Ruwangan Chaman ( Paneer)

The cuisine of Kashmir has exotic dishes , prepared with the use of whole spices. This dish is made by Kashmir pundits, where they don't use onions to cook  their food . It is simple, yet very flavorful in taste:) I am a paneer (cottage cheese) lover, so I wanted to try out this recipe and believe me it came out yum. It's tangy due to plenty of tomatoes,and the paneer is prepared a specific way that keeps it so soft, and smooth sauce to go with that makes a perfect combination.
Ruwangan means paneer, and chaman is tomato.

Ruwangan Chaman 

Ingredients:

500 gm tomatoes ( Boiled and peel to puree)
400  gm cottage cheese cut into rectangle shape 
1 tbsp ghee ( clarified butter)
2 tsp fresh ginger garlic  paste
2 tsp powdered green cardamon
2 bay leaves
1 stick cinnamon
2 cloves
2 tsp kashmiri red chili powder
salt to taste
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp fennel powder
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp saunth powder (dry ginger powder available in stores, and online too)


Method:
1. First Boil  tomatoes, peel off the skin and make a puree. Keep aside.Cut out 1 inch rectangular sized cottage cheese, shallow fry in vegetable oil.for 3 to 4 minutes remove as they appear golden in color. Soak them in warm water , that has a 1/2 tsp turmeric.

  2. Next, heat ghee in pan, add in ginger garlic paste,kashmiri red chili powder, ginger powder , 1/2 tsp turmeric powder and whole spices  and add in  pureed tomatoes. Saute tomato puree for 2 to 3 mins.
3. Add in spices, check for salt and add some 1/2 cup water to continue cooking the puree, covered for another 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Now add in  strained cottage cheese that is soaking in the turmeric water. Check for salt again and add in garam masala. Continue cooking for another 10 to 12 minutes,
Close burner as the gravy appears slightly thick. You can remove the whole spices, like bay leaves if you want before serving the dish.
Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves.This dish is wholesome for dinner and goes well with Indian bread or even rice of your choice, like jeera basmati rice or just plain white or brown rice. Choice is yours! Enjoy :)