shahi paneer

Shahi Paneer Recipe (Mughlai Paneer)

By Swasthi on April 29, 2023, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Shahi Paneer also known as Mughlai Paneer is a succulent Indian dish of soft, pillowy paneer floating in a creamy gravy. This dish made with Indian cottage cheese simmered in an onion-nut paste, and enriched with yogurt and mild spices, is a throwback to the era of kings and royal kitchens. Make this delicious restaurant style Mughlai Shahi Paneer under 35 mins. Serve it with Butter Naan, Plain Basmati rice, Jeera Rice, roti or Plain Paratha.

shahi paneer

Mughlai Cuisine has given the world some culinary wonders and Shahi Paneer is no exception. This dish is a creamy blend of textures and is not very hot or fiery like this Kadai Paneer.

Like Paneer Butter Masala and Paneer Makhani, this is one of those mild vegetarian curry that is a refreshing change from all the spice and heat of other sides and mains.

If you’re searching for a recipe to impress family and friends for a luncheon or dinner party, this dish has all the elements of an enticing side. This is really an indulgence befit for weekends and those days when you want to serve and eat something special.

About Shahi Paneer

Shahi Paneer is a Mughlai dish where paneer is cooked in a creamy gravy made of onions, yogurt, nut and seeds. As the name suggests, Shahi Paneer literally means “Paneer for the Royalty”. So it is cooked with ingredients that impart a richness to the dish like yogurt, cream, nuts and seeds.

This is one of the few vegetarian recipes you’ll find in the traditional Mughlai Cuisine other than desserts which brings us to a popular and rich regional cuisine made popular by restaurants across India.

Mughlai Cuisine was developed during the reign of the Mughals in India by the Khansaamas (chefs serving in the royal kitchens). This cuisine is based on Persian and central Asian cuisines with distinct Indian influences.

Few things set apart Mughlai dishes from other foods. The rich and creamy texture, complex flavors, use of whole spices, meal fragrances in the form of rose and kewra water, and most importantly, the technique of slow cooking.

These dishes are predominately meat based with culinary creations like Akbari dal (made with urad dal and yogurt) and Shahi Paneer being some of the exceptions.

This cuisine developed centuries ago, has changed Indian attitudes towards foods and has introduced us to new flavors and food combinations.

Shahi Paneer is made in two ways – the old-style without tomatoes (as these were introduced much later in India by the Portuguese and British colonists) and the modern restaurant style with tomatoes which comes closer to this Paneer Butter Masala.

My Recipe

This recipe is made the customary way of cooking spices in an onion and nut-based gravy. Yogurt and mild spices add the tang. Cashews, almonds and yogurt add richness to this delicious dish. The resultant gravy is a well-balanced spicy, creamy and slightly tangy dish. While saffron give it a unique taste, kewra provides an appetizing aroma.

While this recipe has a big list of ingredients, don’t be intimidated by it. It is quick simple and easy to make. And uses everyday ingredient found in most Indian or vegetarian kitchens.

While the popular dish served in Indian restaurants contain tomatoes, this one is inspired by the classic shahi paneer. My recipe doesn’t contain any vegetables except onions. Although I have added instruction for using tomatoes. Feel freely to add peas, carrot, potatoes or corn (any vegetable on the sweeter side) if you want a change.

It is can be made with cashews alone but I have used a mix of cashew and almonds here. You can also use melon seeds or poppy seeds along with nuts. Cook this whenever you want a rich and mild dish to go with your roti, paratha, biryani, veg pulao or flavored rice.

More Paneer Recipes
Dhaba Style Paneer Curry
Palak Paneer
Malai Kofta
Paneer Lababdar
Paneer Makhani

How to make Shahi Paneer (Stepwise photos)

Prepare the Ingredients

1. If you’re using store bought paneer, soak it in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes and pat dry. You can optionally fry the paneer pieces in a little oil or ghee if you like. Put the fried paneer cubes in hot water for about 15 mins to soften them.

Make the Onion-nut Paste

2. Heat one tablespoon of ghee in a saucepan on medium. Add 12 whole or split cashews, 8 almonds and 2 to 3 green cardamoms. Shallow fry them for 1 to 2 mins, and be careful not to burn them.

frying cashews for shahi paneer

3. Add 1 cup of cubed onions and 1 slit green chilli. Sauté until the onions turn transparent. If you prefer hot and spicy shahi paneer, use green chili at this stage. If you prefer a tomato based dish then add the optional cubed tomatoes (1 or 2) if using.

frying onions for shahi paneer recipe

4. Cook the onion and nut mixture until the onions turn soft. Add a little water or oil if the mixture sticks to the pan. Remove from heat and cool completely. Transfer all the ingredients to a grinder jar.

blending nuts for shahi paneer

5. Blend this mixture with minimal water to make a smooth and thick paste. Do not add a lot of water as we don’t want a runny paste. We don’t want any coarse nuts in the paste so make sure it is as smooth as possible.

smooth onion puree for shahi paneer recipe

Cook the Shahi Paneer

6. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil or ghee in the same pan. Add ½ teaspoon of cumin (jeera) or shahi jeera, 2 to 3 cloves and 1 to 2-inch cinnamon to the oil. On a low heat, sauté the whole spices for one minute until they turn fragrant.

