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Home » Recipes » Indian Side Dish

Published: Mar 18, 2025 by Gayathri Vijayakumar

The Best Paneer Butter Masala Recipe Without Onion and Garlic

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Try this rich and creamy Jain Paneer Butter Masala recipe without onion and garlic! Quick and easy to make, this flavorful dish is perfect for special occasions and caters to dietary preferences. Add this paneer masala to your menu for a delicious, restaurant-style meal at home! At home, we love serving this rich paneer gravy with simple Ghee Rice for lunch.

A bowl of creamy paneer butter masala served in a vibrant blue dish, placed on a white ceramic plate with a black spoon beside it. The dish features soft paneer cubes coated in a rich gravy, set on a rustic burlap cloth background.

Made in a creamy and rich tomato based gravy with paneer cubes cooked in it, this no onion no garlic paneer makhani is perfect for a weeknight dinner. Pair it with roti, naan, and jeera rice for a wholesome meal. You can also try my Matar Paneer Gravy when you want to make a quick and delicious side dish.

Jump to:
  • Why you will love this Jain Paneer Butter Masala Recipe?
  • How to make No Onion No Garlic Paneer Butter Masala?
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Tips to make the best Paneer Butter Masala
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Other recipes you may like
  • Follow me on
  • Recipe Card

Who doesn’t love a good Paneer recipe as a side dish? It is an absolute crowd pleaser and is enjoyed by everyone right from kids to adults. What makes this dish truly special is its versatility.

Whether you’re preparing it for a festive occasion or a simple family dinner, this recipe fits the bill. It’s quick to make, uses easily available ingredients, and delivers restaurant-like flavors in every bite.

Paneer Butter Masala is one of the most loved Indian dishes, known for its creamy texture and rich flavors. However, many people prefer a version without onion and garlic due to dietary restrictions, religious practices, or personal preference.

A black plate containing creamy paneer butter masala on one side and fragrant vegetable pulao on the other, garnished with peas and cashews. A black spoon is placed beside the food on the plate, which rests on a burlap cloth background.

This Jain Paneer Butter Masala is perfect for those looking for a flavorful curry that adheres to these guidelines. With a few simple adjustments, you can recreate this classic dish without compromising on taste or richness.

This particular recipe uses ingredients like cashew paste and tomato puree to achieve the same creamy consistency as the traditional version. The aromatic spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and kasuri methi add depth to the dish. It’s an ideal choice for Jain households, fasting periods like Navratri, or anyone who enjoys onion-free cooking.

Why you will love this Jain Paneer Butter Masala Recipe?

Easy to Make: The recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward steps, making it perfect for beginners or busy cooks.

Rich and Creamy: The cashew paste creates a rich, creamy sauce that’s hard to resist.

Flavorful Without Onions: This recipe proves you don’t need onions to achieve deep, satisfying flavors.

Inclusive: Suitable for Jain diets, fasting periods, or anyone who prefers onion and garlic-free cooking.

Quick Preparation: Can be prepared quickly, making it ideal for weeknight dinners, lunchboxes or special occasions.

Restaurant-Quality Taste: The combination of spices and creamy sauce gives it a restaurant-like flavor at home.

How to make No Onion No Garlic Paneer Butter Masala?

Add oil to a pan. Once hot, add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves. Saute for a minute. Add cashews and saute again. Add chopped tomatoes, salt. Mix them well and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.

A step-by-step cooking process for making a tomato-based curry sauce. The first image shows a pan with whole spices (cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon) being sautéed. The second image displays chopped tomatoes added to the pan. The third image includes cashews mixed with the tomatoes. The fourth image shows salt added to the mixture, preparing it for further cooking.

Add Kashmiri Chilli Powder, Sugar. Mix again and cook for 5 minutes. Add crushed kasuri methi, mix. Switch off an let the mixture cool down to room temperature.

Grind the mixture to a smooth paste and keep it ready.

A step-by-step process of preparing a tomato-based gravy for no-onion paneer butter masala. The image shows four stages: chopped tomatoes, cashews, and spices cooking in a pan (top left); the mixture simmering (top right); the cooked mixture thickened and blended (bottom left); and the final smooth, creamy tomato-cashew paste ready to be used in the dish (bottom right).

