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    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Paneer Lajawab | Side Dish for Naan / Chapati

    Paneer Lajawab | Side Dish for Naan / Chapati

    Published: Aug 4, 2012 · Modified: Nov 9, 2020 by Srivalli · 13 Comments

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    For the second day of cooking from Vaishali's blog, I naturally had to select a paneer dish. Somehow reading her post when she posted this Paneer gravy, I decided I must make it sometime. Knowing how much my kids love Paneer gravies, I knew I could do with yet another version of Paneer gravy. I especially liked the fact that Vaishali named the dish as Laajawaab, because that's how her son reacted saying Paneer Laajawaab hai! The same scenario happens at home.

    Every time I feed my boys that they like, right on they show their liking with a thumbs-up sign. That attests that the dish meets more than their expectation and I am supposed to make it again. Well, it was the same with this dish too. Not only did Chinnu love it so much, but he also wanted the same for dinner as well. So I had to save it up just for him.

    It is interesting to note my family reaction when I was making this dish. Until the moment I was ready to make this dish, I hadn't actually gone through the recipe, and reading it calls for bottle gourd was a real surprise. However in our household, though it might surprise most, bottle gourd is a vegetable that graces the stocks regularly. And it so happened that we had just the amount I needed for this gravy.
    Paneer Lajawab
    Paneer Lajawab

    Knowing that I was cooking with a vegetable with a Paneer, I wasn't ready to reveal to my family. I know they can get prejudiced with it. So I kept the part of the bottle gourd a very guarded secret. When everybody appreciated how creamy and rich it tastes, I sheepishly nodded and said Vaishali has great recipes. Only with hubby dear, was I bold enough to ask if he wants to know what has gone into the gravy. Knowing that I might say the unexpected, he was smart enough to ask me not to share. He said it was enough to know that the dish is very good and that I can include it in our regular menu, but he was not willing to be part of the secret..:)Anyway coming to the gravy, I must implore you to try, for you will surely get hooked!

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    Paneer Lajawab

    Ingredients Needed:

    Paneer / Indian Cottage Cheese - 250 gms
    Onion paste - 1/2 cup
    Bottle gourd puree - 1/2 cup
    Ginger Garlic and chilly paste - 2 tsp
    Tomato puree - 1/2 cup
    Whole Cumin Seeds / Jeera 1 tsp
    Turmeric powder a pinch
    Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
    Roasted cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
    Salt to taste
    Milk for consistency (I added about 3/4 cup)
    Oil - 2 tsp
    Ghee - 1 tsp

    For final garnish

    Garam Masala - 3/4 tsp
    Kasoori Methi - 2 pinches
    Fresh cream or malai - 2 tsp (opt, I didn't add)

    Preps

    Chop chilies, ginger and garlic. Make a smooth paste.
    For the bottle gourd puree, peel and chop into pieces. microwave for 10 mins. Once cooled, make a puree.

    How to make the Paneer Lajawab:

    Heat a non stick pan with ghee, roast paneer lightly. Remove and keep it aside.

    Then add the oil to the pan, temper with cumin seeds, when it crackles, add onion, ginger garlic chilly paste. Let it cook for couple of mins

    Next add the bottle gourd puree. combine everything well and continue cooking for couple of mints, till the moisture is gone. Now add tomato puree and cool for 5 mins in sim.

    Add all the dry spice powders and cook till oil separates.

    Add paneer and milk to adjust the gravy consistency.

    Garnish with fresh cream if you are using.

    Sprinkle garam masala and kasoori methi.

    Serve with Naans.

    Notes: I didn't add the cream or extra milk. The gravy was very rich without all these as such.

    Recipe

    Print Pin

    Paneer Lajawab | Side Dish for Naan / Chapati

    Course Main Dish – Gravies
    Dish Type Paneer Dishes
    Author Srivalli
    Tried this recipe?Mention @spicingyourlife_ or tag #spicingyourlife_!
    « Matar Aloo ka Nimona | Peas Potato Gravy in Awadhi Style
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sowmya Karthy says

      August 04, 2012 at 10:34 am

      Oh the secret ingredient... Wow I did not know bottlegourd can help to make the gravy creamy... Bookmarked

      Sowmya
      /

      Reply
    2. PJ says

      August 04, 2012 at 11:09 am

      The paneer is indeed lajawaab,Srivalli!So thick and rich. Must have been a great side dish with Naan

      Reply
    3. vaishali sabnani says

      August 04, 2012 at 11:21 am

      People have phobias..as soon as u say there is bottle gourd in the gravy..a big face is made..aw..yuck..n things like that..actually even I dont reveal till everyone finishes eating...ha ha...and to tell u another secret..this is one of the gravies which is served in our restaurant..my chef tries to hide things..but a stubborn me keeps digging in stuff to know more:)so glad that ur family appreciated..thanks for trying.

      Reply
    4. Priya says

      August 04, 2012 at 5:25 pm

      Even i dont reveal if i'll go for something new than the usual ingredients until they finish their dish.Bottlegourd in Paneer dish sounds seriously mindblowing.

      Reply
    5. Pavani says

      August 04, 2012 at 7:00 pm

      This is on my 'to-do' list from Vaishali blog too. Adding bottle gourd is a genius idea. Will have to try this soon.

      Reply
    6. Sonia says

      August 04, 2012 at 11:00 pm

      this is all time fav dish of all indians. Thanks for the twist and adding bottleguard to the gravy. Even carrots and mixed veg soup (mainly with carrots and toms, onions) works well too. This is amazing !

      Reply
    7. Gayathri Kumar says

      August 05, 2012 at 2:35 am

      Never though of pureeing bottle gourd and adding it in gravy. What a wonderful idea!

      Reply
    8. The Pumpkin Farm says

      August 05, 2012 at 6:23 am

      wow bottle gourd puree , seems like a wonderful idea...just learnt that it helps in reducing body fats, so good way to incorpoarate

      Reply
    9. Priyas Feast says

      August 05, 2012 at 6:05 pm

      Luv this lajawab paneer version...adding the bottlegourd puree is such a new twist to this gravy..

      Reply
    10. Chef Mireille says

      August 05, 2012 at 8:28 pm

      looks so delicious!!!!

      Reply
    11. sushma says

      August 08, 2012 at 4:12 am

      Adding bottleguard for gravy....interesting and new to me

      Reply
    12. Harini-Jaya Rupanagudi says

      August 08, 2012 at 11:47 pm

      bottle gourd in a gravy is very innovative! sounds very tasty as well.

      Reply
    13. valerian gomes says

      August 18, 2015 at 5:32 pm

      Paneer in bottle gourd gravy never thought of it. I will try it out.

      Reply

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