Paneer Butter Masala with Cashew-Tomato Sauce
Soft cubes of paneer simmered in a creamy, buttery tomato sauce enriched with ground cashews and aromatic spices for a beloved Punjabi vegetarian delight. This Indian-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs paneer, cubed, unsalted butter, onion, finely chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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
- 300 g paneer, cubed
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups tomato puree
- 1/4 cup cashews, soaked and ground to paste
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup water
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely chopped onion and sauté for 6-7 minutes until soft and golden.
- Step 2: Stir in 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add 1 1/2 cups tomato puree and 1/4 cup cashew paste to the pan. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and oil separates.
- Step 4: Mix in 1 tsp red chili powder, 1 tsp garam masala, and 1 tsp salt. Add 1/2 cup water to adjust consistency and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Step 5: Add 300 g cubed paneer and cook for 5 minutes until the paneer is heated through and coated with sauce.
- Step 6: Lower the heat and stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream and 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro. Simmer for another 2 minutes before serving warm with naan or rice.









