If you go to an Indian function and find no cuisine made of potatoes, that is not Indian. It becomes more disheartening if it doesn’t include a matar paneer. Without this Indian dish, any auspicious occasion seems incomplete. Since these delicacies are so popular, people often draw out the aloo vs. mater paneer comparison.
However, before we go into the comparisons, let us look at some basic things.
1. Know About the Paneer Dishes
The main component of both Indian recipes is the Indian cottage cheese called paneer. This delicious ingredient is made by curdling using an acidic substance like vinegar, lemon, or yogurt. Furthermore, you can refer to how to marinate paneer to know more about cottage cheese and marination.
Matar paneer is prevalent in every Indian household. ‘matar’ is a Hindi word for green peas, and ‘paneer’ is for Indian cheese. Since it is widespread, many people have developed their own ways to make peas with homemade cottage cheese. That is why it tastes different in restaurants and households.
On the other hand, potato is considered a staple food in many homes. It is an edible tuber that is available all year round. You can find raw potatoes in various exquisite dishes, including everyone’s favorite matar paneer. You can learn more about potato dishes by referring to aloo saag vs saag paneer.
2. Ingredients
To know the difference between any two food items, the first thing we should check is the ingredient list.
The most significant component that makes the difference in Aloo vs. Mater Paneer is the potato itself. Potato is an ingredient that you use to make other dishes. Conversely, peas with homemade Indian cheese is a complete meal.
If you want to mix things up, you can add potato to cottage cheese and green peas to make the delicious Aloo matar paneer.
3. Difference in Preparation
The difference in preparation totally depends on what dish you want to make. For instance, if you choose to make aloo matar paneer, the preparation process is almost the same. The only difference would be the addition of potato cubes with fresh cottage cheese to the cooking pan.
However, if you choose to make aloo gobi, the methods of preparations are entirely different. You can refer to aloo gobi vs paneer mahkani for more information.
4. Calories
Matar paneer is a more calorie-dense food because of the ingredients used to prepare it. One serving (440 grams) gives 600 calories, whereas potatoes of the same amount would give you about 330 calories.
However, the cottage cheese present in matar paneer helps increase protein intake. A similar thing cannot be said for potatoes as they are carbohydrate-dense food. Do you want to alter the fat levels in your cottage cheese dishes? Then, check out the low-fat vs full-fat paneer.
5. Health Benefits
Which one is a healthier option in aloo vs. mater paneer? You certainly wouldn’t want to go towards the potato side because it may not be healthy for some people.
Potatoes are a rich source of carbohydrates, leading to weight gain. This makes it unfit for people suffering from diabetes, obesity, and heart problems. However, it is heavily recommended for malnourished children with less body weight.
Furthermore, it will provide you with essential nutrients, such as potassium (more than a banana), iron, vitamin C, etc. One nutrition fact about potatoes that impresses us is that it contains a negligible amount of fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
And, what about the regular matar paneer? It also provides beneficial nutrients, including calcium, iron, vitamin A and C, etc. Since it doesn’t contain any carbohydrate-dense ingredient, there are no such restrictions on eating it. However, you should not go overboard consuming it as it may lead to weight gain.
6. Popularity
The recipe card is incomplete without the curry recipes. In fact, most amazing curry dishes include cottage cheese within them. Therefore, they are popular among citizens. But what about aloo vs. mater paneer?
Potato is used in a variety of dishes. In fact, many people consume this ingredient daily. However, fewer people look in its direction whenever a festive comes. Most people, especially children, look forward to eating matar paneer.
Therefore, it is safe to say that potato is more approachable for daily usage. But when the situation calls for something special, people go for the dish made from peas and cottage cheese.
7. The Ultimate Aloo Matar Paneer Recipe
Blending matar paneer and potatoes together give the ultimate aloo matar paneer. As a matter of fact, making it is not a challenging task. Following the step-to-step guide carefully will ensure a tasty and fancy dish. Firstly, let’s look at the ingredients you need to prepare your favorite dish.
Basic Ingredients
- 500 grams homemade cottage cheese
- 2 Raw Potatoes (Aloo), cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup Green peas (Matar), steamed
- 1 cup Homemade tomato puree
- 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
- 2 Green Chillies, slit
- 1/2 teaspoon Garam masala powder
- 1/2 tbsp Coriander Powder (Dhania)
- 1/2 teaspoon Red Chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
- 1 tablespoon Fresh cream
- 2 tablespoons Kasuri Methi (Dried Fenugreek Leaves)
- 70 gms cashew nuts
- ½ to ¾ tsp Salt
- Black salt for seasoning (optional)
- 2 tablespoons oil, for cooking
To Grind
- 1 Onion, finely chopped
- 1 inch Ginger
- 1 cup Homemade tomato puree
- 3 cloves Garlic
Guide for the Curry Recipe
Follow these steps to make the ultimate cottage cheese curry. You can also refer to a video tutorial by clicking here:
- You will start by making a paste of onion, garlic, and ginger. Keep ginger garlic paste aside after blending the ingredients for a couple of minutes.
- Take a heavy-bottomed pan and heat a tablespoon of oil in it. Now, pour the cumin powder or seeds into the mix. When they start crackling, add the ginger garlic paste mixture. Saute the mix at low heat until onions turn golden in color, and their raw smell vanishes.
- The next step would involve the addition of pureed tomatoes and Indian spices such as turmeric powder, green chilies or green chili powder, garam masala powder, coriander leaves, and salt. You can also add dry fenugreek leaves and black salt for seasoning. Let the pureed tomatoes cook at medium heat until they turn into a thick curry mixture.
- Finally, add the fresh cottage cheese cubes and organic potatoes. Decrease the heat and add about a cup of water into the pan. After covering the pan, let the mix simmer for 15 minutes.
- When the timer reaches the 12-minute mark, add the steamed peas and stir well.
- The last step only needs you to add cream and Kasuri methi. Mix them well and take away the heat. Make sure to check the spice and salt levels of the dish.
At last, your aloo matar paneer is ready. Try combining these Indian curry dishes with basmati rice, jeera rice, and even Indian flatbread. You will definitely love it.
