Peas and paneer kadhi (indian yogurt soup)

Ingredients

• 4 cups plain natural yogurt
• ¼ cup chickpea flour (besan)
• 5 cups water
• 1 tablespoon clarified butter (ghee)
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tablespoons ginger, minced
• 2 green chillies, minced
• 1 onion, sliced lengthways
• ½ cup peas
• ½ cup paneer, cubed
• 1 ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
• 3 cloves
• 5-6 curry leaves (sweet neem leaves)
• 2 cardamom pods, whole
• 1 inch piece of cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon asafoetida
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• Salt to taste
• Sugar to taste (TIP: If your yogurt is a little sour then always add more sugar- Gujarati kadhi is supposed to be a little sweet)
• Oil to shallow fry the paneer
• ½ cup chopped coriander

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Preparation

• In a blender mix the yogurt, chickpea flour, water, garlic, ginger and chillies. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
• Heat the ghee in a large, wide pan and add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cloves, curry leaves, cardamom pods, cinnamon, onions and asafoetida. Temper for a few seconds.
• Quickly add the yogurt mixtures and heat on a medium flame. (TIP: This is the most crucial part of the recipe which requires you to KEEP STIRRING no matter what! The chickpea flour stabilizes the yogurt to a certain extent but if the heat is not distributed evenly then the mixture will most certainly curdle' yuck).
• Therefore, constant stirring until the mixture reaches boiling point is vital. At this point add the salt, sugar and turmeric. When it has reached boiling point it is okay to stop stirring but ensure it is on a low flame while you fry the paneer.
• Heat enough oil to fry the paneer in a wok, add the paneer and allow to lightly brown.
• Remove from the wok and drain the paneer on kitchen paper to remove any excess oil.