Achari Paneer-Indian cottage cheese cooked with tangy pickle spices

Achari Paneer

Here is one for the achar (Indian pickle) lovers. In India achar is a popular condiment thats made with picked fruit and/or vegetable cooked and pickled in a number of spices, vegetables and oils. There are so many different types of such pickles that I can’t even enumerate even if I wanted to.

Since some basic achar spices are used in this dish, it has a deliciously tangy,’achari’ taste that does justice to its name. I made it for the first time last week and was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to cook this seemingly ‘exotic’ dish.

You need:

1 lb or 500 gm paneer (Indian cottage cheese), cubed – for this dish I bought the paneer form an Indian store but you can make the cottage cheese at home as well
1 onion, sliced
4 tsp fennel seeds
2 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
1/2 tsp nigella seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp turmeric
3 tsp ginger/garlic paste
1 cup yogurt
1/2 teaspoon black salt (sanchal)
1 tsp MDH Kitchen King Masala OR Curry powder
2 tsp kashmiri mirch (optional)
1 teaspoon all purpose flour (maida)
2 tablespoon oil
8 chopped green chillies (optional, I did not put any to keep the flavor mild)
3 tsp dry mango powder
2 tsp sugar
salt to taste
2 tsp achar of your choice (optional, I added some mango pickle)
2 tbsp whipping/fresh cream (optional)

heat the oil in a large pan or karahi (Indian wok) and fry the fennel, fenugreek,black mustard, nigella and cumin seeds until the seeds stop spluttering. After 30 seconds, add onions and green chillies. Stir and fry until golden.

Add turmeric powder, garlic and ginger pastes and Kitchen King masala/or curry powder. Fry for a minute. Pour in the yogurt, dry mango powder,black salt, all purpose flour, chilli powder, sugar and pickle(if using). Cook until oil separates.

Cook yogurt in spices

Add paneer with about 150 ml water. Allow it to heat through. Stir in cream if using. Serve with naan or roti (Indian flat-breads)

Traditionally, pickle is not added to this dish. However, I thought I needed a little bit more ‘achari’ flavor so I added couple of teaspoons of my favorite pickle. I think this paneer will also make a great filling for wrap and I will try it next time I make this dish.