Sautéed Paneer with Bell Peppers and Spiced Tomato Sauce

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-20 · Updated 2026-04-20

Tender paneer cubes simmered in a vibrant tomato sauce with bell peppers and aromatic spices, perfect with steamed rice. This indian-inspired vegetarian (vegetarian) ready in about 55 minutes blends ounces paneer, medium red bell pepper, medium green bell pepper 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 400 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

• 8 ounces paneer
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1 medium green bell pepper
• 1 medium onion
• 2 medium tomato
• 1 tablespoon ginger
• 1 tablespoon garlic
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• to taste salt
• 2 tablespoons cilantro

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut paneer into 1-inch cubes and slice bell peppers into thin strips. Finely chop onion and tomatoes.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and cook until sizzling for 30 seconds.
3. Step 3: Add 1/2 cup chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until golden. Stir in 1 tablespoon minced ginger and 1 tablespoon minced garlic, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 2 medium chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until tomatoes break down and oil separates from the mixture.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, and salt to taste. Cook for 1 minute until spices are aromatic.
6. Step 6: Add 8 ounces paneer cubes and 2 sliced bell peppers (1 red, 1 green), stirring gently to coat in sauce. Cook for 5 minutes, turning paneer occasionally, until peppers are tender-crisp.
7. Step 7: Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon garam masala and cook for 1 more minute. Garnish with 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro and serve hot.