Mutter Paneer (cottage cheese & green peas in tomato gravy)

This is again a quick and easy daily (not literally but made at least once a week) dish which forms a part of our meals. It is the season of peas and I love the use of fresh peas in my cooking. Paneer (cottage cheese) is a very good supplement for calcium which we need in abundance at our home for my toddler. He laps up this dish with finesse... Now you know my fetish for making it so often!

Ingredients:

• Paneer (cottage cheese)- 250 gms, cut into 1.5inch cubes
• Tomato- 1 large, made into paste in a blender
• Cumin (jeera) seeds- 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder- 1/2 teaspoon
• Hing- 1/4th teaspoon
• Roasted cumin (jeera) seed powder- 1 teaspoon
• Green chilly- 2, slit mid way
• Finely chopped coriander leaves- 1 tablespoon 
• Oil- 1 1/2 teaspoon

Method:

• Heat oil in a wok. Add the cumin seeds. When it splutters add the hing.
• Now pour in the tomato paste and fry till the oil releases at the edge of the wok. Add the turmeric powder, the roasted jeera powder and 1 teaspoon of salt. Fry for a minute.
• Add the paneer and coat them with the masala. To this mixture add 1/2 cup of water, chillies and the peas. Cook on a medium flame for about 2 minutes or until the peas are cooked.
• Remove from heat. garnish with coriander leaves.
• Serve with roti OR steamed rice.