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Tofu Makhani

5.00 Mitt(s) 3 Rating(s)3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 53 votes, average: 5.00 out of 53 votes, average: 5.00 out of 53 votes, average: 5.00 out of 53 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5

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Level: Easy

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Description

This is a takeoff on the more traditional Paneer Makhani or Paneer Tikka Masala, which is my favorite thing to order when I go out for Indian food. One evening, I had a craving for my beloved Paneer Makhani, but I didn’t have any paneer on hand. I did have some tofu though, so I used that instead. I ended up loving the tofu version even more than the paneer version, and now this is the most-requested recipe in my household.

Ingredients

  • 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 1 whole Fresh Jalapeno Or Serrano Pepper, Slivered Lengthwise
  • 3 Tablespoons Dried Fenugreek Leaf*
  • 8 ounces, weight Tomato Paste
  • 1 Tablespoon Red Chili Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Garam Masala Powder
  • 2 cups Heavy Cream
  • 1 pound Extra-firm Tofu, Drained And Cubed
  • Salt And Black Pepper To Taste
  • 1 cup Plus 1 TBS Cilantro, Chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Ginger, Minced

Preparation

* Dried fenugreek leaf and garam masala powder are critical to this recipe. You can find dried fenugreek leaf and garam masala powder at one of the many online spice merchants or, if you’re lucky, in person at a local spice shop.

This dish is lovely served atop a bed of basmati or pilau rice. If you prefer less heat, seed the jalapeno and reduce the amount of red-chili powder.

1. Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.

2. Add the jalapeno, fenugreek leaf, tomato paste, and red-chili powder. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the garam masala powder and cream, and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Add the tofu and simmer for 5 minutes, or just until the tofu is heated through.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of water or vegetable stock. The sauce should be thick and creamy, but not gloppy.

6. Add 1 c cilantro, stir to incorporate, and remove skillet from heat.

7. Serve hot, topped with the remaining chopped cilantro and minced ginger.

2 Comments

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seattledeb on 7.29.2009

Hi, DB! No, I did not fry the tofu because I wanted to keep its consistency as close to paneer as possible. I simply drained it, patted it dry, and then cubed it. But I’m sure fried tofu would be delicious in this dish. I probably wouldn’t use fenugreek seed as a substitute for fenugreek leaf in this dish, just because the aromatic nature of the fenugreek leaf is part of what makes this so flavorful. But if you give it a try and have success with the results, I would love to hear about it!

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Lemon Chiffon Cake on 7.29.2009

Did you fried the tofu before you add it to the dish? The tofu looks nicely browned like it’s been fried first.

Can I substitute Fenugreek seeds for the leaves?

3 Reviews

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nattykoo on 7.15.2012

I can’t believe how easy it is! Sooo tasty just like butter “chicken” at Indian restaurants.

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urszula on 2.9.2012

Easy to make. Tasty. Full of proteins. My husband almost finished the dish by himself:) thanks for recipe

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marie Bell on 11.22.2011

very easy to make and tasted just as good as the dish i had in restaurant

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