21 Paneer Curry Recipes Every Indian Food Lover Must Try

Any Indian celebration is incomplete without a Paneer curry dish. Whether you are planning a weekend get-together or going to a potluck party, you’d always want to have some Paneer Curry Recipes on hand. Paneer is a highly nutritious ingredient and is a good source of proteins and calcium for vegetarians. Being a versatile ingredient, Paneer curries are loved by kids and adults alike.

Not a big Paneer fan? No worries- all of these curries with paneer are made in gravies that are versatile enough to make with Chicken instead of Paneer. If you are watching your calories and fat, try these Paneer gravy recipes with Tofu instead.

Do you want to try some Paneer curry recipes with gravy? Here we bring you the top 20 Indian paneer gravy recipes you must try at home or at an Indian restaurant. I’m sure you’ll find your favorite Paneer subzi in this list. So read on & explore your taste buds.

Paneer curry recipes with gravies like mutter paneer, paneer butter masala, Palak paneer and paneer in white gravy.

Take me to:

1. Paneer Butter Masala

The creamy and smooth texture of Paneer Butter Masala, also known as Butter Paneer or Paneer Makhani, makes it an excellent curry. It has the ideal balance of creaminess and spice for your taste buds. Delicious paneer cubes are immersed in a tasty tomato-based sauce in this Punjabi curry.

The dish’s best part is its slightly sweet taste blended with spices. It’s among the top 5 foods Indians generally order at Indian restaurants. This unique Indian curry is mainly served at celebrations & weddings. It satisfies your taste buds when accompanied by any Indian bread such as Tandoori Roti, Kulcha, Naan, or steamed rice.

You may modify butter and cream in your paneer butter masala to make it healthier, dairy-free, gluten-free, and non-creamy by using a combination of soaked cashews, ginger, onion, green chili, and aromatic spices instead.

You can also replace cream with whole milk or 2% reduced milk or 1% low-fat milk.

2. Kadai Paneer

Paneer is cooked in a wok or Kadai along with bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, and freshly ground spices to make the hearty sauce known as Kadai paneer. This North Indian curry has a slightly tart flavor.

The name is derived from the cooking vessel used in cooking the paneer cubes- “Kadai” or “wok.” This dish’s most appealing feature is its deliciousness, which is why it’s one of the most popular paneer curries. This recipe can be found in virtually all Indian restaurants.

It’s not so creamy and velvety as paneer butter masala, however it’s a kid’s favorite afterschool snack. It’s the only comfort food I want to eat when served with a bowl of warm rice!

3. Paneer Tikka Masala

Paneer Tikka Masala is a mildly spicy and flavorful gravy with marinated char-grilled paneer cubes. Also referred to as the vegetarian alternative of Chicken Tikka Masala, it was first made during the Mughal dynasty in North India.

The dish’s name comes from the fact that it’s prepared in two stages. Firstly, paneer tikka is prepared on a grill or the gas stove, then dunked in the gravy. The delicious burnt taste of marinated and grilled Paneer makes the curry remarkable.

To enhance its flavors, you can add a few drops of lemon juice and sprinkle chaat masala powder on it while serving. It’s a perfect starter or snack dish for parties. Moreover, you can also serve it during lunch or dinner either with steamed rice or with any Indian bread or paratha.

4. Shahi Paneer

Shahi Paneer is a creamy orange-red, sweet, thick, and aromatic gravy. It’s not as spicy as Kadai paneer and has a velvety sauce similar to Paneer Butter Masala. However, when made without tomatoes, it turns out to be whitish gravy.

The dish’s name, “Shahi Paneer,” reflects that it’s a royal curry that originated from the Mughlai cuisine. The best part about the curry is its medium spicy taste and its slight sweetness, which has a rich and delicious mouthfeel. The gravy has the balanced aromatic flavors of onion, garlic, red chili powder, ginger, cardamom, and saffron.

It’s available in two versions: tomato-free (the traditional and original style of the dish) and with tomatoes (the contemporary restaurant version, which is comparable to Paneer Makhani).

It’s a standalone hero dish in a North Indian thali, and it’s ideal for serving as a meal at gatherings and celebrations.

5. Paneer Jalfrezi

Paneer Jalfrezi is a thick, spicy, and tangy tomato-onion sauce with paneer cubes. It’s said to have originated from British curry houses in West Bengal, renowned for their fiery and tangy curries. It’s one of the most loved Indian curries in the UK.

The term “Jalfrezi” is derived from two words in Bengali and Urdu: “Jhal,” which means “spicy,” and” Pharezi,” which refers to a diet-friendly dish. It’s a vegetarian and naturally gluten-free one-pot dish easily customizable and meal-prep friendly.

If you are looking a paneer curry for rice, Paneer Jalfrezi is perfect for it. It’s also a great side dish when served with naan or Indian bread and dal makhani.

6. Paneer Lababdar

Paneer Lababdar is a rich, flavorful, and creamy paneer gravy which is mildly spiced, slightly sweet, and tangy at the same time. It’s a North Indian cuisine that originated during the Mughal era.

