Ingredients

• For the curry sauce

• 2 tbs. oil

• 2 tsp. ghee or clarified butter

• 2 medium onions peeled

• 1/2 inch piece ginger peeled

• 2 cloves garlic (optional)

• 2 chopped tomatoes

• 1 level tsp. turmeric

• 1 1/2 tsp. coriander powder

• 1/2 tsp. chilli powder

• Salt to taste

• 1 tbsp. chopped coriander leaves

• 1 tsp. Garam Masala

• For cheese balls

• 250 gm. paneer, grated

• 200 gm. gram flour or besan

• 300 gm. or 2 medium onions cut in small pieces

• 2 green chillies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)

• 1/2 inch piece ginger, peeled and finely grated or chopped

• 2 tsp. coriander powder

• 1 tsp. Chat Masala (available in small packets from Indian grocers)*

• 1/2 tsp. or less chilli powder

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• A little water

• Oil for deep frying

Instructions

1. Making gravy

2. Grind onion, green chillies, ginger, garlic together to a paste in a food processor. You may need to ad a little water.

3. Heat oil and ghee in a pan.

4. Add onion, ginger, garlic paste and fry until light brown.

5. Add chopped tomatoes, turmeric, coriander and chilli powder and fry until oil/ghee separates or it begins to come off the pan.

6. Add salt and 2 cups of water and boil briskly for a few minutes.

7. Add garam masala.

8. Keep this gravy aside on minimum heat.

9. Making cheese balls

10. Put all cheese ball ingredients in a bowl and knead well until it is like a dough. This can be kneaded in a food processor too, using a dough hook. You may need to sprinkle a little water to make it soft.

11. Divide into 16-18 portions and roll individually between two palms, to make small, round balls.

12. Heat oil to medium hot. It should not be smoking. It is ready when a tiny portion of the mix dropped in the oil floats fizzing to the surface within a couple of seconds.

13. Fry a few balls at a time until golden brown.

14. Add to heated curry sauce, remove from fire.

15. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with Chapatti immediately.

Notes

• *If chat masala is not available, you can substitute with 1 tsp. amchoor or dry mango powder, 1 tsp. cumin powder and 1/2 tsp. garam masala. Chat masala has other, less commonly available ingredients, but this will do.

• The gravy and cheese balls can be made in advance and kept separately. Just before serving, heat gravy and add cheese balls. Garnish with coriander and serve.