Creamy Cottage Cheese in Tomato Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-14 · Updated 2026-04-14

A rich, aromatic Punjabi dish featuring paneer cubes simmered in a luscious tomato and cream sauce, infused with warm spices for an elegant yet simple dinner. This Indian recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 40 minutes, blends paneer, onion, tomatoes into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 200g, cut into 1-inch cubes paneer
• 1 large, finely chopped onion
• 2 medium, chopped tomatoes
• 1 inch, minced ginger
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup tomato puree
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh cilantro

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add 1 tsp cumin seeds and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 150g chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
3. Step 3: Add 10g minced ginger, 10g minced garlic, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 200g chopped tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes until tomatoes break down and oil separates.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook for 2 minutes.
6. Step 6: Add 1/2 cup tomato puree and simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens.
7. Step 7: Add 200g paneer cubes and 60ml heavy cream. Simmer for 5 minutes until paneer is heated through and sauce is creamy.
8. Step 8: Stir in 1/2 tsp garam masala and 2 tbsp chopped cilantro. Cook for 1 minute until flavors meld. Do not boil after adding cream.