Indian food is surprisingly easy to make at home.
Indian food is known for being pretty vegetarian-friendly (though it’s friendly to meat-lovers too, with dishes like goat curry and chicken tikka masala). There are always warmly spiced vegetable curries, lentil soups and plenty of meat-free appetizers on the menu at an Indian restaurant. Whenever I order Indian food (which is as much as possible), I order something with paneer, a firm Indian cheese. Paneer is similar in texture to firm tofu or conventional (not fresh) mozzarella, but very mildly-flavored; it’s slightly nutty. It takes on the flavors of the spices in the dish its being used in, and it doesn’t really melt so stays firm in the dish. Basically, it’s great.
Here’s the thing about Indian food — there’s a common misconception that it’s something to be eaten in restaurants, only. Not true at all. It’s pretty easy to make at home, and to start, you’ll only need a few basic spices.
Bal Arneson’s Green Beans With Paneer in Tomato Sauce is one of the simplest, meat-free recipes out there, Indian or otherwise. The only slightly exotic spices involved are coriander, mustard seeds and cumin, and those should all be available in a large supermarket. As for the paneer, you can find that in an Asian or Indian grocery store, or regular supermarket with a robust international section. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can make your own.
Green Beans with Paneer in Fresh Tomato Sauce
Recipe courtesy Bal Arneson
Serves 4
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil, plus more for frying the paneer
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon grated fresh garlic
1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tomatoes, chopped
Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound fresh green beans, tips removed
8-ounces paneer, cut into small cubes
Put the 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil in a large skillet, and add the coriander, garlic, mustard seeds, and cumin and cook for about 15 seconds. Add the tomatoes and season with salt, and pepper, stirring well. Add the green beans and cook until the beans are crisp-tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
In another pan, add oil and place over medium heat. Add the cubed paneer and fry until golden on all sides, turning frequently. Gently stir into the finished beans and serve immediately.
Serve the beans with basmati rice (brown or white) or some naan bread, which you can buy at the store, or again, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can make it yourself.
More Meatless Monday Recipes:
- Veggie Burgers That Aren’t from a Box
- Grilled Squash Quesadillas
- Kelsey’s Ratatouille Tart
- Zucchini-Pear Soup
- Tomato-Bread Salad (aka Panzanella)
- Rigatoni With Creamy Eggplant and Mozzarella
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Meatless Monday is a global campaign that started in 2003. The goal was, and still is, to reduce meat consumption by 15%, which has proven health benefits to humans and to the planet. This 15% reduction can be easily achieved by giving up meat once a week, and thus Meatless Monday was born. The grassroots movement has since exploded though and hundreds of chefs, celebrities, food producers, restaurants, even entire cities, colleges and countries are on board. Each week, in addition to a meat-free recipe, we’ll highlight a Meatless Monday Mover and Shaker. This week, Jessica Simpspon.
OK! Magazine reports that Jessica Simpson is going Meatless Monday to slim down before her wedding. Some of her favorite meatless foods include seitan, avocados and almond milk.
What are your favorite meatless foods?
Paneer also works with other green vegetables like spinach and peas. Check out Matar Paneer (peas) and Saag Paneer (spinach) on the web. Both are very good dishes. An Indian restaurant I frequent makes a round donut soaked in sweet syrup out of paneer, it is called Rasgulla. I haven't made them yet but have a recipe standing by.
Am new around here. Paneer is used more as a veggie accompnied by Roti or Rice. Delish.
As for the RoSgulla…its something we often deter from making…as we find very nice frozen ones from the Indian store. They are Nanak Rasgulla…chk them out….
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