Palak Paneer

This Indian dish combines fresh spinach and paneer (cottage cheese) in a creamy sauce. I have tried many variations of Palak Paneer and the one below is one of my best. It is a vegetarian dish cooked in an onion-tomato-spinach based green sauce moderately spiced. It is a great accompaniment with rotis, naan or hot steamed rice. This is the healthy recipe for Palak Paneer since the Paneer is not fried but is still soft & tastes good.

No. of Servings: 3-4 persons
Preparation time: 25 mins



Ingredients:

• 2 bunches of fresh Spinach
• 300 gms of Paneer (Cottage Cheese)
  
• 1 onion
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tsp Garlic paste
• 1 tsp ginger paste
• 3 green chillies
• 1 tsp garam masala
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• ½ tsp Kasuri Methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
• 2 tbsp butter or oil

Method :

• Wash Spinach, & boil it in a pan without adding water (i.e. allow it to boil in its own water).
  
• Once spinach is boiled, drain the excess water (don’t throw it) and grind it.
• In a pan take ½ tsp butter or oil, add cumin seeds & let them splutter.
  
• Add onion followed by green chillies & tomatoes.
  
• Saute for 2 mins.
  
• Let the mixture cool & grind it.
• In a pan add the remaining butter or oil.
  
• Saute the onion-tomato mixture till fully cooked.
• Add garlic & ginger paste, followed by garam masala, coriander powder and turmeric. Saute for additional 5 mins.
• Now add the pureed Spinach, let it boil (if required add water) followed by Kasuri Methi
• Finally add paneer and simmer for additional 5 mins.

One can also garnish it with more butter. Serve hot with Paratha.

Tips / Variations:

• One can add more chilli paste as per taste & one’s liking.
• To make paneer soft, place paneer cubes in warm water for approx 15 -20 mins.