The curry’s distinctive feature is the combination of grated Paneer and soft paneer cubes, making the sauce not only tasty but also hard to resist. Its cashew-based creamy texture isn’t as heavy as Paneer Butter Masala.

It’s a gluten-free paneer curry that doesn’t involve the use of many fancy ingredients. As a result, it’s a perfect recipe to have without waiting for any special or festive occasions. Instead, you can enjoy this paneer delight with roti, jeera rice, saffron rice, or Indian bread.

7. Matar Paneer

Matar Paneer is a North Indian curry in which Paneer and green peas are cooked in a luscious gravy of tomatoes, spices, and onion. This dish is unique in the way that it’s easily customizable. You can make the gravy thick by adding some cashew paste and cream, or you can also choose to have a thin gravy with curry-like consistency.

It is healthy and gluten-free. Moreover, its gravy is less rich than other paneer dishes like Paneer Tikka Masala or Paneer Butter Masala. This is a classic Indian paneer subzi that is prepared in every Indian household during winters.

It’s a great main course meal along with Jeera Rice, Roti, or Indian bread. Are you having your friends, colleagues, or relatives coming over for dinner tonight? Matar Paneer is here to save your time and satisfy your guests.

8. Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is a deliciously creamy green-colored gravy. Paneer cubes are cooked and shimmered in a delicious spinach gravy. It’s a classic North Indian cuisine that is healthy and gluten-free.

Kids generally don’t like to eat spinach due to its bitter taste. But, when sauteed paneer cubes are dunked in mildly seasoned spinach puree, they eat it happily without much complaint. As a child, I used to love this dish; perhaps it was the only way my mom made me eat spinach.

For a milder taste, add cream to neutralize the bitter taste of the Paneer. For the zesty flavor, omit the cream and add red chili powder.

9. Paneer Korma

Paneer Korma is a luscious creamy yogurt-based medium-thick Paneer curry. It has a thick, creamy gravy and is the vegetarian alternative to Chicken Korma, Egg Korma, or Mutton Korma. This Mughlai cuisine from North India has a white or yellow-colored sauce with a faintly sweet taste and a slight touch of sourness.

The best part about the dish is that it is rich, super easy, and has a mild taste which appeals to the taste buds of kids or people who are not a fan of spicy food.

This versatile paneer curry can be easily served with any Pulao, such as Kashmiri Pulao, Matar Pulao, etc. It also goes well with Indian bread such as Tawa Roti, Naan, etc.

However, if you’re planning to serve Paneer Korma for a festive occasion, you can pair it with Matar Pulao, Dal Makhani, Phulka, Boondi Raita, and Salad.

10. Mughlai Paneer

Mughlai Paneer is a royal Mughlai cuisine with a white-colored, thick, velvety textured gravy. Its gravy is yogurt-based curry infused with cardamom, white peppercorns & cinnamon.

This dish has a mild but rich flavor, and the taste may vary from mild to spicy Mughlai taste. The blend of spices, nuts, and onions seasoned & flavored with garam masala, saffron and cardamom impart the gravy a creamy whitish texture which is why I love this curry.

It becomes a sumptuous meal when served with Naan or Jeera Rice and pickled onions. It’s a great dish to be served as a main course for parties and celebrations.

11. Lasooni Paneer

Lasooni Paneer or Paneer with Garlic is a famous recipe from Hyderabadi cuisine in which lightly roasted paneer cubes are cooked in garlic-flavored gravy. It’s later topped with cream when served.

As the name suggests, the gravy is rich in garlic, creamy, and thick. It has a spicy flavor and may be used as a vegetarian substitute for Garlic Chicken. It’s an appealing starter dish that may also be served with Fried Rice or Hakka Noodles as a side course. However, avoid serving it with Garlic naan; you won’t be able to taste the garlic in this meal.

It’s healthy as no deep frying is involved in the cooking process. You can skip the butter and replace cashew seeds with melon seeds to make the dish healthier.

12. Methi Malai Paneer

Methi Malai Paneer is a North Indian delicacy with a thick creamy gravy flavored with Kasuri Methi or Fenugreek leaves. The yogurt-based sauce is hinted with fenugreek leaves which helps in balancing the sour & savory flavors of the remaining ingredients.

The aroma of this paneer gravy, with its mild to spicy taste, makes me crave more of it every time. While preparing the gravy, you can add wonders to the recipe using roasted cashews instead of raw cashews.

It’s a healthy dish loaded with the benefits of fenugreek leaves, almonds, and cashews. You can serve it as a side dish if you have guests coming over for lunch or dinner.

13. Paneer Kofta

Paneer Kofta, also known as Malai Kofta, is a North Indian curry with rich and creamy gravy. This recipe comes from the royal kitchen of the Mughals. Deeply fried paneer balls are dunked in a creamy sauce. The crispy paneer balls and the creamy gravy go well with Jeera Rice or any Indian bread.

