Schezwan Paneer Gravy/ Indo Chinese Spicy Paneer Schezwan

Most of us have an affinity to Chinese dishes. We have modified them in the course of time and made them Indo Chinese Dishes. One such dish is the Schezwan Paneer gravy which goes very well with fried rice, veg noodles, Roti, Chappati etc. It is very simple to make this delicious, tasty dish.

Ingredients:

Paneer – 250 Gms (cut into medium sized cubes)

Corn Flour – 3 tbsp

Sesame Oil – 2 tbsp + 1 tbsp

Garlic – 10 pods (crushed)

Ginger – 1 inch long (crushed)

Deseeded Kashmiri (or Bedgi) Chillies – 7 to 8

Chilli Paste – 2 tsp

Onion (cut into cubes) – ½ cup

Bell Peppers (Red and Green Capsicum) cut into cubes – ¼ cup each

Dark Soya Sauce – 1 tsp

Tomato Sauce – 2 tbsp (or ½ tsp of Sugar)

Chopped Spring Onion Greens – 2 tbsp

Method:

Soak the deseeded Red Chilli in hot water for 30 minutes. Take out the Chilli and grind it to a smooth paste (with very little water to help grinding to a paste).

Take 3 tbsp of Corn Flour in a plate. Coat each Paneer Cubes evenly with this corn flour. And keep aside the Paneer Cubes. Keep the excess flour also.

Heat 2 tbsp of Sesame Oil in a pan. Roast the coated Paneer Cubes evenly on all sides in medium high flame. (Do not overcook the Paneer Cubes, else it will become chewy.) Transfer the roasted Paneer Cubes to a plate.

Add 1 tbsp of Sesame Oil to the same pan.  Add the crushed Ginger and Garlic. Stir cook for a minute. Add the Red Chilli Paste which we made and cook for a minute. Add the Onion and Bell Peppers. Cook them for 2 to 3 minutes. Let the Onion and Bell Pepper remain crunchy.

Add the Dark Soya Sauce, Tomato Sauce and stir cook for 30 to 40 seconds. 

Take the excess Corn Flour which we have kept aside in a small vessel. Add 1 ½ cup of water.  Mix very well without forming any lump.  Add this Corn Flour slurry to the pan. Lower the flame. Stir well. Add the Spring Onion Greens. Mix. Adjust Salt, if required. Cook in medium flame stirring in between. The gravy will start thickening in 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the roasted Paneer and simmer for a minute.  (You can add ½ tsp of Vinegar, if you prefer).

The tasty Spicy Paneer Schezwan is ready. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Serve with fried Rice, Veg Noodles etc.