Paneer Makhana ( cottage cheese cooked with lotus seeds )

This dish is my kiddos favourite . When we were in Delhi he used to eat his school lunch in his canteen provided by the school only and there they used to make paneer makhana and my kiddo was in love with it . So when we shifted to Goa he was craving for this dish and one day out of the blue he asked me Mumma can you pls make panner Makhana for me , I am missing my Paneer Makhana which was made in my school. I still remember he was in so much love with the food made at school that he used to love most of the dishes and always telling me Mumma come to my school and learn few dishes from our schools chef he makes so yummy food and one day he requested his class teacher to give him one serving of shahi paneer in his tiffin box for his father and when he came he asked his father to eat and also told me to just taste and see how tasty the chef makes it  and I got irritated of course ultimately I am also a human , no matter how much effort I put in making  any dish but he was always gaga over his school food . So where were we yes we were in Goa so when I shifted here and my little one was craving for his favourite dish so how can I deny so first challenge came in front of me was Paneer . From where will I get the fresh Paneer solution I made Paneer at home . then made this simple yet tasty dish and my biggest prize was my kiddoo just loved it ....
So lets get started :-

Paneer Makhana

Ingredients :-

• Paneer (Cottage cheese ) - 250 gm ( Cut into small cubes)
• Makhana ( Lotus Seeds )-1/2 Cup
• Onion - 1 nos ( Roughly chopped)
• Garlic -1/2 flower ( Peeled)
• Ginger -1/2 inch
• Tomato - 1 ( Roughly chopped)
• Green Chili -2 nos ( Slit)
• Turmeric Powder-1 tsp
• Coriander Powder -1 tsp
• Dry Mango Powder -1 tsp
• Red Chili Powder -1/2 tsp
• Salt -to taste
• Kitchen King Masala - 1 tsp
• Fresh Cream - 1 tbsp
• oil - 1 tbsp
• Coriander Leaves - For garnishing

Procedure -

• Switch on the gas and keep a pan over it . Pour oil and once the oil is hot enough add the lotus seeds and saute them little bit, check with your hands and if they are breaking in one press take them out and keep aside . 
• Now add onion, garlic and ginger to it and saute.
• One the onions are  translucent add all the masalas and saute .
• After that add chili and tomato to it and saute it  , add a dash of water to it and cover .
• Once the tomato is soften switch of the gas and let it cool.
• Once cooled down transfer it to a mixer and make a smooth paste .
• Now transfer the paste to a pan and keep it on a gas. 
• The paste is supposed to be thicker so add half cup cream mixed with half cup water and beat it thoroughly and pour it into the paste and let it boil now add the Paneer cubes and simmer it and let it cook for 5 minutes on low flame .
• After that add Makhanas to it and let the Makhanas cook for next five minutes .
• Now add the salt as per your taste and stir .
• Switch off the gas and sprinkle with coriander leaves and some fresh cream.
• Your tasty Makahans are ready to eat.

Note : Tastes good with Tandoori roti or simple home made Chapati.

Happy Cooking !