Chettinad-Style Paneer Curry With Rice And Naan & A Chicken Breast

Peel and finely slice your brown onion[s]

Peel and finely chop (or grate) your garlic

Peel (scrape the skin off with a teaspoon) and finely chop (or grate) your ginger

Added chicken? Cook at 220°C / 200°C (fan) / gas 7 for 18-20 min

Cut your green chilli[es] in half lengthways, deseed (scrape the seeds out with a teaspoon) and chop finely

Roughly chop your coriander, including the stalks

Cut your paneer into bite-sized cubes

Add your basmati rice and 250ml [325ml] [500ml] cold water to a pot with a lid and bring to the boil over a high heat

Once boiling, reduce the heat to very low and cook, covered, for 10-12 min or until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked

Once cooked, remove from the heat and keep covered until serving

Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick) with a drizzle of vegetable oil over a medium-high heat

Add your yellow mustard seeds, cumin seeds and chopped paneer to the pan and cook for 3-5 min or until the paneer is golden

Once golden, transfer everything to a plate and set aside

Return the pan to a medium-high heat, add the sliced onion with a pinch of salt and cook for 3-4 min or until starting to soften

Boil half a kettle

Once the onion has softened, add your ground turmeric and tomato paste and cook for 5-6 min further or until the onion has caramelised

Meanwhile, dissolve your vegetable stock mix in 200ml [300ml] [400ml] boiled water

Once the onion has caramelised, add the chopped garlic, ginger and chilli (can't handle the heat? Go easy!) with your cracked black pepper and cook for 30 secs or until fragrant

Add the vegetable stock and cook for 5-6 min or until the sauce is beginning to thicken

Once beginning to thicken, return the cooked paneer to the pan and cook for 2 min further or until warmed through – this is your Chettinad-style paneer curry

While the sauce is thickening, add your garlic & coriander naan[s] to a toaster for 1-2 min or until warmed through

Tip: For a little extra indulgence, butter the naan[s] once they are warmed through