A Mughlai cuisine staple, a must-have if you’re visiting the northern parts of India, Shahi Paneer is a rich, creamy, spicy, slightly sweet main dish that is often paired with a buttery naan.
Newbie or pro, a pre-measured masala mix adds tons of convenience and is appreciated by most. Mishry tested seven best Shahi Paneer Masala brands in India so that you pick only the best. We chose Goldiee Shahi Paneer Masala as our Top Pick for the restaurant-style flavors it offers. We Also Recommend Orika (Spicy) and Roopak.
Our review process and experience with each contender has been shared below.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison of Shahi Paneer Masala Brands
Here are some quick details about the contenders.
| Shahi Paneer Masala | Mishry Rating | Buy Now |
| Goldiee – Mishry Top Pick | 4.5 | Add To Cart |
| Orika – Spicy Recommendation | 4 | Add To Cart |
| Roopak – Also Recommended | 4 | Add To Cart |
| Everest | 3.5 | Add To Cart |
| Catch | 3.5 | Add To Cart |
| MDH | 3 | – |
| Tata Sampann | 3 | – |
Our Review Factors
As for the parameters, the flavor was the prime deciding aspect. We also gauged the potency which would also give an idea on whether or not the product is value for money.
1. Flavor
Shahi Paneer gets its name from the characteristics of the ingredients that go into the making. For instance, ghee and cashews give it that rich, creamy mouthfeel, saffron adds a sweet floral tone and onions add a characteristic sweetness.
But what can make or break the entire dish is the combination of masalas that you add. A shahi paneer masala can easily help you achieve that restaurant-style flavor with just a teaspoon. The warmth and richness of whole spices, slight sweetness is what we were looking for.
2. Potency
Just a teaspoon or a heaped tablespoons, what quantity of the masala is required to bring that flavor, aroma, and color in the gravy?
Which brand offers the highest value for money?
3. Other Parameters
The convenience in terms of packaging, price, ingredients, shelf life were also gauged.
Our Review Process
Our review process to find the best Shahi Paneer Masala brand was fairly simple.
- We prepared a large batch of the base gravy that included bay leaf, onions, ginger garlic paste, cashews and tomatoes.
- To this we added some salt and sautéed till the tomatoes started to leave oil on the sides.
- After cooling this down, we blitzed it into a blender and divided into seven equal portions.
- A teaspoon of shahi paneer masala was added to the gravy base. We cooked for 30 seconds and then added 50 ml water and two triangular pieces of paneer.
- After letting it simmer for 1 minute, we began our tasting.
- These were tasted twice – once hot and then again alongside rotis when they had cooled down a little.
Best Shahi Paneer Masala Powder– Detailed Review
The following section lists our detailed experience with each brand.
1. Goldiee – Mishry Top Pick
Our Experience
Shahi Paneer features prominent warmth and flavors of spices. But it also has a hint of sweetness making it a well-rounded flavor profile.
Of the seven brands we tried, only Goldiee lent that subtle, onion-like sweetness. We also tasted a warm and sweet, cinnamon flavor. Neither too spicy, nor high on salt, the flavors were balanced beautifully. This resulted in a very restaurant-style Shahi Paneer dish.
Product Details
A 100-gram pack is priced at Rs 84/- with a 11-month shelf life. The main ingredients are coriander, cumin, red chilli, dry ginger, cinnamon, onion, cardamom, fennel, nutmeg, mace & cloves. This was packed in a orange carton.
- Well-rounded flavors
- Natural, subtle sweetness
- Economic
Looking to bring those bold, restaurant-like flavors? Goldiee is the brand we recommend.
2. Orika – Spicy Recommendation
Our Experience
The spiciest! Orika’s Shahi Paneer masala had a medium-high spice level but was the spiciest among all contenders. The spice had a warmth from ingredients like cardamom, pepper, and cloves. Just like spice, the potency of Orika was the highest, a very miniscule quantity was required.
However, Orika was not the Top Pick as it does not offer the liberty to adjust the spice level as needed.
Product Details
A 100-gram pack is priced at Rs 85/- and has a 12-month shelf life. This comes in a resealable pouch that has a slider zip lock. Full marks on the convenience. The main ingredients are coriander, chilli, iodized salt, turmeric, black pepper, garlic, cassia bark, ginger, fennel, green and black cardamom, clove, nutmeg, mace, and star anise.
- Full marks on packaging
- VERY potent
- Lent a lovely flavor
- Not meant for everyone, as it’s very spicy.
If you’re looking for a Shahi Paneer masala mix that’s high on the spice quotient, we’d suggest Orika without a second thought.
Orika Shahi Paneer Masala, Chana Masala & Kitchen King Masala (Combo of 3, 100 g Each)
33% Off3. Roopak – Also Recommended
Our Experience
Not just the flavors, Roopak is Mishry’s Also Recommended pick for the beautiful color it added to the gravy and the unique flavor profile.
Roopak Shahi Paneer Masala showcased rounded and balanced flavors. What made it stand out was the smokiness it added. Sweetness of onions, fresh and warm flavors of spices, and the smoky flavor of dried red chillies- this was appreciated by all members of our Team.
Moreover, this added a vibrant butter chicken-like color. And it has no added colors!
