Paneer Pesto

Paneer Pesto

A very tasty and healthy starter, perfect for any party.This can also be eaten as a tea time snack. Pesto is a thick Italian sauce made by grinding nuts, garlic, cheese and basil leaves with olive oil. However I have given a slight Indian twist to the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 table spoon of walnuts
1 table spoon of pistacio
1 table spoon of cashews
3 green chillies
1/4 cup of coriander leaves
1/4 cup of mint/basil leaves
1 pod garlic
2 table spoon of olive oil.
1/2 teaspoon of  black pepper powder
 1 table spoon of Parmesan Cheese (optional)
Salt to taste.

200gms fresh paneer.

Preparation:
1.Cut paneer(1/4 inch thickness) 2 "x 3" size and soak in salted warm water for 15 minutes.
2. For pesto, grind all the nuts along with chillies, coriander leaves, mint/basil leaves, garlic, pepper powder, cheese and  salt to a paste adding olive oil.
3. Heat tava and grease the tava.
4. Drain the water and  place the paneer pieces on the hot greased tava and cook  on both sides of the paneer  till light brown lines appear on the paneer.(takes 1-2 minutes)
5. Remove the paneer  from the heat and spread  the pesto on one side of the paneer and serve hot.