Honey Toasted Paneer (Tofu) With Sesame Seeds

This Honey Toasted Paneer (Tofu) With Sesame Seeds recipe is one of our family favorite recipe. This is a recipe from Sanjeev kapoor’s collection. I watched him make this on a show years ago and ever since has become one of our favorite. This dish has a Chinese twist to it. I have made few of my own improvisations to the recipe to suit our palette.

This recipe was first published in 2010 in my website and now after 8 years , I get to redo the pictures and the post and republish the recipe. It is so awesome to go back to old post and find recipes that are still very popular in my family.I use either tofu or paneer when making the recipe. It really depends on what I have in hand.  If you are a Vegan and looking to make this a vegan friendly dish, then all you have to do is use tofu instead of paneer and follow all the steps exact.

The original recipe was exclusively paneer/tofu. I added the onions and the bell pepper to bring out more of the Chinese flavor. The best part of the recipe is the toasted sesame seed. The flavor it brings out is absolutely great and I hope all of you enjoy it.

Preparation time – 15 mins
Cooking time – 30 mins
Difficulty level – easy

Ingredients to make Honey Toasted Paneer (Tofu) With Sesame Seeds (Makes 4-6 servings)

• Paneer (Tofu) – 200 gms
• Onions ( cut into 1 inch cubes) – 1 large
• Tomatoes (cut into 1 inch pieces) – 2 large
• Bell Pepper – 2 (cut into 1 inch pieces)
• Green chilies (cut) – 3
• Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tsp
• Tomato ketchup – 1 Tbsp
• Soy sauce – 2 tbsp
• Chili powder – ½ tsp or as needed
• Spring onions – 2 stems
• Cashews – 10 (Soaked in warm milk for 10 mins)
• Honey – 1 Tbsp dissolved in warm water
• Sesame seeds – 2 tsp (Toasted)
• Corriander leaves (Cilantro) – 1 tbsp
• Butter/Oil – about 3 tbsp (divided)
• Salt – to taste

Procedure to make Honey Toasted Paneer (Tofu) With Sesame Seeds –

• Cut Paneer/Tofu into 1 inch cubes and shallow fry them in butter/oil. I never deep fry the paneer or tofu. Shallow frying them in couple of tablespoons of oil works equally well. Drain the pieces on a paper towel and use the rest of the oil/butter in the pan to make the gravy.
• If needed, add a tsp more of oil in the pan and fry the cut onion, bell pepper. Once they are lightly cooked, add the ginger garlic paste and fry it for a minute more.
• Now add the cut tomatoes, green chilies and ketchup and cook it on a medium flame until the tomatoes are soft (around 5 mins)
• Grind the soaked cashews into smooth paste and pour it in the pan. Next add the soy sauce, chili powder and salt and cook it for few minutes.
• Add the fried paneer/tofu and mix well. If the gravy is too thick add little water and let it all come together.
  Once it starts boiling add the honey mixed in warm water.

• Toast the sesame seeds in a pan and add this to the gravy.

• Garnish with spring onions, coriander leaves and serve hot with Chapathis or paratha.