Paneer jalfrezi recipe – semi dry Indian curry made with paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and vegetables. This paneer jalfrezi is the vegetarian version of popular chicken Jalfrezi. Vegans can easily use tofu in place of paneer!

What is jalfrezi?

Jalfrezi is a a quick stir of strips of meat in a thick, spicy and tangy sauce. It is from Asian cuisine but very popular in UK. Chicken jalfrezi is the most popular jalfrezi recipe.

Vegetarians can use strips of vegetables to make veg kalfrezi. If you need more texture then you can paneer strips and it becomes paneer jalfrezi. Vegans can use tofu in place of paneer.

Paneer jalfrezi recipe I am sharing here today is a very easy to make with minimum grinding work. You just need to puree the tomatoes here. If you are in short of time you can even use ready made tomato puree. Apart from usual Indian spices, addition of vinegar and sugar is a specialty in jalfrezi recipes.

I have eaten paneer jalfrezi in few restaurants and often they will be laden with cream, however when I make at home I add loads of veggies and avoid cream to keep the flavors clean. Addition of paneer cubes adds enough richness to the jalfrezi recipe, there is absolutely no need for cream here.

To make paneer jalfrezi recipe, you can either cube the vegetables and paneer or slice them into wedges. I prefer slicing them long just like we get in restaurants. If you want to use this paneer jalfrezi for filling in kathi rolls, do slice the vegetables and paneer into wedges. I have added vegetables like baby corn, carrots, bell peppers. You can add any crunchy vegetable in this recipe.

Serve paneer jalfrezi with roti, naan along with kachumber, raita for light summer meal! with roti,along withraita for light summer meal!

More paneer recipes:

How to make paneer jalfrezi recipe

1. Chop all the vegetables into long fingers. Slice the paneer into wedges. Set aside. Puree 2 large or 3-4 medium tomatoes.

2. Heat a kadai and add 3 teaspoons oil. Add cumin seeds and dried red chillies. Let them splutter.

3. Add thinly sliced onions and saute well.

4. Next add crushed ginger and saute well.

5. Now add all the vegetables and saute in high flame for 4-5 minutes.

6. Add tomato puree and mix well.

7. Season with salt, sugar, garam masala and coriander powder. Mix well and cook till the tomato puree is completely cooked and turns semi dry. Add vinegar and mix well.

8.Continue to cook in high flame for 5 more minutes.

9. Add the paneer slices and toss gently.

10. Finally add kauri methi and mix well. Serve paneer jalfrezi hot.

vegans can use firm tofu instead of paneer.

Paneer jalfrezi recipe card below: