Paneer Kali Mirch (Black Pepper Paneer)

4.91 from 10 votes

Paneer tossed is a creamy sauce flavored with freshly ground black pepper. This dish makes a nice change from the usual paneer recipes and pairs well with naan!

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If you are bored of eating paneer the same way, then try this Paneer Kali Mirch.

This has cubes of paneer tossed in a creamy sauce flavored with lots of freshly ground black pepper.

It’s slightly hot from the pepper which is balanced out by the sweetness and creaminess from the cream, yogurt and cashews.

paneer cubes in a creamy white sauce served in a black bowl with pieces of naan placed in the background

I can never get tired of sharing paneer recipes with you guys.

It also helps that you guys seem to love them all! That definitely motivates me to keep sharing more of them.

Few days back when I thought of cooking with paneer, my first thought was to make something different.

You know, something different from the usual paneer makhani and palak paneer and other usual stuff which I make pretty regularly.

I have had paneer kali mirch few times at restaurants in Delhi and so I thought of making it the other day when I had a paneer block in my refrigerator.

Kali mirch=black pepper so this recipe has freshly ground black pepper in abundance.

Black pepper is the prominent flavor in this paneer recipe, it also makes it hot. Sarvesh isn’t a black pepper fan but even then he enjoyed it and if you happen to love it like me, then you will really enjoy this recipe.

This Paneer Kali Mirch

✔makes a nice change from regular paneer recipes.

✔perfect meal for a special weeknight dinner.

✔easy to put together.

✔pairs so well with naan, especially garlic naan.

You might think this recipe is hot since we are adding a lot of black pepper here.

And honestly, it is hot but not fiercely hot. If it was that hot, me and Sarvesh would have never been able to enjoy it.

The hotness of the black pepper is balanced by the yogurt and cream in the recipe.

Paneer Kali Mirch has the perfect flavors to enjoy the taste of black pepper without it overpowering the dish.

Black pepper powder v/s freshly ground black pepper? Now, for this recipe I highly recommend using freshly ground black pepper.

I used my spice grinder to grind some whole peppercorns. I roughly ground them as I didn’t want a super fine powder.

The freshly ground pepper gives so much more flavor than using store bought black pepper powder. If you don’t have a spice grinder, use a mortar and pestle to crush the peppercorns.

Other than the peppercorns, the recipe also calls for some cashews and cream to make it creamy and yogurt to give it a little tang.

There’s also some coriander powder, cumin powder and garam masala to add to the flavors.

But, as I mentioned before the star of the dish is the black pepper and hence the name.

I have used store bought paneer here. Whenever you are using store bought paneer, make sure to soak it in hot water for around 20 minutes and then use in the recipe.

That makes the paneer much softer!

Vegan Options

Can you make this vegan? Yeah absolutely.

Replace paneer with extra-firm tofu and yogurt with plain almond milk yogurt.

In place of cream, use coconut milk or cream.

Follow the rest of the steps as it is.

So next time you have a block of paneer and want to try something different, give this recipe a try.

I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Method

1- Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a pan on medium heat.

Once hot, add the chopped onion, ginger and green chili. Cook for around 4 minutes, stirring often until onions soften.

2- Then add the cashews.

3- Stir often and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until onions start turning very light brown in color. Turn off heat and remove the pan from heat.

4- Transfer the sauteed onion, ginger, chili and cashews to a blender and blend to a smooth paste. I did not add any water while grinding it, if you are having difficulty grinding the mixture, you may add some water. Set aside.

step by step picture collage of making paneer kali mirch

5- Meanwhile, also grind 1.5 teaspoons (6 grams) of peppercorns using a spice grinder. Don’t make a fine powder, you want it coarse.

6- Now, heat 1.5 tablespoons of oil in the same pan on medium heat. Add the ground onion paste and cook on medium heat for around 3 minutes.

7- Then remove pan from heat (this is to make sure the yogurt doesn’t curdle as we add it) and start adding the whisked yogurt (yogurt should be at room temperature). Keep whisking as you add the yogurt until all of it is combined.

8- Place the pan back on heat and add the spices- coriander powder, cumin powder and garam masala. Stir and cook for 30 seconds.

step by step picture collage of making paneer kali mirch

9- Add in 3/4 cup (6 oz) water, I filled the jar that I used for grinding the onions with water and pulsed it few times to get any remaining paste and added that water to the pan. Stir well.

10- Then add the salt and then the cream.

11- Now, add the crushed peppercorns and mix well.

