KADAI PANEER

Kadai paneer is the first big league dish that I have learnt. This has been my lethal weapon that I unleash. My astronomical success of this dish has helped me win accolades at all places where I have tried flaunting my culinary histrionics. Thanks to the perfect recipe from amma. Could not have been any better than that!!!!

Kadai paneer is in perfect accordance with the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang. It essentially has two components similar to the two in tiachi. The vegetables component, the strength, the support, the structure and the aggression, can be identified with yang and the gravy with yin and either cannot do independently. The preprocessing involves frying capsicum and the paneer cubes independently. The synthesis is a two step process. One addresses the preparation of the “yangish” component-the vegetables. These vegetables are like the poor gladiators, who grow to entertain in the process of which die a sad death after having been inflicted physical pain in the colosseum. Here the minced beans, delicately cut carrots and potatoes, that are boiled and salted are the gladiators. The kadai and later the platter are the arenas.

The next is the preparation of the gravy which I find has the yinnish characteristics. It is weak but a passive dominator; it gives the flavor and color and binds the two components and makes them one. It’s a vicious interplay of onions and tomatoes in an environment of burning oil, coriander seeds powder, cumins powder, garam masala and salt, garlic and ginger paste in adequate proportions. It’s interesting to see them amalgamate into one. After a point, trying to characterize each in the mixture is as hard and futile as trying to determine a woman’s orgasm.

Finally the boiled and spiced vegetables are mixed in this gravy. Here we can witness a foreplay between the yinnish and the yangish components. Perhaps every stage from the pre-copulatory stage till the final is available to witness. The perfect wetting of the yin and the movement of yang into the hollow spaces of the yin is to be ensured. And finally we add the paneer and the capsicum. This supposedly enhances the flavor and gives a rich sophisticated smell.

Kadai paneer ready!!!!