7. Now add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste and sauté it well for 1 to 2 minutes, until the raw smell goes off.

ginger garlic paste to make shahi paneer

8. Next add the onion-nut paste along with these:
¼ teaspoon of red chili powder
¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala
â…› teaspoon turmeric (optional)
½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)

ground onions for making shahi paneer

9. Stir well to combine and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the raw smell of the spices goes away. The mixture turns thick as you cook. In the meantime, beat ½ cup of thick curd/plain yogurt in a bowl with a fork or whisk until creamy and smooth. Lower the heat to low and slowly add the beaten curd.

Tip: To avoid the yogurt from splitting you can also add a few tablespoons of cooked onion nut masala to the bowl of yogurt. Mix well to combine and then add it to the pan. This way the yogurt won’t split.

addition of curd to make shahi paneer

10. Let the shahi paneer gravy cook until it becomes thick and starts to leave the sides of the pan.

cooking the mixture until thick to make shahi paneer

11. Add ½ to ¾ cup of water. Add the pinch of saffron strands, if you’re using it. Mix well add more water if required to make a runny gravy.

add water

12. Cook the shahi paneer gravy until it thickens or the gravy releases oil or ghee on the surface. Taste test the gravy and add more salt or spices, if desired. For a mild heat, I add a slit green chilli at this stage instead of adding it with the onions.

When your gravy is perfect in consistency and texture, add 1½ cups of cubed paneer (around 225 to 250 grams). Cook on low heat for about 1 to 2 minutes. If using fried paneer don’t cook any longer. Turn off the heat.

adding paneer in shahi paneer gravy

Drizzle 2 to 4 drops of the optional kewra water and 3 tablespoons of cream. Stir well to combine. Immediately transfer shahi paneer to a serving bowl to stop it from cooking further. Garnish shahi paneer with cream. You can also sprinkle some crushed pepper for extra heat. I garnished it with some fresh mint leaves.

shahi paneer also known as mughlai paneer served in a white bowl

Pro Tips

  • Mughlai gravies are usually made with boiled onion and nut paste. If you want you may boil all of the ingredients instead of sautéing but all kinds of onions don’t go well for boiled onion paste. So I prefer to saute which also helps to bring out a sweet flavor of the onions.
  • Use freshly made curd or yogurt as store bought curds tend to be sour.
  • Use fresh and good quality paneer as it makes a lot of difference to the texture and taste of your gravy.
  • Don’t skimp on the gram masala or the whole spices. As we’re using less spices, you need to make sure the gravy tastes good.
  • Skip the red chili powder if you want to retain the creamy white color and mild zest of the shahi paneer. Use the green chili instead.
  • Don’t cook the paneer for more than 2=3 minutes unless you want a rubbery and chewy paneer. If you’ve fried the paneer earlier, add it and immediately remove from heat.
  • I have used a mix of cashews and almonds. You can make this with all cashews, if preferred. Or use poppy seeds, melon seeds or a mix of nuts and seeds.
  • Add cashew cream or coconut yogurt and tofu to make this vegan.
shahi paneer recipe

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

shahi paneer recipe

Shahi Paneer Recipe (Mughlai Paneer)

Shahi paneer is a royal Mughlai dish where paneer is cooked in a rich yogurt, nuts and seeds gravy. This restaurant style shahi paneer is super delicious and quick to make. Serve it with roti, naan, plain basmati rice or with flavored rice.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings4 people
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 225 to 250 grams (1½ cups) paneer cubes
  • ½ cup curd (plain yogurt, avoid sour curd)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder (optional)
  • â…› teaspoon turmeric (optional)
  • ¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 Pinch saffron strands (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons Ghee or oil
  • 2 to 4 drops Kewra water (optional)
  • ¾ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons cream (optional)

Spices

  • ½ teaspoon cumin or jeera or shahi jeera (optional)
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 1 to 2 inch cinnamon

for shahi paste

  • 12 whole cashewnuts split or kaju
  • 8 almonds or badam
  • 3 green cardamoms or elaichi
  • 1 green chili slit (optional)
  • 1 cup onions cubed (2 medium, avoid purple onions)
  • 1 to 2 tomatoes cubed (optional, refer notes)


Instructions

Preparation

  • Add one tablespoon ghee to a pan, heat it. Add cashews, green cardamom & almonds. Fry them until light golden, for a minute.
  • Next add cubed onions, green chili (optional for heat) and fry until they turn transparent. If using tomato (optional), add them now. 
  • Cook the entire mixture till the onions soften or mushy. You may add little water or oil if the pan is too dry. 
  • Cool completely & blend this with very little water to a smooth puree or paste.
  • This step is optional. You can fry the paneer lightly in ghee. Keep the fried paneer immersed in hot water for about 15 mins. This helps to soften the paneer.