12- Then add in the paneer cubes. Mix well and let the paneer simmer for 2 to 3 minutes on low heat.

step by step picture collage of making paneer kali mirch

Serve paneer kali mirch warm with some garlic naan.

paneer cubes in a white sauce served in a round bowk and a pan of peppercorns placed in the back

If you’ve tried this Paneer Kali Mirch Recipe then don’t forget to rate the recipe! You can also follow me on FacebookInstagram to see what’s latest in my kitchen!

Paneer Kali Mirch

4.91 from 10 votes
Servings: 4
Paneer tossed is a creamy sauce flavored with freshly ground black pepper. This dish makes a nice change from the usual paneer recipes and pairs well with naan!

Ingredients 

  • 2 teaspoons + 1.5 tablespoons oil divided, I used avocado oil
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped
  • 1 inch ginger chopped
  • 1 green chili chopped
  • 10 cashews raw
  • 1.5 teaspoons whole peppercorns 6 grams, crushed using a spice grinder
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt 60 grams, whisked and at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garam masala
  • 3/4 cup water 6 oz
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 3 tablespoon cream 45 ml
  • 225 grams paneer cut into cubes
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Instructions 

  • Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a pan on medium heat.
    Once hot, add the chopped onion, ginger and green chili. Cook for around 4 minutes, stirring often until onions soften.
    a pan with diced onion, ginger, chilies
  • Then add the cashews. Stir often and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until onions start turning very light brown in color. Turn off heat and remove the pan from heat.
    a pan with sauteed onion, ginger, cashews and chili
  • Transfer the sauteed onion, ginger, chili and cashews to a blender and blend to a smooth paste. I did not add any water while grinding it, if you are having difficulty grinding the mixture, you may add some water. Set aside.
    ground white color paste
  • Meanwhile, also grind 1.5 teaspoons (6 grams) of peppercorns using a spice grinder. Don't make a fine powder, you want it coarse.
    peppercorns crushed in a spice grinder
  • Now, heat 1.5 tablespoons of oil in the same pan on medium heat. Add the ground onion paste and cook on medium heat for around 3 minutes.
    pan with a ground white paste with a wooden spatula
  • Then remove pan from heat (this is to make sure the yogurt doesn't curdle as we add it) and start adding the whisked yogurt (yogurt should be at room temperature). Keep whisking as you add the yogurt until all of it is combined.
    pan with white color paste and yogurt being added to it
  • Place the pan back on heat and add the spices- coriander powder, cumin powder and garam masala. Stir and cook for 30 seconds.
    ground spices added to a pan with ground paste
  • Add in 3/4 cup (6 oz) water, I filled the jar that I used for grinding the onions with water and pulsed it few times to get any remaining paste and added that water to the pan. Stir well.
    Then add the salt and then the cream.
    water being added to a pan with a paste in it
  • Now, add the crushed peppercorns and mix well.
    ground black pepper being added to a white color sauce in a pan
  • Then add in the paneer cubes. Mix well and let the paneer simmer for 2 to 3 minutes on low heat. Serve paneer kali mirch warm with some garlic naan.
    paneer cubes being added to a cream colored sauce in a pan

Notes

  1. If you like the texture of fried paneer, heat some oil and pan fry the paneer until it's light browned from both sides and then add to the recipe. 
  2. Make sure yogurt is whisked and at room temperature before you add it to the curry base. 

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Sodium: 504mg, Potassium: 125mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 181IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 312mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
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Hi, I’m Manali!

Bringing you easy, delicious vegetarian & vegan recipes! Eating veggies can be fun, you just need to get creative in the kitchen with the right set of ingredients!


4.91 from 10 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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20 Comments

    1. on stove-top, you would need to add water to thin out the consistency as it will thicken a lot as it cools

  1. I simply love your recipes. It’s very easy to make and yummy too.
    Today I tried your Paneer Kali Mirch and it came out well.
    Thank you for your wonderful recipes.

  2. 4 stars
    Very tasty and easy to make. My only negative comment is the color; it’s pale beige sauce with the white paneer..just doesn’t look attractive…

    1. I am glad you liked it. sorry I can’t do anything about the color of the sauce, it’s what it is since there are no tomatoes and then we add crushed black pepper to it.

  3. I have a tree nut allergy but would love to try this dish. Should I just leave the cashew out or is there something I could replace it with?

  4. 5 stars
    This dish was delicious! My entire family including the kiddos loved it 🙂 Out of curiosity, are the calories listed on all you recipes for the full recipe, or for one serving?

    thank you!

    1. it’s calculated automatically by a plugin so it’s a rough estimate only. It divides the total calories by number of servings and displays that so it is per serving.

  5. 5 stars
    I just made this for my husband who absolutely adores black pepper on everything. He thought it was delicious!