Paneer Stuffed Shells

(9)
". Have you ever tried this combination? My daughter wanted pasta and I wanted paneer and I really didn’t want to make two separate meals...so here you have the outcome...the paneer is a delicious filling and the pea and mint sauce balances the spice perfectly...love it when experimenting works out"
-- @sonalicooks
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  • Recipe Card
Prep time 10mins
Cook time 30mins

Recipe Card

For the Paneer

ingredients

  • 1 (12 ounce) block of Paneer cheese
  • 1 cup fresh green peas
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 (14 ounce) can whole plum tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon Masala powder
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 tablespoon coriander-cumin powder
  • Juice of one Lemon
  • 1 tablespoon tomato puree
  • Salt to taste

For the Pea and Mint Sauce

ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon neutral oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh green peas
  • Bunch of fresh mint, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
  • salt, as needed
  • 2 tabelspoons water, or as needed
  • 1/2 pound Conchiglie pasta shells
  • Fenugreek shoots or chopped mint, for garnishing (optional)

Method

  • Step 1

    In a pan, on a medium heat, sauté the onions until translucent then add the cumin and mustard seeds

  • Step 2

    Stir in the garlic, ginger until cooked and then add spices followed by the tomatoes and salt

  • Step 3

    Puree all the ingredients in your or blender until a sauce is formed

  • Step 4

    Return the sauce to the pan on a low-medium heat, add the the dry fenugreek leaves, peas and lemon. Add 2 tbsp of water and cook out the sauce for 5 minutes, adjust seasoning and spice at this point

  • Step 5

    Crumble in the paneer and stir until cooked.

  • Step 6

    Make the pea and mint sauce by sautéing the cumin, cumin powder, garlic, peas, mint and salt in oil til the peas are cooked,blitz with water in a blender until smooth. Add more water if needed.

  • Step 7

    Boil the pasta according to the instructions, once cooked stuff the shells with the paneer filling

  • Step 8

    Assemble: On a plate place the sauce, then stuffed pasta shells and garnish