want. Otherwise, do not cut or slice them and leave them whole. In this way, you will get the flavor but not the heat in this simple & easy paneer recipe. Fry the mix on medium heat for a minute or two, before adding the boiled potato cubes and paneer cubes.
- Add the water and season it with salt and sugar.
- Cover the pan with its lid and allow it to simmer for 2 minutes, not more than that. Overcooked Paneer often becomes chewy.
- Turn off the heat and add some chopped fresh coriander leaves before serving.
Serving suggestions
This simple paneer dish goes very well with rice-based dishes like orange rice and mixed vegetable fried rice. I like serving this paneer recipe for everyday meals with chapatis and parathas too.
Why this simple 5-minute paneer recipe is perfect for you?
I am always on the lookout for quick & easy paneer recipes. And this niramish simple paneer recipe in Bengali style fits the bill perfectly.
I know it’s a struggle for those like ourselves who lead a busy life, juggling a demanding career and home with kids. Cooking at home and eating healthy often takes a backseat. The solution most often, if not, becomes eating out or relying on takeaways!
Breaking that barrier to my kitchen has always been my priority. Cooking should not necessarily mean elaborate and long hours of prepping and stirring the pot.
- So, here’s another of my attempts to limit my minutes in the kitchen. Check out this super simple Paneer Curry here. It’s gluten-free, vegetarian (No onion, no garlic), and super quick to come together.
- This paneer curry without tomato is perfect for those who have dietary restrictions. This paneer curry recipe is perfect for weight-watchers. It has no cream, butter, or richness in terms of nuts & seeds.
- If you are trying to incorporate more protein in your diet without carbs or fat, then this out-of-different paneer recipe should be at the top of your list
- This simple paneer recipe is perfect as a side dish to both rotis as well as rice.
More quick & easy paneer dishes
- Dhaba style Paneer Butter Masala
- Palak Paneer
- Badami Paneer Korma in white gravy
- Badami Malai Kofta Curry
- Bengali Chanar Dalna
- Paneer Pakora
- Narkel Shorshe diye Chana Bhapa Recipe
- Honey Chilli Paneer
- Paneer Egg Bhurji
Have you tried this recipe? I would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment and star rating if you loved my recipes. It would help this post to reach more readers. Thank you!
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This super quick and easy Paneer Curry recipe uses ingredients that you can count on your fingertips. If you are looking for quick & easy paneer recipes, then nothing tops this. This is flat out the quickest recipe of paneer on my blog. All you need is a slab of fresh paneer and a handful of pantry staple spices to bring this dish together. This is a vegetarian, gluten-free and nut-free recipe, which can be easily modified into vegan by replacing paneer with tofu.
- 200 gms Paneer Cut in cubes
- 2 Potatoes Medium, Boiled
- 1.5 inch Ginger Grated or Paste
- 1/2 tsp Jeera or Cumin Seeds
- 1 Dried Bay Leaf
- 2 Green Chilies Slit in halves
- 1/4 tsp Hing or Asafoetida
- Salt as per taste
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chili Powder For colour
- 1.5 tsp Cumin Powder
- 2 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
- 1/2 cup Water
- A pinch of Kasuri Methi or Fenugreek leaves
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Take 2-3 tbsp of water in a bowl. Add all the dried powdered spices in it, like turmeric, Red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala alongwith grated ginger and kasuri methi. Give it a stir and let it soak.
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Now, heat oil in a pan and temper it with bay leaf, cumin seeds and asafoetida or hing.
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Now, add the green chillies and the spice mix. Fry this on medium heat for a minute or two, before adding the potato and paneer cubes.
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Add the water and season it with Salt and sugar.
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Cover the pan with its lid and allow it to simmer for 2 minutes, not more than that. Over cooked Paneer often becomes chewy.
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Turn off the heat and add some chopped fresh Coriander leaves before serving.
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