PATRA NU PANEER – Recipe by Master Chef Kaizad Patel

We were invited for a Parsi lunch along with live demo of a Vegetarian and non veg dishes by Master Chef Kaizad Patel, who has curated a special menu for this  ten day long culinary festival – “Parsi Food Festival” , with some of the most authentic and traditional signature dishes from the Parsi kitchen, including a great mix of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights, like Bhujeli Kaleji, Kid Gosht and Chapat, amongst many others mouth-watering to be tried out at Made in India at Radisson Blu.

So while i loved the non veg preparations and the tips and tricks the chef shared, but this veg recipe i found really very simply and quick to make in any household. And true to its name “PATRA NU PANEER” – Paneer cooked in leaf, it was very delicious – given by Chef himself.

Ingredients

• Paneer – 250 gm (cut in big pieces )
• Banana leaves – 3 nos

For Green Chutney

• Grated Coconut – ¼ number
• Green chili fresh- 4 number
• Cumin seed- ½ tsp
• Garlic cloves – 3 number
• Coriander leaves – 3 bunch
• Mint leaves – 3 bunch
• Turmeric powder- 1 tbsp
• Sugar – 2 gm
• Sugarcane Vinegar – 2 tbsp
• Curry leaves – 6 number

Method

 Apply salt to the Paneer.

 Remove the centre thick vein of banana leaf and cut 08 pieces of leaves approximately 8”*8” . Heat the pieces on gas so that they become limp and hence will be easy to handle.

 Apply chutney quite liberally all over the pieces of paneer. Wrap each piece of paneer in a piece of banana leaf folding the sides in and tie firmly with a piece of string.

 In a heavy bottom pan, fill it half with water. Place colander on top filled with wrapped paneer. Cover with a lid making sure the steam does not escape.

Cook for 10- 15 mins. till paneer has cooked. Reheat in the same way.

 Serve hot with chapattis

If you dont like cooking then go to this place, sit back and have a good time with Patara Nu Paneer.

And trust me it tasted yum with slightly sweet tint. and the Chutney has penetrated the Paneer really well. Paneer has become very soft and juicy. and the aroma of the banana leaf mixed with Chutney was really refreshing.

And I am also going to give my personal twist to this authentic Parsi dish Patara Nu Paneer by experimenting with different chutneys, probably you can also do the same as you already have the Parsi way of making this Dish.