Mattar Paneer

This is a steadfast, humble and delicious vegetarian curry, as served in homes, cafés and roadside dhabas all over India. It has a rich tomato base, sweet peas and mild paneer cheese. Indian households generally have their own recipe.

The Hindi word for peas is mattar (pronounced mutter), which gives rise to the silly joke: “What did the peas say to one another? Nothing. They just muttered.”