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Karahi & handi

Paneer Karahi Recipe

پنیر کڑاہی بنانے کا طریقہ

Soft paneer cubes in a thick, tomato-heavy karahi masala with ginger, green chillies and crushed coriander: the meat-free karahi that still tastes like one.
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Illustration of Paneer Karahi

Prep

15 min

Cook

25 min

Total

40 min

Serves

4

Difficulty

Easy

Spice

Medium hot

Paneer karahi uses the same method as chicken karahi: tomatoes are cooked down hard in oil until they turn into a glossy masala, then finished with fresh ginger and green chillies. Because paneer needs only a few minutes, the masala is built first and the cheese goes in at the end. A quick shallow-fry of the paneer gives it a light crust so it holds its shape and soaks up the masala instead of crumbling.

Ingredients

4 servings

For 4 servings

Measures

To finish

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a karahi on medium-high heat. Fry the paneer cubes in it, turning, until lightly golden on a couple of sides. Lift them out onto a plate and leave the oil in the pan.

    ⏱ 4 min

  2. Drop the paneer into a bowl of warm water while you make the masala; this keeps it soft.

  3. In the same oil add the cumin, let it crackle, then add the ginger-garlic paste and stir for 30 seconds until it smells cooked.

  4. Add the tomatoes, salt, red chilli powder, chilli flakes, turmeric and crushed coriander. Cover and cook on medium heat until the tomatoes are completely soft.

    ⏱ 8 min

  5. Uncover, turn the heat up and bhuno: keep stirring and mashing the tomatoes until the masala is thick and the oil separates at the edges.

    ⏱ 6 min

  6. Add the capsicum and the water and stir-fry for 2 minutes so the capsicum stays crunchy.

    ⏱ 2 min

  7. Drain the paneer and fold it in gently with the ginger, green chillies, garam masala and kasuri methi. Cover and leave on the lowest heat so the paneer takes in the masala.

    ⏱ 3 min

  8. Swirl in the cream if using, scatter the coriander and serve straight away.

Tips for the best result

  • Soaking the fried paneer in warm water is the trick that stops it going rubbery. Shop-bought paneer benefits most.
  • For a richer, handi-like version, add 2 tbsp beaten yogurt with the tomatoes and finish with the cream.
  • Ripe red tomatoes matter here even more than in chicken karahi, because there is no meat to add depth.

Common mistakes

  • Cooking the paneer in the masala for too long. It turns tough and squeaky; it only needs warming through.
  • Adding the paneer before the oil separates. The masala then stays raw and sour, and the paneer breaks up while you keep stirring.

How to serve

Serve hot with naan, paratha or roti and a cucumber raita.

Storing and reheating

Keeps 2 days in the fridge. Reheat gently with a splash of water; the paneer firms up a little when chilled. Not good frozen.

Nutrition and cost

Worked out from the ingredients, not measured in a lab. Treat both as a rough guide.

Per serving Estimate

Calories
355kcal
Protein
10g
Fat
29g
Carbs
17g
Fibre
3.1g
Sodium
700mg

Estimated from USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (April 2018), public domain values for the raw ingredients (100% of the recipe by weight had data). Deep-frying oil is counted at 20%; bones and water lost in cooking are not subtracted, so bone-in and fried dishes can read high. Not medical advice. Method

Cost per servingEstimate

≈ Rs 29

Whole dish ≈ Rs 115 · 50% of ingredients by weight priced

From the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics weekly SPI, week ended 29 Oct 2026. Spices, herbs and some vegetables are not in the SPI and are left out unless you add your price, so the real cost is a little higher. How this works

Paneer Karahi: questions people ask

How do I keep paneer soft in karahi?

Fry it only until lightly golden, soak it in warm water while the masala cooks, and add it in the last few minutes. Long cooking is what makes paneer rubbery.

Can I make paneer karahi without frying the paneer?

Yes. Add the raw cubes at the end and simmer for 2 minutes. They will be softer but more likely to break, so stir gently.

Serve it with, and similar recipes

All karahi and handi recipes

Read this recipe in Urdu: پنیر کڑاہی بنانے کا طریقہ

https://handi.danixsoft.com/recipes/paneer-karahi · Handi, DanixSoft