Chanar Dalna Recipe (Bengali Style Chinar Dalna)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups paneer (cottage cheese) cubes
• 2 tsp mustard (rai / sarson) oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1 bay leaf (tejpatta)
• 1/2 tsp finely chopped green chillies
• 1/2 tsp ginger (adrak) paste
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) powder
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp haldi powder (turmeric powder)
• 1 cup finely chopped tomato
• 1/2 cup matar (green peas)
• salt (namak) to taste
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• roti

Steps

1. To make chanar dalna recipe, heat 1 tsp oil in a deep non-stick pan, add the paneer to it and sauté on a medium flame for a 3 to 4 minutes till light golden. Keep aside.
2. In the same pan, add the remaining oil and add cumin seeds.
3. Once the seeds crackle, add the bay leaf and green chillies and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds.
4. Add the ginger paste, cumin seeds powder, chilli powder and turmeric powder and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds.
5. Add the tomatoes, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes till they are completely cooked, while stirring occasionally. If the tomatoes are sticking to the pan, add a few drops of water to it.
6. Add the green peas, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
7. Add 1½ cups of water and salt to taste, mix well and cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes on a medium flame, while stirring occasionally.
8. Add the garam masala, mix well and cook for 1 minute, while stirring occasionally.
9. Lightly mash the green peas using a potato masher.
10. Finally add the paneer, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute, while stirring occasionally.
11. Serve chanar dalna recipe hot with rotis or parathas.