A luxurious Mughlai curry featuring nine 'gems'—a mix of vegetables, fruits, and nuts in a rich, creamy, and mildly sweet white gravy. This festive dish is perfect for special occasions and pairs beautifully with naan or jeera rice.
Prep30 min
Cook40 min
Soak30 min
Servings4
Serving size: 1 cup
511cal
14gprotein
33gcarbs
Ingredients
1 medium Carrot (diced)
0.5 cup French Beans (chopped)
1 medium Potato (peeled and diced)
1 cup Cauliflower Florets
0.5 cup Green Peas (fresh or frozen)
150 g Paneer (cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
0.25 cup Cashews (for the gravy paste, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes)
A quintessential Mughlai flatbread, Saffron Sheermal is a mildly sweet, soft, and leavened bread enriched with milk, ghee, and the luxurious aroma of saffron. Its name, derived from the Persian words 'sheer' (milk) and 'mal' (to rub), reflects its rich, tender texture. Traditionally cooked in a tandoor, this home-style version on a tawa yields a delightful bread perfect for pairing with rich curries like Nihari or Korma.
Crisp, tangy pickled pearl onions soaked in a sweet and sour vinegar brine. This classic Indian restaurant-style condiment adds a refreshing crunch to rich curries and tandoori dishes.
About Navratan Korma, Saffron Sheermal and Sirke Wale Pyaaz
Rich, aromatic Navratan Korma with soft Sheermal. An energy-giving feast that's truly special!
This mughlai dish is perfect for dinner. With 942.06 calories and 22.61g of protein per serving, it's a nutritious choice for your meal plan.
37gfat
1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
2 pcs Green Chilli (slit lengthwise)
3 tbsp Ghee
2 tbsp Oil (for frying paneer and nuts)
1 pcs Bay Leaf
1 inch Cinnamon Stick
3 pcs Green Cardamom Pods
3 pcs Cloves
0.25 cup Curd (whisked until smooth)
0.25 cup Fresh Cream (heavy or whipping cream)
1 tsp Coriander Powder
0.5 tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Salt (or to taste)
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Kasuri Methi (crushed between palms)
1.5 cup Water (as needed for gravy consistency)
0.25 cup Pineapple Chunks (canned or fresh)
1 tbsp Raisins (for garnish)
2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (finely chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Vegetables and Paneer (The 'Gems')
In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add the diced carrots, beans, potatoes, and cauliflower. Cook for 5-7 minutes until they are tender but still have a slight bite. Add the green peas in the last minute of cooking. Drain all vegetables and set aside.
Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Gently slide in the paneer cubes and shallow-fry for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are light golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. You can place them in a bowl of warm water to keep them soft.
In the same pan, add the 8 cashews and raisins for garnish. Fry for 30-60 seconds until the cashews are golden and the raisins plump up. Remove and set aside.
2
Create the Smooth Korma Paste
Drain the soaked cashews and poppy seeds.
In a small pot, add the chopped onion and cover with water. Boil for 5-7 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent. This step removes the raw pungency. Drain thoroughly.
In a high-speed blender, combine the soaked cashews, poppy seeds, boiled onion, and green chillies. Blend into a very smooth, fine paste. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water if needed to help it blend.
3
Cook the Royal Gravy
Heat 3 tbsp of ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan or kadai over medium heat. Add the whole spices: bay leaf, cinnamon stick, green cardamom pods, and cloves. Sauté for about 30-45 seconds until they become fragrant.
Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté for another minute until the raw smell disappears.
Lower the heat and add the prepared korma paste. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring continuously, until the paste thickens, darkens slightly, and you see ghee separating from the sides.
Stir in the coriander powder and cook for one more minute.
Turn the heat to the absolute lowest setting. Slowly pour in the whisked curd while stirring constantly and vigorously to prevent it from splitting. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the ghee starts to surface again.
Add 1.5 cups of water, salt, and sugar. Mix well and bring the gravy to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
4
Combine and Finish the Korma
Gently add the boiled vegetables, fried paneer, and pineapple chunks to the simmering gravy.
