Paneer Butter Masala. vegan recipe - Vegan Richa (2024)

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A delicious paneer butter masala made with vegan paneer and packed full of delicious herbs and spices. Vegan and gluten free recipe.Jump to Recipe

Paneer Butter Masala. vegan recipe - Vegan Richa (1)

I know there are tons of Paneer Butter Masala or Paneer Makhani or Tikka Masala recipes out there. Here is my version. Added under the directions are some other variations.

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Paneer Butter Masala. vegan recipe - Vegan Richa (2)

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5 from 1 vote

Paneer Butter Masala

A delicious paneer butter masala made with vegan paneer and packed full of delicious herbs and spices. Vegan and gluten free recipe.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 385kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups (450 g) vegan paneer cubes find the recipe for vegan paneer in mycookbook
  • 1/2 (0.5) medium onion chopped
  • 4 medium tomatoes chopped
  • 1 Serrano chili pepper
  • 1 dried red chili
  • 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) coriander seeds or coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) cumin seeds
  • 4 cloves
  • 1 cardamon pod
  • 1/2 inch (0.5 inch) cinnamon stick
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) turmeric powder
  • 2 inch ginger chopped
  • 6 medium sized cloves of garlic chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon dried Kasuri Methi. Fresh Fenugreek Leaves can also be used. optional
  • 1 cup cashews soaked in water for an hour
  • 1/2 cup (120 g) non dairy milk or thin cashew cream
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon oil
  • 1 teaspoon vegan butter
  • chopped cilantro or grated beets for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large pan, add oil and chopped onions and let cook on medium heat for 10 minutes or until the onions start to look nice and golden.

  • Add in the spices( bay leaves, cumin, coriander, turmeric, methi seeds, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and red chili) and cook for 2-3 minutes. You can roast these spices separately before hand and keep them to be added at blending time as well.

  • Add in the green Serrano chili and garlic and ginger and cook for another 5 minutes with occasional stirring.

  • Cool the mixture a little and blend the onion spices mixture along with chopped tomatoes and soaked cashews.

  • In the same pan, add the butter and pour the blended mixture and kasuri methi or fresh chopped methi leaves, and cook on medium low heat partially covered for 20-30 minutes occasionally stirring on until the mixture thickens and starts to leave oil on the sides.

  • Add in the salt sugar, milk or cream and vegan paneer cubes and mix well. If the consistency of the sauce is too thick, add some more non dairy milk. You can use water instead as well.

  • Cook on medium-low heat, covered for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and sugar. This dish is usually quite sweet in restaurants.

  • Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro or grated beets or fried onions!

  • Serve hot with Naan, Roti or Basmati Rice.

Notes

Variations:

  1. You can eliminate onions from the curry and just roast the spices and blend with tomatoes and cashews and follow the rest of the steps.
  2. You can also use garam masala instead of the separate spices.

Nutritional value is based on 1 serving

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Paneer Butter Masala

Amount Per Serving

Calories 385Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Fat 25g38%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Sodium 600mg26%

Potassium 854mg24%

Carbohydrates 27g9%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 16g32%

Vitamin A 1085IU22%

Vitamin C 20mg24%

Calcium 78mg8%

Iron 4.6mg26%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe?Please do leave a comment and rating below.. Tag me on Instagram @veganricha

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  1. Zanna

    Paneer Butter Masala. vegan recipe - Vegan Richa (3)
    Too good. I added some roasted cauliflower to make it a bit lighter. Yummy yum

    Reply

    • Richa

      awesome!

      Reply

  2. Superchef

    even if everyone has a recipe for this, it is one dish where every single one of them is different!

    Reply

Paneer Butter Masala. vegan recipe - Vegan Richa (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between paneer masala and Paneer Butter Masala? ›

What is the difference between paneer butter masala and paneer tikka masala? Paneer butter masala is essentially cooked in butter, has a smooth silky curry to which raw paneer is added. But paneer tikka masala is made with grilled paneer and is predominantly spicy and has some texture in the curry.

What is a substitute for cream in Paneer Butter Masala? ›

You can substitute cream with cashew paste or coconut milk for a dairy-free version of Paneer Butter Masala.

