It takes a lot of effort to make hubby happy about Veg food! My daughter though is an angel. In this post, I am sharing the recipe for one of her favorite Paneer dishes, Navratan Korma.
In my parent's house, they are vegetarian by day! You read it right. Maa does not cook non-veg one day every week which is Saturday. She used to prepare Veg food on Saturdays to save me and Baba from the "Prakop" of "Sanidev" and I was there to protest! Back then I was not at all ready to have Veg food on Saturdays! However, after lots of discussions and drama, Maa started taking Veg on Saturdays on our behalf of us and she continues it to date.
Just to praise her effort I started taking Veg on Saturdays at some point in time though I do not maintain this routine on a regular basis. At times I have to travel for work or need to attend events where I do not have an option but to have non-veg. However, I try to cook only veg once a week at home to clean the palate.
My Veg routine!
I am not a typical Bong who considers Onion, Garlic, Ginger, or Masoor Daal as Non-veg. My Saturday menus are inclusive of all these items. One dish that I prefer to prepare especially on Saturdays is "Navratan Korma". This dish is something that helps me to add lots of veggies to the plates of hubby and Pasta.
Navratan Korma or Navratna Korma; the name and why?
Before sharing the recipe let me share some of the details related to "Navratan Korma". "Navratna" is a Sanskrit Word which means "Nine Gems" and is quite popular in traditional Jewellery settings in India as well as a group of "Nine Extraordinary People" from the emperors' court of two famous rulers of India Samrat Chandragupta II and "Mughal Emperor Akbar" was known as "Navaratna".
To be precise "Navaratna" is a combination of nine elements and the dish "Navratan Korma" got its name from the "Navratna". The authentic "Navratan Korma" should possess nine special ingredients. My nine elements are Potato, Carrot, Beans, Bell Peppers, Cauliflower, Peas, Pineapple, Pomegranate, and Paneer.
Restaurant-style Navratna Korma!
"Navratan Korma" is nowadays very much popular in marriages as well. I have tried different options and finally mastered the process of making restaurant-style Navratan Korma.
Here's how I make Navratan Korma at Debjanir Rannaghar!
Navaratan Korma | Navratan Korma | Navratna Korma
Navratan Korma is a famous Paneer-based Indian side dish. This dish consists of 9 veggies along with Paneer and hence the name "Navaratan".
Ingredients
- 2 Potato medium size
- 8 Bean
- 1 Carrot medium size
- 1 Bell Pepper big Size or a mixture of different color Peppers ( I have used ⅓ each of Red, Yellow, and Green Bell Peppers)
- 1 Cauliflower medium size
- ⅓ Cup Peas
- 1 Onion big size
- 8 cloves Garlic
- 5 Green Chilies Chopped
- 75 g Pineapple
- ½ cup Pomegranate
- 15 Cashew nut
- 10 Raisin
- 15 Almond
- 100 g Cottage Cheese/ Paneer
- 1.5 Tbsp. Poppy Seed
- 1 Tbsp. Melon Seed/ Charmagaj
- 1 Tsp. Garam Masala Powder
- 1 Tbsp. Cumin Powder
- ½ Tsp. Sahi Cumin Seed
- 2 Bay Leave
- 1 Tsp. Turmeric Powder
- 1 Tsp. Black Pepper Powder
- 1 Tsp. Sugar
- 1 Tsp. Salt or to taste
- Few Strands Saffron Optional
- 2 Tbsp. Milk for soaking Saffron Optional
- 75 ml Cream
- 2 Tbsp. Refined Vegetable Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Ghee/Clarified Butter
Instructions
- Cut Potatoes, Bell Peppers, and carrots into small dice and Beans into small diagonal pieces and finally separate the florets of the cauliflower.
- Cut Paneer into small cubes.
- Finally cut the Pineapple into small dice.
- Make a thick paste of 10 Cashew nuts, 10 almonds, Melon Seeds, Onion, Garlic, and Poppyseed using 2 Tbsp. of water.
- Soak Saffron Strands in 2 Tbsp. of warm Milk (adding saffron is optional).
- Blanch Potatoes and Carrots for 5 minutes in normal water (this step is optional, especially in winter).
- Take Oil in a Wok and heat the Oil.
- Fry Paneer cubes and keep them aside.
- Fry the rest of the Dry fruits and keep them aside.
- Temper the Oil with Bay leaves and Sahi Jeera and then add the Paste prepared and cook for 5-7 minutes or so in medium flame till the oil comes from the mixture.
- Add Turmeric Powder, Salt, Sugar, and Black Pepper Powder, Garam Masala Powder and chopped Green Chilies and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add 1 Tbsp. of Water if required.
- Now add Potatoes, Carrots, and Beans to the mixture and cook for 5 minutes then add Cauliflower, Peas, and lastly Bell Peppers, and Pineapples.
- Add fried Paneer and fried Dry fruits.
- Now add 3 Cups of Water and mix well.
- Then add Cream and Saffron mixed milk to the mixture and cover the pan with a lid and cook until all the veggies are cooked proportionately. This should take around 7-10 minutes in medium flame.
- Check the consistency as well as check the gravy for spices and if required adjust spices.
- Add 1 Tbsp. of Ghee Switch the flame off and give the dish a stand of 5 minutes.
- Garnish the "Navaratan Korma" with Pomegranate seeds and fried dry fruits.
- "Navaratan Korma" is ready to serve.
Nutrition
Vegetarian Recipes from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Bori Aloor Jhal (Also known as Bengali Bori'r Jhal)
- Lau Shaker Chorchori (Also known as Bengali Vegetarian Mishmash with Bottle Gourd Greens)
- Sukhi Urad Dal (Also known as Amritsari Dal)
- Palak Paneer (Also known as Saag Paneer)
- Restaurant-style Paneer Makhanwala (Also known as Butter Paneer)
- Shahi Paneer Korma (Also known as Sahi Paneer)
- Paneer Bhurji (Also known as stir-fried Paneer)
- Punjabi Kadhi (Also known as Kadhi Pakoda)
- Rajasthani Kadhi Pakoda (Also known as Rajasthani Kadhi)
- Narkel diye Cholar Dal (Also known as Bengali Cholar Dal
- Cabbage Poriyal (Also known as Cabbage Thoran or South Indian Stir-Fried Cabbage)
- Shukto (Also known as Bengali Mix-veg Shukto)
- Rosogollar Dalna (Also known as Rasgulla Curry)
- Nimki Makha (Also known as Nimki Chaat)
- Tok Dal (Also known as Bengali Kancha Aam diye Toker Dal)
Have you tried the Restaurant-style Navratan Korma recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar?
Do let me know how it came out. Also, I would love to see a picture of the same which you can share here at [email protected]. Meanwhile, on Instagram, you can use my hashtag #debjanirrannaghar and in addition, you can tag me at @foodofdebjani.
Here's the Navratan Korma Pin for your Pinterest Board!
About Debjani Chatterjee Alam
I am Debjani Chatterjee Alam. A CSR specialist by profession and a food writer, food blogger, and food photographer as well. I live in Kolkata along with my Husband Mehebub who is an architect by profession, my daughter Pasta, and also my dog daughters Coffee and Luchi.
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