Aloo Paneer Dalna

Aloo Paneer er Dalna (আলু পনীরের ডালনা ) or Bengali-style Paneer Curry with Potato is an extremely easy, hassle-free Indian vegetarian curry. There are many popular Paneer dishes in North Indian cuisine, but Paneer is a contemporary inclusion in Bengali cuisine. In modern Bengali cooking, Paneer became a popular vegetarian protein option because of its easy access. Chunky paneer and Potato fried in oil and then simmered in moderately spiced curry sauce, so they suck up the flavour (not at all loaded with cream and fat) and create a big pot of delicious curry for your weeknight dinners or lunch. You won’t need to hunt any unusual spices that you don’t have in your pantry, or you won’t find in your supermarket.

What is Dalna?

Dalna is moderately spiced, with no onion and no garlic, yet a flavourful curry that you won’t get in your local restaurant. The origin of this curry is from Bengal. Different vegetables paired with Potato make different Dalna. Dalna is mainly a vegetarian curry, but Dimer Dalna is another popular curry in Bengali cuisine. Dim means Egg, and in Bengali cooking, Egg is considered a non-vegetarian ingredient.

This Aloo Paneer er Dalna is a quicker version of Bengali Chhanar Dalna. Chhana is cottage cheese or acid curd. Sweets made from Chhana are exclusive to Bengal. Sweets of Bengal and Chhana are another topic to discuss in another blog post!

As a kid, I have fond memories of walking into my Dida’s kitchen (maternal grandmother)and curry simmering on the stove. Even my mother often makes this curry for her weekly vegetarian menu. My grandmother and my mother tried to avoid fuss in the kitchen as they had to cook and feed a big family.

Aloo Paneer er Dalna

The common ingredients in Dalna!

Ground spices- Cumin, Red Chilli, Turmeric, Ginger, Bengali garam masala.

Whole spices- Cumin seeds, Green Cardamom, Clove, Cinnamon bark, Hing ( optional)

Potato- Diced or chunky potato is a must to cook Dalna! Potato paired with different vegetables and lentil cakes make different Dalna. like Aloo- Kopir dalna, Dhokar Dalna.

Pieces of equipment

1. 2-3 Mixing bowls

2. Vegetable Peeler

3. knife

4. Either a small grinder to make a ginger paste or a Microplane grater will do the job efficiently.

5. Wooden spatula

6. Cast iron Dutch oven

Benefits of using a good cast iron Dutch oven

Almost every Indian stew, curry, and Dhal recipe calls for slow cooking. A heavy-duty cook pot with a lid is preferred for browning, slow cooking, and stewing. I love to cook in a cast iron Dutch oven for not only Indian slow-cooking recipes but also my daily meals. I have two Chasseur cast iron Dutch ovens, one pink and the other black.

In my opinion, Chasseur is the most suitable choice for those seeking to take their first try into cooking with cast-iron cookware thanks to its affordable price point. It offers excellent cooking performance and results. It is not only perfect for first-time users but also useful for collectors of cast-iron cookware without breaking the bank. It comes in all sorts of colours. In addition, it will last for a lifetime if you care for it properly!

Everten is an excellent place to order cast-iron cookware. It also has a vast range of cookware and kitchenware. They offer free shipping all over Australia. Check their website for more information.

Aloo Paneer er Dalna cooked in Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Apart from that, as anybody who has ever used a cast iron Dutch oven knows, they are heavy, and you get a free bicep workout every time you use one!

What should you serve with Aloo paneer er Dalna?

Plain steamed rice, Peas Fried Rice, Basanti pulao, Trikone Paratha, these are my favourite side dish.