This Paneer Jalfrezi tastes just like the version you find in Indian restaurants. Paneer batons are simmered in an onion, garlic and tomato gravy. I add panch phoran and kasuri methi to give mind-blowing restaurant style flavour.
Note – This recipe has been updated from our recipe archives with new images and helpful content. The tried and tested recipe remains the same. First published 7th October 2019.
A Fast Paneer Jalfrezi That Delivers Every Time
I first made this in my final uni years, cooking a full Indian fakeaway dinner in my studio for friends who hadn’t really had Indian food before. I needed something that was big on flavour yet easy to pull off in a small space.
Oh boy, did this deliver! My friends were asking to take leftovers home before the night was even over!
Paneer Jalfrezi is all about contrast, soft chunks of paneer, still tender, tossed with peppers and onions that keep a bit of bite. It’s not a heavy, creamy curry either, the sauce is semi-dry, punchy, and packed with flavour from tomatoes, spices, and that hit of panch phoran that makes it feel unmistakably restaurant-style.
I always cook the paneer lightly first so it holds its shape, then bring everything together quickly on high heat so the veg stays vibrant and just slightly crisp.
I usually serve it with plain paratha or chapati for an easy dinner. If I want to go full-on takeaway, it’s perfect with garlic coriander naan, fluffy jeera rice, a bright tarka dal and a side of tomato cucumber kachumber or Indian onion salad. Can't go wrong with cooling cucumber raita either.
Hayley x
Ingredients notes
Be sure to check out the full recipe and exact ingredient list below in the recipe card.
Paneer – aka Indian cottage cheese. You can use homemade paneer (though I find it a little too soft for this) or store-bought paneer. Cut into batons.
Bell Peppers – aka capsicum which is needed for a proper jalfrezi. I have used red and green bell pepper.
Onion, garlic, ginger – the aromatics. Use fresh where possible but you can use ready made ginger-garlic paste. You will need finely sliced onions to give layers of texture – I have used white, you can also use red.
Tomatoes – you need both slices of fresh tomatoes chopped and fresh tomato puree to form the gravy. I've been using passata recently which is already pureed.
Panch phoran – a ready prepared mix of 5 different whole spices – cumin seeds, nigella, mustard, fenugreek and fennel seeds. This is the trick to make the recipe taste “restaurant-style”.
Indian spices you need the following spice powders – garam masala powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and ground coriander powder and cumin powder.
Kasuri methi – a pinch of kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves) bring out restaurant-style flavours to the dish.
Sugar – a small pinch of sugar balances the tartness of the tomatoes.
Lemon juice - I like adding a squeeze to brighten the dish.
Oil – I recommend sticking to a neutral flavoured oil.
Step By Step Method
The recipe is easy enough to follow:
- Pan-fry paneer until lightly golden.
- Cook the onion and garlic base.
- Add the peppers, tomatoes and stir-fry on high heat.
- Add spices then toss the paneer back in.
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📖 Recipe
Paneer Jalfrezi (Restaurant Style)
Equipment
- 1 Frying pan
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Sharp knife
- 1 Chopping board
Ingredients
- 200 gram paneer cut into batons
- 1 big green bell pepper pepper/capsicum thinly sliced
- 1 big tomato sliced
- 3 tablespoon tomato puree passata
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 green chilli sliced- optional
- 3 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon Panch Phoran /Five Indian spices
- Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon dry fenugreek /kasoori meth
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder red Kashmiri
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Garnishing (optional)
- 1 tablespoon coriander leaves finely chopped
- lemon /lime wedges
Instructions
- In a pan heat 3 tablespoon oil shallow fry 200 gram paneer batons until golden brown on all the sides.3 tablespoon oil, 200 gram paneer
- Remove it and keep it aside on a plate.
- In the same hot oil, add 1 teaspoon Panch Phoran and let it crackle.1 teaspoon Panch Phoran
- Add sliced 1 medium onion and saute till light pink.1 medium onion
- Now add minced 1 teaspoon ginger and 1 teaspoon garlic let it cook for a few seconds.1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon garlic
- Add 1 green chilli and 1 big green bell pepper.1 big green bell pepper, 1 green chilli
- Stir-fry the veggies for a couple of minutes, then add fresh1 big tomato and 3 tablespoon tomato puree.1 big tomato , 3 tablespoon tomato puree
- Add 1 teaspoon chilli powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon ground coriander along with ½ teaspoon dry fenugreek.1 teaspoon chilli powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, ½ teaspoon dry fenugreek
- Add Salt and1 teaspoon sugar.Salt, 1 teaspoon sugar
- Mix well, add shallow fried paneer, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and gently mix everything.1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Serve hot in a serving bowl, garnish it with the freshly chopped 1 tablespoon coriander leaves and lemon.1 tablespoon coriander leaves, lemon
- NOTES:
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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seema sriram says
this is a recipe i Actually miss in australia as it gets so distorted even at the restaurants here. Thankyou for the recipe and love love love the shots
Unknown says
Love love love the shots for the Jalfrezi. This is a recipe i actually miss and the jalfrezi gets so distorted here. Thankyou for the recipe.
Sasmita says
Restaurant-Style Paneer Jalfrezi is a common ordered dish in restaurant and you have prepared so perfectly this dish. Looks really so tempting and wanna have with some tandoori roti 🙂
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
we love any dish with paneer!!! jalfrezi is our next favorite to Paneer butter masala!!! That plate looks scrumptious and much tempting!!!!
Geetha says
As you said, Jalfrezi is one of the most loved curry after butter masala. Though I regularly make jalfrezi at home, addition of panch poran sounds interesting! I can't wait to try your version soon.
Padma says
A very popular dish ordered in restaurants, but I'm sure your will taste way better than any restaurant!! Love everything in the frame...Picture perfect and delicious combo 😋
Motions and Emotions says
Paneer or veg jalfrezi happened to be my regular ordered days during my stay in Goa... The curry looks so delicious...pan is sleek
Swati says
Gorgeous captures!! Paneer Jalferzi looks so delicious just like restaurant kinds..We Love to have it fresh hot chapatis, naan or wrapped in tortillas!!
Vandana says
This Paneer Jalfrezi actually looks like what we order in the restaurants. I love your photographs, they make your dishes even more tempting.
Indfused says
Love that combination of panch phoran and kasuri methi in your recipe. And yours looks even better than any restaurant Paneer Jalfrezi!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I love to order Paneer Jalfrezi in a restaurant and yours look so good. This is just perfect with some garlic naan on the side. I will definitely be trying this recipe soon.
Mayuri Patel says
Love paneer jalfrezi, its definitely a popular dish that is ordered by most vegetarians at any Indian restaurant. Had no idea that this famous Indian dish has been inspired by Chinese cooking technique. I thought it was a dish inspired during the British Raj in India where left overs were used by stir frying them with onion and chilis.
Pavani says
I LOVE jalfrazi and your restaurant style recipe looks just perfect. I would love to make it right away. Such a yummy side dish to roti & paratha.
Rafeeda AR says
That Paneer Jalfrezi looks super restaurant style... I love how the pan you have reviewed looks to. What a beautiful dish to make to start off that pan...
Lata Lala says
It is so wonderful to visit your website with beautiful pics and lovely write ups. Paneer looks scrumptious and with this recipe there is no need to go to restaurant any more.
Lata