Ingredients & Measurements
Carefully curated and proportioned for authentic flavor balance. Adjust chillies and salt to your personal taste.
Main Ingredients
- Ghee (घी) - 2 tbsp
- Cumin (जीरा) - 2 tsp
- Onion, Chopped (प्याज़) - ½ Cup
- Ginger, Chopped (अदरक) - 1 tbsp
- Garlic, Chopped (लहसुन) - 1 tbsp
- Green Chillies, Slit and Deseeded (हरी मिर्च) - 3 no
- Tomatoes, Chopped (कटा हुआ टमाटर) - 1 cup
- Tomatoes, Fresh Puree (टमाटर प्यूरी) - ½ Cup
- Salt (नमक) - To Taste
- Turmeric Powder (हल्दी पाउडर) - ½ tsp
- Kashmiri Chilli Powder (कश्मीरी मिर्च पाउडर) - ½ tbsp
- Coriander Powder (धनिया पाउडर) - ½ tbsp
- Cumin Powder (जीरा पाउडर) - 1 tsp
- Garam Masala Powder, (गरम मसाला) - 1 tsp
- Gobi, Florets (फूलगोभी) - ½ cup
- Green Beans, Sliced (फ्रेंच बीन्स) - ½ cup
- Carrots, Julienne (गाजर) - ½ cup
- Cabbage, Sliced (पत्ता गोभी) - 1 cup
- Green Capsicum, Julienne (हरी शिमला मिर्च) - ¼ cup
- Yellow Capsicum, Julienne (पीली शिमला मिर्च) - ¼ cup
- Red Capsicum, Julienne (लाल शिमला मिर्च) - ¼ cup
- Coriander, Chopped (धनिया) - A Handful
- Paneer, Fingers (पनीर) - 100 gm
- Green Chillies, Slit (हरी मिर्च) - 2 no
- Onion, Sliced (प्याज) - ¼ cup
- Lemon Juice (नींबू का रस) - ½ tbsp
- Salt (नमक) - To Taste
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
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1
- To make Jhaal (spicy) frezi (stir-fry), we start with heating our kadhai and melting ghee. Add in cumin and roast it then adds in chopped onions and stirs fry over high heat till for a few seconds.
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2
- Now we add finely chopped ginger and garlic and stir fry on high heat for a few more seconds. Now, we add slit and deseeded green chillies along with chopped and pureed tomatoes to give them a tangy taste.
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3
- For dry spices, we add turmeric, chilly red powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and garam masala which are optional and give a nice stir. Now we cook it on a medium-high flame to eliminate the rawness of tomatoes and mellow it down.
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4
- For veggies, we start with cauliflower as it takes a longer time to cook. After cooking it for around one to one and a half minutes we add our other veggies - beans, carrots, and cabbage with a sprinkle of water to prevent our veggies from sticking or burning on the high heat.
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5
- We collect our veggies in the centre of our utensils and cover it with a lid and let it cook on low heat to tenderise vegetables and cook them to semi-dry.
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6
- On high heat, we add all 3 types of capsicums, paneer fingers, coriander, slit chillies, sliced onions, lemon for sharpness, and salt to taste and gently toss it by lifting and dropping it with a spatula.
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7
Once done, transfer to a platter and garnish it with fresh coriander leaves and preferably serve it with paratha/phulka/Roti.
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8
Jhalfrezi Written Recipe - https://www.chefkunalkapur.com/recipe/veg-jalfrezi-paneer-jhalfrezi/
Chef Kunal's Pro Secret Tip
Always soak fresh paneer cubes in warm, lightly salted water for 10 minutes before cooking. If pan-frying paneer, do so for no more than 60–90 seconds per side on medium-high heat to preserve its velvety, melt-in-the-mouth texture and prevent rubberiness.
Recipe FAQs & Expert Advice
How long can I store leftover Veg Jalfrezi Recipe?
You can store leftovers in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. When reheating, warm on medium-low heat on the stovetop and add 2–3 tablespoons of warm water if the gravy has thickened in the fridge.
Can I make this recipe vegan or dairy-free?
Yes! Substitute paneer with extra-firm pressed tofu or roasted plant-based paneer alternatives. Replace dairy butter/ghee with mustard oil, coconut oil, or refined groundnut oil.
What is the key technique to get restaurant-style flavor in this dish?
Focus on blooming whole spices in hot oil first, patiently sautéing the onion-tomato masala until oil separates, and finishing with a pinch of crushed roasted kasoori methi and freshly ground garam masala right before serving.