Pepper Paneer Dry

Pepper Paneer Dry - Shamala Bhat

Ingredients:
200 gms Soft fresh Paneer(Cottage Cheese)

1 large Onion
Curry leaves
for the batter:
1/4 cup All purpose flour
2 tbsp. Corn flour
1/4 cup Water, approx
1/4 tsp Pepper powder
1 tsp Ginger-Garlic paste, optional
Salt to taste
2 tbsp All purpose flour, to dust
Oil, to deep fry

Other ingredients:
4-5 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4" Ginger, finely chopped
2-3 Green(or red) chillies, finely chopped
1 tsp Celery(or thick Coriander stems), finely chopped
1 tbsp Vinegar
1 tbsp Soya sauce
2-3 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
1 tbsp Red Chili Sauce or 1-2 tsp Red Chili paste
1/4 tsp freshly ground Pepper
Salt to taste
2-3 tbsp Oil

Method

Cut a large onion into large 1" cubes and separate into layers.
Cut paneer into 2" rectangular slices and keep it aside. Roll the paneer pieces in dry flour so that they will become dry.

Take a bowl and add corn flour,all purpose four, ginger-garlic paste(if adding),pepper powder and salt and add 1/4 cup of water and mix it nicely to form a thick coating batter, beat the batter nicely with out any lumps. Do not make this batter thin as it will not hold the coating. So add the water in stages to get a thick coating consistency.

Heat oil in a deep curved pan for deep frying.

Dip the paneer slices in the maida batter and deep fry they turn light golden brown in color. Do not clutter the pan with more pieces.You can even deep fry for but long but I love the paneer pieces really soft so I fry until light golden in color. Drain the paneer pieces on to a kitchen napkin.
Heat oil in a deep vessel and add finely chopped ginger, garlic,celery and green chillies and fry until light brown in color.

Add diced and separated onions and fry on high fame for a minute

Reduce the flame or remove the vessel from heat and add vinegar, soya sauce, tomato ketchup, red chili sauce(or paste), salt and pepper. Remember that all the sauces contain some salt, so do not add more salt. Return to heat and mix all the sauces nicely on low flame for a minute

Add the fried paneer pieces and increase the flame and stir fry for 1-2 minutes and garnish it with fried curry leaves.