Mix carefully to coat everything. Cover and let it simmer on low heat for 5-6 minutes, allowing the vegetables and paneer to absorb the flavors of the rich gravy.
Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the fresh cream, crushed kasuri methi, and garam masala. Mix gently and cook for just one more minute. Do not let the korma boil after adding the cream.
Turn off the heat. Garnish with the fried cashews, raisins, and freshly chopped coriander leaves.
5
Serve
Serve the Navratan Korma hot with naan, roti, paratha, or jeera rice.
Servings4
Serving size: 1 piece
399cal
8gprotein
56gcarbs
15gfat
Ingredients
2 cup All-Purpose Flour (Also known as Maida)
0.75 cup Warm Milk (Should be lukewarm, about 105-115°F or 40-46°C)
4 tbsp Ghee (Melted and divided)
2 tbsp Sugar (Use granulated sugar)
0.25 tsp Saffron Strands (A generous pinch)
1 tsp Instant Yeast
0.5 tsp Salt
0.5 tsp Kewra Water (Optional, for authentic fragrance)
Instructions
1
Bloom Saffron & Activate Yeast (10 minutes)
In a small bowl, take 2 tablespoons of the warm milk and add the saffron strands. Let it soak to release its color and aroma.
In a separate, larger bowl, combine the remaining warm milk, sugar, and instant yeast. Stir gently and set aside for 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy and active.
2
Prepare the Dough (15 minutes)
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt.
Add 3 tablespoons of melted ghee to the flour. Using your fingertips, rub the ghee into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
Pour the frothy yeast mixture, the saffron-infused milk, and the optional kewra water into the flour mixture.
Combine everything to form a shaggy dough, then transfer to a lightly floured surface.
Knead for 10-12 minutes by hand (or 7-8 minutes in a stand mixer with a dough hook) until the dough is soft, smooth, and elastic.
3
Proof the Dough (60-90 minutes)
Form the kneaded dough into a smooth ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl.
Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for 60 to 90 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
4
Shape the Sheermals (10 minutes)
Gently punch down the risen dough to release the air.
Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and roll each into a smooth ball.
On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a 6-inch round or oval disc, about 1/4-inch thick.
Thoroughly prick the entire surface of each disc with a fork. This is crucial to prevent it from puffing up during cooking.
5
Cook the Sheermals (15 minutes)
Heat a heavy-bottomed pan (tawa) or a non-stick skillet over low-medium heat.
Place one shaped sheermal on the hot tawa and cook for 2-3 minutes until the underside has light golden-brown spots.
Flip the sheermal, cover the pan with a lid, and continue to cook on low heat for another 3-4 minutes. The trapped steam helps cook it through and keeps it soft.
Remove from the pan and repeat the process for the remaining dough portions.
6
Glaze and Serve (2 minutes)
As soon as each sheermal is cooked, immediately brush it generously with the remaining 1 tablespoon of melted ghee.
Serve warm with rich curries like korma, nihari, or enjoy on its own.
Peel the pearl onions. To make peeling easier, blanch them in hot water for 2 minutes, then immediately transfer to a bowl of ice-cold water.
Trim the root and stem ends of each onion, keeping them whole.
Make a small, shallow cross-shaped incision on the top of each onion. This helps the brine penetrate deeper for better flavor.
2
Make the Pickling Brine
In a non-reactive saucepan (like stainless steel or enamel), combine the water, white vinegar, sugar, and salt.
Add the julienned ginger, slit green chilies, and black peppercorns.
Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar and salt dissolve completely. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
3
Assemble the Pickle
Place the peeled pearl onions and the thin slice of beetroot into a clean, sterilized 500ml (16 oz) glass jar.
Carefully pour the hot pickling brine over the onions, ensuring they are fully submerged. Gently tap the jar on the counter to release any air bubbles.
4
Cool, Store, and Serve
Allow the jar to cool to room temperature on the counter, which may take 1-2 hours.
Once completely cool, seal the jar with an airtight lid and place it in the refrigerator.
For the best flavor and crunch, let the onions pickle for at least 24 hours before serving. The flavor will continue to develop and intensify over the next few days.