Can I use tofu instead of paneer? ›

Even though they may look similar, paneer and tofu are different foods. Paneer is a cheese, while tofu is made from soy. However, they're both vegetarian sources of protein and calcium that have mild tastes and fairly soft textures. For these reasons, they may be used interchangeably in some recipes.

Is Paneer Butter Masala healthy? ›

Paneer Butter Masala is made from paneer, a cheese high in protein and calcium. It also contains a variety of spices, such as turmeric, cumin and coriander, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Should you fry paneer before adding to curry? ›

Paneer is already cooked.

So it's not essential that you cook it prior to adding to curry. Some people like a golden brown colour on the outside. If you like, you can shallow fry, deep fry, or grill paneer before adding it to a curry. This will create a golden crust on the outside.

Is paneer cheese vegan? ›

No, traditionally paneer is not suitable for vegans as it's made from dairy-based milk – usually buffalo or cows.

What can I use instead of cream in curry vegan? ›

Mix equal parts silken tofu and soy milk and blend thoroughly to make a high protein, vegan substitute for heavy cream. This mixture works well to thicken soups and sauces. It can also be whipped like heavy cream.

Can I use yogurt instead of cream for tikka masala? ›

So, instead of cream, I use yogurt and butter (cream's close cousin) to get that rich and velvety tomato gravy for my Chicken Tikka Masala. If you are one of those people who love cream in their Chicken Tikka, then swap out the yogurt and add it. It's all good.

Can I use cream cheese instead of paneer? ›

No, paneer and cream cheese are different. Though they are both made in a similar manner by separating cheese curds from the whey, they both have different starting points. While Paneer is made just with milk, Cream Cheese is made with a 1:2 ratio of Milk:Cream.

What is a vegan substitute for paneer? ›

Tofu. Tofu is one of the most popular and versatile vegan alternatives to paneer. It has a similar texture and can be used in both savoury and sweet dishes.

What is paneer called in America? ›

Although many Indians translate "paneer" into "cottage cheese", cottage cheese is made using rennet extracted from the stomach of ruminants, and cow's skim milk. Queso blanco or queso fresco are often recommended as substitutes in the Americas and Spain as they are more commercially available in many American markets.

Which is healthier tofu or paneer? ›

Tofu takes the upper hand in the tofu vs paneer comparison as a beneficial source of plant compounds (e.g. isoflavones), which cannot be provided with paneer. In addition, it is a healthier option for two main reasons: Health benefits: The isoflavones-rich protein is considered to help prevent certain diseases.

Can diabetic patient eat paneer butter masala? ›

The answer is a resounding yes. Paneer, rich in high-quality protein, numerous vitamins, and minerals, emerges as an excellent option for diabetic patients. With a negligible amount of carbohydrates and a low glycemic index, paneer proves to be a diabetes-friendly choice.

Can we eat paneer butter masala during weight loss? ›

Paneer + Low Fat Paneer : Paneer contains high quality protein and calcium which aids in weight loss. Since paneer is low in carbs and high in protein it gets digested slowly and hence good for diabetes.

What is the difference between butter masala and masala? ›

Taste. Butter Chicken has a milder and creamier taste, while Tikka Masala has a spicier, earthy, and tangier taste. Butter Chicken is a buttery and creamy tomato-based sauce. At the same time, Tikka Masala has a slightly sour and tangy tomato-based sauce.

Which is good paneer butter masala or Kadai paneer? ›

Kadai paneer is spicier than the other two as there is the addition of freshly prepared kadai masala in it. Whereas shahi paneer and paneer butter masala are more rich and creamy and sweet in taste. Also, shahi paneer is prepared with dry fruits like cashew and almonds without having any tomatoes in it.

What is the difference between butter and paneer? ›

Butter is made by churning milk cream by hands in a pot. This process separates butterfat, fats present in milk, and buttermilk. Paneer is made by heating milk over 200 degrees Fahrenheit and then adding some common type of acid like lemon juice and vinegar to it.

How is paneer different from butter? ›

Butter is predominantly made up of milk fat. While paneer is milk soft fresh curd like cottage cheese has most of the milk components minus water and some whey protein lost in the whey which is removed while making paneer. You can note the diffy in the nutritional composition of these two dairy product.

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