Product Details
A 100-gram bottle is priced at Rs 160/- and has a shelf life of one year. The main ingredients are red chilli, onion, coriander, garlic, turmeric, black pepper, iodised salt, cumin, fenugreek, cardamom seeds, cinnamon, cloves, mace, nutmeg, black cumin, and ginger.
- Smokey flavor
- No added colors
- Vibrant appearance
Looking for a masala mix with a smoky profile? Roopak is the one for you.
Roopak Shahi Paneer Masala, 100 g
₹180.00 (as of November 20, 2024 18:06 GMT +05:30 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)4. Everest
Our Experience
Everest also delivered quite well. The flavors were fairly decent, but it was most prominent on the warm flavors of black cardamom. There weren’t any drawbacks per se, but when compared to the above brands, they had better, well-rounded flavors.
The potency of Everest Masala was commendable.
Product Details
A 50-gram pack is priced at Rs 47/- with a 14-month shelf life. It comes in an orange carton and the main ingredients are coriander, chilli, cassia leaf, cumin, dried mango, garlic, black pepper, turmeric, dried ginger, cassia bark, black cardamom, clove, fenugreek, iodized salt, anise, fennel, and citric acid.
5. Catch
Our Experience
Overall, Catch did showcase all characteristic flavors Shahi Paneer masala has. However, it was dominant on the floral, earthy flavors of fennel and cardamom. The salt and spice were also in sync, but our Top Pick had a relatively better blend of flavors.
Product Details
A 100-gram pack is priced at Rs 82/- with a 14-month shelf life. The main ingredients are coriander whole, cumin whole, chillies, and capsicum whole, fennel whole, iodized salt, dried mango slices, white til, cardamom whole, bay leaves, ginger whole, curry leaves, turmeric whole, large cardamo whole, cassia whole, cucumis, pepper black whole, cloves whole, nutmeg whole, mace whole, ajwain, and anistar.
Catch Shahi Paneer Masala, 100g
(as of November 20, 2024 18:09 GMT +05:30 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)6. MDH
Our Experience
Shahi Paneer Masala is a blend of warm spices. This innate warmth was missing in MDH masala. It had a very flat taste and was high on the flavor of coriander. And typically, Shahi Paneer is never dominant on coriander. You would definitely need more of the masala to bring a noticeable change in flavor.
Product Details
A 100-gram pack is priced at Rs 95/- and has a 1-year shelf life. The main ingredients are coriander seeds, red chillies, iodized salt, onion, garlic, cumin, black pepper, turmeric, cassia, dried ginger, fennel, pomegranate seeds, cardamom amomum, green cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, mace, and star anise.
- High on coriander
7. Tata Sampann
Our Experience
Tata Sampann masala did not have bold flavors or the rich warmth that Indian spices lend to dishes. We do not recommend this as it lacks the vivid flavors this dish must have.
Product Details
A 100-gram carton is priced at Rs 90/- and has a shelf life of 17 months. The main ingredients are coriander powder, chilli powder (18%), fennel powder, dehydrated garlic powder (anticaking agent (INS 470 (1)), dehydrated onion powder (anticaking agent (INS 470)), iodized salt (anticaking agent (INS 536, INS 511)), dried ginger powder, cumin powder, cinnamon powder (2%), turmeric powder, acidity regulator (INS 330), mace powder, black pepper powder (0.5%), clove powder natural color (INS 160 C (I)), green cardamom powder, star anise powder, minimum spice content 80%.
- Lacks warmth of spices
Our Top Picks & Recommendations
Why did we choose Goldiee as the best shahi paneer masala brand? Why are Orika and Roopak recommended?
Ideally, a shahi paneer masala should be able to provide the richness and warmth of whole spices along with a certain sweetness and depth of flavor from onions. We chose Goldiee as our Top Pick because it was able to nail the flavors beautifully and comes very close to restaurant-style shahi paneer. The balance and blend of spices used in this masala were found to be the best during our testing.
Orika (Spicy) and Roopak are also recommended for their wonderful flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on shahi paneer masala.
1. Are shahi paneer and paneer butter masala the same?
No, shahi paneer is made using a cashew and onion base, and is delicate to taste with a hint of sweetness. Paneer butter masala on the other hand is robust and dominant on whole spices.
2. Which shahi paneer masala is the spiciest among these?
Orika Shahi Paneer Masala has the highest spice level.
3. Can we use these shahi paneer masala for chicken curries?
Although chicken masalas are available in the market that are best suited to make homestyle curries, if you don’t have it, you can use shahi paneer masala as an alternative too.
4. Which is the best shahi paneer masala brand?
We recommend Goldiee, Orika, and Roopak Shahi Paneer Masala
5. Do these shahi paneer masala brands contain artificial colors?
No. None of the brands we tested contain any artificial colors.
Conclusion – Which Is The Best Shahi Paneer Masala?
Our Top Pick, Goldiee, gave us a bowl of restaurant-style shahi paneer that was not only balanced but also provided with the complex onion-like sweetness this dish is known for. Orika is our Spicy Recommendation and we also suggest trying Roopak for its unique warm smokiness.
Shahi Paneer or Kadhai Paneer – Which one is your go-to order at a restaurant?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.
