Paneer Khurchan

Being vegetarian paneer | cottage cheese is a great option for high protein dairy diet, usually we all consume dairy products as they are rich in calcium and protein and cottage cheese is an all time favorite, there are so many veriaties of paneer dishes popular among foodies like butter paneer masala, tandoori tikka masala, navratan korma, paneer korma etc etc…paneer khurchan is one of them.
The term khurchan is usually associated with milk products. It can mean different things but one common usage is that when you reduce milk, the khurchan is the stuff you scrape off from the bottom. And indeed, the term khurchan comes from khurachna or to scrape and therefore suggests the scrapings from the bottom of the pot.
The initial references that I have heard in the context of khurchan have been from the Awadh region. Meat from the sigri was added to the remnants of a musallam or a dum dish, mixed well on the fire with a scraping motion and the result was a khurchan.
The final touches for a khurchan need to be given on a griddle or tawa. The technique of cooking a khurchan in my opinion is what basically differentiates it from other dishes of same type. Instead of continuing to sauté and stir as is the case with most such dishes, the idea is to let the ingredients stay on low heat on the tawa until they concentrate and are almost on the verge of sticking.
This concentrate (which imparts its own unique flavour) is then scraped with a khurpi (a spatula with a very short handle) and mixed back in the main dish. The process is continued until the dish achieves the correct consistency. Timing and attention is of essence else the dish can burn.
You can quite easily make a khurchan at home by using a good cast iron tawa (if you’re using a non-stick pan, don’t bother). The khurchan can easily be the high spot of any dinner party.
In this recipe I have used cast iron kadai instead of Tava but the effect was same…I generally avoid nonstick for such type of recipes as too much scraping is required.
PANEER KHURCHAN
Featured Articles
How To Brew The Perfect Cup Of Coffee
Nothing feels better than starting your day with a cup of joe. While buying coffee at your nearest coffee shop…
How To Cook Perfect Fluffy Basmati Rice
How To Cook Perfect Fluffy Basmati Rice? There are some recipes which even the seasoned home cook struggles to perfect…
Food For Thought: How Nutrition Impacts Your Mental Health 2023
How Nutrition Impacts Your Mental Health? You’re probably already familiar with the adage you’re what you think. But I dare…
5 Signs It’s Time To Rebrand Your Resto
If you’re a restaurateur, chances are you’ve been through the process of rebranding at least once. Maybe it’s because your…
Small Garden, Big Possibilities: Tips to Maximize Your Limited Garden Space
In the midst of our bustling, ever-encroaching urban lifestyles, it may seem like a luxury to have a vast expanse…
Greek Yogurt Vs Regular Yogurt
Ever wondered why every health conscious person around you is going gaga over Greek yogurt? What’s with the constant regular…
Featured Recipes
Healthy Focaccia Bread With Caramelized Onions And Olives
Italian Focaccia bread is a flat oven bread, and my recipe makes it a healthy…
Red Velvet Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
Red Velvet Cupcakes As the weather gets chilly and streets begin to get decked up…
Eggless Chocolate Mousse
This Recipe of Eggless chocolate Mousse is the perfect and quick Valentine dessert which you…
Crispy Vegetables And Egg Spring Salad
We should have our salads everyday so say the doctors and they are right! Salads…
Vegan Buddha Bowl ( And My Korean Inspiration)
Tough to find someone who can forgive a serving of delicious fried rice. No wonder…
Moong Dal Khichdi
Khichdi is the comfort food made from Lentils and Rice, mixed together. Moong Dal Khichdi…