This dish has two variations. The original Mughlai version is white and made from expensive ingredients like cardamom, cashews, peppercorns, saffron, almonds, and other spices and nuts. On the contrary, the Punjabi version (primarily made in restaurants) has an orange-red color due to adding tomato-onion gravy.

It’s popular in almost all Indian restaurants and is an excellent cuisine for celebrations and parties.

14. Achari Paneer

Achari Paneer is a spicy, hot paneer curry known for being super fragrant. Whenever it’s cooked in our home, it brings neighbors knocking on our house. However, the achari flavor (mix of tangy, sour, and spicy) is what makes it my favorite.

The gravy is called “Achari ” because all the spices used in making pickles (or achar) are used to make the curry. This delicious North Indian cuisine serves to be the perfect alternative to Achari Chicken for vegetarians.

The gravy is not so thick as neither cream nor butter is used in its preparation. You can enjoy it the best during winters or monsoon with Basmati Rice, Jeera rice, etc. This tantalizing paneer curry is a perfect main dish for everyday meals.

15. Paneer Hyderabadi

Paneer Hyderabadi is one of the dominating main courses in South Indian cuisine. The aroma of authentic desi ghee and roasted spices will last till the final bite.

The use of fresh milk balances the flavor and allows the spice to reflect better. It tastes delicious with naan and rice. It can be included in any gathering or party as a main dish, but you can have it anytime you feel the craving.

You can add more flavor and goodness to the gravy by adding a fine paste of spinach, coriander, and mint leaves. It will also give a rich juniper green color. You can personally add or omit lemon juice; it will add a slight tangy angle to the dish.

16. Chili Paneer Gravy

Chilli Paneer is an Indo-Chinese item that generally remains dry. But it also has a gravy version, retaining all the flavor and taste of its original form. Every bite offers a sour and sweet combined taste, which is natural for Chinese recipes.

The best part is that it tastes good with steamed rice and Hakka noodles, but at the same time, you can eat this curry alone, without any bread or rice. You can sense the strong flavor of onion and garlic in the dish. While cooking, the Paneer is less fried to keep the Paneer super soft in the dish.

You can use chili paste instead of chili powder in the recipe. The Paneer will soak the hotness of chili, and genuinely, chili Paneer tastes better when it is a little spicy. It is generally consumed as a starter in restaurants and parties but also fits well with the main course.

17. Peshawari Paneer

If you like the taste of cheese, cashew, and cream in curries, you will love this Paneer recipe with white gravy. Paneer Peshawari is a famous dish of Punjabi cuisine but originated in Pakistan. It is loaded with the rich flavor of traditional Peshwari species of Pakistan. However, it has a mild taste and dense, crumbly texture.

If you like Pulao or any flavored rice, you will love this curry with it. Garlic butter naan or tandoori roti will pair well if you are a bread lover. It is a good option for dinner and potlucks. And the guest will love the creamy texture of the gravy with dipped soft Paneer.

18. Reshmi Paneer

Reshmi Paneer is a North Indian cuisine with semi-thick gravy. This tasty and mouth-watering paneer curry is ideal for festive evenings and dinners.

This creamy recipe tastes heavenly with steamed rice or any Indian bread. Its silky smooth gravy and spicy flavors make it my favorite. You can skip cashew nuts if you want to make the gravy light.

19. Paneer Do Pyaza

The straightforward yet unique thing about this paneer dish is that it has a tangy taste and blends well with lots of onions. If you are someone who loves extra Pyaaz (Onions) in their food, then you will love it. As the onions are added twice while cooking, the onions will dominate the gravy.

Authentic Paneer do pyaza is less spicy; the extra onions add a natural sweetness to the curry.

It reflects the flavors of north India, as it is a Mughlai curry. If you are vegan, you can modify the recipe by adding coconut milk instead of fresh milk.

20. Punjabi Saag Paneer

Paneer and spinach are the critical elements of this healthy curry. It has a rich green color because of mustard greens and spinach. People confuse this dish with palak paneer due to its color, but you will experience a sharp difference in taste. As the name suggests, it is a Punjabi recipe. Its flavor will be fully expressed with naan and rice.

21. Paneer Bhurji

Most Indians are familiar with Egg Bhurji- an Indian-style scrambled egg. However, have you tried Paneer Bhurji? Paneer Bhurji is a delicious and versatile North Indian dish made with scrambled cottage cheese, onion, tomatoes, and spices. Dhaba Style Paneer Bhurji is a popular variation of this dish, which is known for its hearty and flavourful taste.

In this Paneer recipe, paneer is either shredded or crumbled and fried with onion-tomato gravy. This semi-dry dish is perfect for pairing with rotis, naan, or parathas. Make a double batch and use leftover Paneer bhurji as filling for sandwiches, wraps, or Kathi rolls.

Conclusion

Do you want to make paneer curries with gravies at home? The diverse tastes and characteristics of Indian Paneer gravies will suck you in. You’ll want more after trying just one. Which one of these recipes of paneer curries do you want to try? Do tell us in the comment which one is your favorite recipe.

21 Curries With Paneer In Indian Gravies