--- title: "Methi paneer recipe, how to make dry methi paneer" url: https://www.cookingandme.com/methi-paneer-recipe-how-to-make-methi-paneer/ date: 2015-09-09 modified: 2022-11-01 lang: en author: "nags" description: "Methi paneer recipe: learn how to make dry methi paneer, a delicious side dish recipe with paneer and fresh methi leaves. I have an edible balcony garden, you guys. Actually,..." categories: - "Paneer Recipes" image: https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20554659574_67dc3ba9a9_z.jpg word_count: 755 --- # Methi paneer recipe, how to make dry methi paneer ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20554659574_67dc3ba9a9_z1.jpg) **Methi paneer recipe: **learn how to make dry methi paneer, a delicious side dish recipe with paneer and fresh methi leaves. I have an edible balcony garden, you guys. Actually, calling it a garden is a bit of a stretch but I do have a few gorgeous things growing there like methi leaves, okra, coriander leaves, carrot, cherry tomatoes, curry leaves, chillies, basil, and jasmine. Here's a picture, see if you can spot all the plants I mentioned in the picture below. | ![Balcony Garden](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/21198489162_ba09a344d5_z.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | My balcony garden - picture taken on my phone | Methi is incredibly easy to grow. For my first batch, I just sowed some fenugreek seeds from my kitchen spice jar and had fresh leaves within a few weeks. While it wasn't enough to make a dish of its own, I had enough fresh methi to make this methi paneer, a semi-dry dish that went nicely with roti and [dal fry](https://www.cookingandme.com/2009/04/yellow-dal-dal-tadka-recipe.html). Love **paneer**? Try: [Tomato paneer pulao](https://www.cookingandme.com/2014/09/tomato-paneer-pulao-paneer-pulao-recipe.html) [Matar paneer](https://www.cookingandme.com/2014/01/matar-paneer-recipe-mattar-paneer-how.html) [Paneer shashlik](https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/05/paneer-shashlik-recipe-paneer-recipes.html) [Palak paneer](https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/01/palak-paneer-recipe-spinach-paneer.html) [Paneer payasam](https://www.cookingandme.com/2012/05/paneer-payasam-chenna-payash-in-12.html) | ![fresh methi leaves for methi paneer](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20990555099_d4086db4c0_z.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Fresh homegrown methi | For more pictures of my balcony garden and edible gardening journey in Singapore, please [follow me on Instagram](https://instagram.com/cookingandme). This is also the first time I tried frying paneer and then dunking it into warm water to keep them soft. I see this tip in almost all paneer recipes I see but had never tried it before. Verdict? It works but not as well as I had imagined. If you refrigerate paneer, it will turn hard so some gentle warming is definitely a good idea. Also, the excess oil floats into the water so it's not a bad move, all things considered. ## Methi Paneer Recipe ![](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20554659574_67dc3ba9a9_z-150x150.jpg) Methi paneer recipe, a dry recipe with paneer and methi, easy and quick enough for a weeknight dinner. - 2 cups of paneer cubes- 1 cup of fresh methi leaves- 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds (jeera)- 1/2 cup of finely chopped onions- 1 tsp of ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp of coriander powder- 1/2 tsp of red chilli powder (adjust to taste)- 1/4 tsp of amchoor powder (or juice of half a lime)- 1 cup of milk- 2 tbsp of oil- 1/4 tsp of methi seeds - If using fresh paneer, refrigerate for at least 30 mins so it's firm before pan frying. If using frozen paneer, defrost completely before proceeding- Heat the oil in a pan and shallow fry the paneer pieces until golden brown- Dunk them into a bowl of warm water directly from the pan- Let them soak in the water while you proceed with the rest of the recipe- In the same oil used to fry the paneer, add the cumin and fenugreek seeds- When they sizzle, add the onions and saute until light golden brown- Now add the ginger garlic paste and saute again for a minute or so until fragrant- Drain the paneer and squeeze out excess water. Add to the above along with the methi leaves, chilli powder, coriander, and amchoor (if using), and salt- Sauté and let the spices cook for a minute- Now add the milk and let it simmer in the gravy for a minute or two- Let the gravy cook down until it coats the paneer pieces. Adjust salt if needed and add a pinch of sugar (optional) to enhance the flavours PaneerIndian **Step by Step Methi Paneer Recipe** Heat oil in a pan and fry the paneer cubes ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20989414588_3c05061066_m.jpg) until golden brown ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20989415008_8b82a575c9_m.jpg) Drain and drop them into a bowl of warm water and set aside. This will ensure that the paneer pieces remain moist and don't become rubbery on further cooking ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20990520939_2315bef465_m.jpg) In the same pan with the oil, add the cumin and fenugreek seeds. When the cumin starts to sizzle, add the sliced onions. Fry until golden brown ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20556222043_f645b034b3_m.jpg) Add the ginger garlic paste and sauté for a minute or so until fragrant ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/21151095796_3d9e713825_m.jpg) Drain the paneer and squeeze out excess water. Add to the above along with the methi leaves, chilli powder, coriander, and amchoor (if using), and salt ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/21151095466_7fc7dc8135_m.jpg) Now add the milk and let it simmer in the gravy for a minute or two ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20556222313_3738c9c8a6_m.jpg) Let the gravy cook down until it coats the paneer pieces. Adjust salt if needed and add a pinch of sugar (optional) to enhance the flavours. You are all done. Remove from heat and serve warm with roti or rice ![methi paneer recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20989415118_9dec9cb499_m.jpg) **Note: ** I made the methi paneer more of a dry version so if you want more gravy, you can add more milk, cream, coconut milk, cashew paste, etc along with enough water to make a gravy of your preferred consistency. For methi paneer recipe in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, etc please use the Google translate button in the sidebar.