Oh you yummy Paneer & Tikka Masala

Last week, I had cooked paneer for the first time!! Paneer is an Indian cheese.  Same kind of cheese as cottage cheese but made in block like firm tofu.  The texture when I was preparing it seems like extra firm tofu, but I find the texture when you eat it to be quite different.  It squishes like when you're eating cheese curd.  If I had to choose, I much prefer paneer over tofu.. Sorry tofu!

I had made paneer by simmering it in a jar of tikka masala, pre-made Indian sauce from "Kitchens of India".  I threw in some chinese eggplant, because I'm in love with that vegetable.  It was good, I think... I had a cold that night so couldn't really taste the flavours, but my friend who was over for dinner quite enjoyed it.  She even packed some left overs for lunch the next day, so I assume she didn't just say it was good to be polite.   Although I had the cold, the tikka masala didn't taste like the VH tikka masala I've had.  Actually the sauce is called "Punjabi tikka masala", so I'm guessing it's a bit more authentic?? On the bottle it said "mild" but in no way it's a mild in Canadian standards! It was quite spicy and I can eat spicy food!  I'm not quite sure if I really like it though... I find I taste too strong of a ginger flavour that I think it should say "ginger" on the label, with the same size font as "tomato".

In the end, I bought the paneer and that sauce because it's the Indian festival "Diwali" this week, so both were on sale.  It's a good time to try new products when it's on sale! If I don't like it, at least I know I got a deal :D


Here's the link to the "Punjabi Tikka Masala" on Kitchens of India's website http://www.kitchensofindia.com/CA/Products-Main/Sauces/Punjabi%20Tikka%20Masala

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