How to Make Shahi Paneer

  • Heat up the same pan with the rest of the ghee or oil. 
  • Add cumin, cloves & cinnamon. 
  • When the spices sizzle, add ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes off. This takes about 1 to 2 mins.
  • Next transfer the onion cashew paste, chili powder, garam masala, turmeric & salt.
  • Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes until the raw smell of the spice powders goes away.
  • Meanwhile, beat the curd well in a separate bowl with a fork until smooth. 
  • Lower the flame completely and then add it to the pan. Mix well. Tip: Alternately, you may temper the yogurt first to avoid splitting. For this add, 1 to 2 tbsps of cooked onion nut mixture to the beaten yogurt in the bowl and mix well. Then add that to the pan.
  • Mix and cook till it thickens and begins to leave the sides of the pan. Pour ½ to ¾ cup water. Add saffron if using. 
  • Cook till the shahi paneer gravy thickens and you see traces of oil over the gravy. 
  • Taste the gravy and add more salt if desired.
  • Add paneer and cook for about 2 minutes on a low heat. If using fried paneer, turn off the heat immediately after adding to the gravy.
  • Pour kewra water & cream if using and stir. Transfer shahi paneer to a serving bowl to prevent it from cooking further. 
  • Garnish shahi paneer with cream. You can also sprinkle some crushed pepper for extra heat.


Notes

  1. Mughlai gravy recipes are usually made by boiling the onions and nuts in water until soft. Later pureed. But all kinds of onions are not suitable to make a boiled onion paste. So I prefer to saute them.
  2. If you want to boil onions, make sure you use Bombay onions or sweet onions because they have less Sulphur and less pungent in flavor. However these onions won’t make your curry sweet.
  3. Authentic Mughlai recipes do not use tomatoes. However North Indian restaurants use tomatoes in a different version which is similar to this paneer butter masala.
  4. If you wish to use tomatoes, add chopped tomatoes to the pan after cooking onions and cook everything till tomatoes turn completely mushy. Ensure your yogurt is not sour, if you are using tomatoes.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Shahi Paneer Recipe (Mughlai Paneer)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 391 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Fat 32g49%
Saturated Fat 17g106%
Cholesterol 76mg25%
Sodium 371mg16%
Potassium 154mg4%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 50IU1%
Vitamin C 4.6mg6%
Calcium 453mg45%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Shahi Paneer Recipe first published in August 2014. Updated and republished in 2021.

Shahi Paneer Recipe (Mughlai Paneer)

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
Very practical recipe. Comes out beautifully.

I genuinely enjoy all your recipes. Today I have cooked Shahi Paneer and Kulcha.
I

5 stars
I always look to this site when I want an authentic recipe that has been tried and tested

5 stars
Hi,

Big fan of your recipes. Have made many and love them all. Really like the flavours in this one however would like to ask for any types from stopping the curry turning dry. Mine ended up with very little sauce.

I’d say double everything in the recipe except the paneer and you’ll have enough and more sauce!

5 stars
thank you for this recipe! this was so super delicious 🙂

I was wondering, what grinder jar do you use? i didn’t have a grinder jar so mine was chunky.. but still delicious 🙂 can’t wait to make it again!

5 stars
Hi Swasthi
Tried your recipe. It turned out awesome.My 9 yr old loved it.
Thanks for sharing such awesome recipes.

5 stars
Awesome! Followed exactly as per recipe. Made with Tomatoes but no Kewra. Came up so well that it vanished very fast!

5 stars
Another excellent recipe. Thank you.

5 stars
This is the absolute best Shahi Paneer & is a hit every time. Thank you

5 stars
Amazing, rich, creamy and decadent without tomatoes (first try). On my second try, I added tomatoes and the result was a very average curry.

5 stars
Best shahi paneer. I was bored with the tomato loaded paneer dishes so gave this a try. The only change was to use a black cardamom. Tasted so delicious.

5 stars
This turned out the best, better than what I have eaten as shahi paneer in restaurants. Thank you. Your recipes are a keeper.

I have made this recipe many times and turns out delicious. Can I use chicken? If yes how much?

5 stars
Hi Swasthi, cooked this again last night, but with ~400g paneer. Lovely. Accompanied with your jeera rice and dal fry. Thank you again.

5 stars
Oh soo yummy. Added all the optionals and a bay leaf as it looked like you did in one of the photos. Definately a keeper as is everything Mughlai that I’ve tried.

Hi Swasthi! This was so good! I really appreciate the detailed instructions to avoid burning / over cooking.

5 stars
Wow! Palak Paneer last week, now Shahi Paneer today. This is an amazing recipe once again and so delicious, I do beleive you are my Indian recipe Guru!

5 stars
Amazing recipie. Goes well with kulcha.

5 stars
Hi swasti I tried this recipe.It came awasome. Thank you.

Hi Swasthi, have been working my way through your recipes over the last year and they’ve all been great! Looking forward to trying this one later today. Just a question- in the photos above, where you get the cloves, cinnamon and cumin with ginger garlic paste, there’s a leaf in your pan but I can’t see anything in your recipe about it – is there something missing?

5 stars
Great thank you. Just made and ate this and it was yet another triumph! Now I just need to decide what to make next week…

5 stars
Fantastic! Found this one to be awesome when you run out of tomatoes. My family loves it.