Add butter to the same pan. Once the butter melts, add the the paste. Add a little water and let the mixture cook for 5 minutes. Next, add the cream and mix together. Adjust salt if needed. Add the paneer cubes. Mix gently and let the gravy cook on a low flame for 5 minutes.

Four-panel image showing steps to make paneer butter masala without onion and garlic.

Switch off and serve the delicious paneer butter masala gravy with rice or roti.

Overhead shot of a black plate featuring creamy paneer butter masala alongside fragrant peas pulao, garnished with cashews.

Serving Suggestions

This Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala pairs beautifully with:

  • Soft Rotis or Chapatis
  • Buttery naan bread
  • Jeera rice or Steamed basmati rice
  • Mild Coconut Milk Vegetable Pulao or Paneer Peas Pulao for a festive touch.

Tips to make the best Paneer Butter Masala

Use fresh ingredients for the best taste and flavour

Avoid Overcooking Paneer. Overcooked paneer can become rubbery. So, simmer gently.

Add more chilli powder or garam masala if you prefer spice and more flavours.

Close-up of paneer butter masala, featuring chunks of paneer in a creamy, orange-colored sauce, served in a blue-rimmed bowl.

Frequently asked questions

Can I replace paneer with tofu?

Yes! Tofu works well as a substitute for paneer in this recipe. Follow the same steps.

Can I skip cashews?

Cashew paste adds richness; however, you can use peeled almonds as an alternative.

How to keep the paneer pieces in shape?

Do not over cook the paneer. After adding the paneer cubes, mix it gently with the gravy and cook for 5 minutes on low flame. Avoid mixing the paneer too much to avoid breaking the paneer cubes. Also, cooking on low flame for just few minutes will avoid over cooking the paneer and ensure it doesn’t turn rubbery.

Other recipes you may like

  • Easy Palak Paneer Recipe | Restaurant Style Recipe
  • Street style vegetable fried rice with golden brown paneer cubes served on a plate with fork and kept on a textured surface
    Street Style Paneer Fried Rice Recipe
  • Easy & Dry Paneer Bhurji Recipe
  • Easy paneer quesadilla with cheese and vegetables served on a plate
    Paneer Quesadilla

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Recipe Card

Overhead shot of creamy paneer butter masala in a blue-rimmed bowl on a speckled plate, with a black spoon and burlap napkin.

The Best Paneer Butter Masala Recipe Without Onion and Garlic

Gayathri Vijayakumar
Try this rich and creamy Jain Paneer Butter Masala recipe without onion and garlic! Quick and easy to make, this flavorful, restaurant style paneer dish is perfect for special occasions and caters to dietary preferences.
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Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 390 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 200 grams Paneer
  • 2 tablespoon Oil
  • 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
  • 3 Cloves
  • 2 Cardamoms
  • 12 Cashew Nuts
  • 3 Tomatoes
  • Salt as needed
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Kashmiri Chilli Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Kasuri Methi crushed
  • 2 tablespoon Butter
  • ½ cup Fresh Cream
  • ¼ cup Water

Instructions
 

  • Add oil to a pan. Once hot, add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves. Saute for a minute. Add cashews and saute again.
  • Add chopped tomatoes, salt. Mix them well and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add Kashmiri Chilli Powder, Sugar. Mix again and cook for 5 minutes. Add crushed kasuri methi, mix.
  • Switch off an let the mixture cool down to room temperature.
  • Grind the mixture to a smooth paste and keep it ready.
  • Add butter to the same pan. Once the butter melts, add the the paste. Add a little water and let the mixture cook for 5 minutes. Next, add the cream and mix together.
  • Adjust salt if needed. Add the paneer cubes. Mix gently and let the gravy cook on a low flame for 5 minutes.
  • Switch off and serve the delicious paneer butter masala gravy with rice or roti.

Notes

Do not over cook the paneer. After adding the paneer cubes, mix it gently with the gravy and cook for 5 minutes on low flame. Avoid mixing the paneer too much to avoid breaking the paneer cubes. Also, cooking on low flame for just few minutes will avoid over cooking the paneer and ensure it doesn’t turn rubbery.

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 10gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 114mgPotassium: 333mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1800IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 300mgIron: 1mg
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