Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer

Palak paneer is a great combination of palak which means spinach and paneer which means cottage cheese. Spinach is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, magnesium, and iron and also provides protein and minerals. Spinach is a superfood. Spinach also contains fiber, phosphorus, and thiamine.

        Spinach is good for healthy skin and hair too. The possible health benefits of consuming spinach include improving bone health and lowering the risk of cancer.

         Paneer is called cottage cheese. Paneer does not have its own specific flavor. But it is high in protein and calcium. Paneer is a fresh Indian cheese that is used in many dishes.

        Palak paneer is a North Indian dish. which is made with palak ( spinach),paneer( Indian cottage cheese),onion, tomato, garlic and other spices. It is green gravy with paneer cubes. You can use pan fry paneer too but I like smooth and soft paneer so I never fry paneer.

 Palak paneer is my son’s favorite food and he eats spinach in only this dish. He also helps me remove the stem of the spinach and; he enjoys doing the work for palak paneer. You can serve it with roti, paratha, naan, or rice.

There are so many different styles of Palak paneer. But I am used to this simple and easy recipe.

  • Cuisines: Indian
  • Course: full-course meal
  • Serving: 4
  • Served with: roti, rice, naan, paratha 
  • Preparation time: 15 minutes
  • Cooking time: 25 minutes 
  • Total time: 40 minutes 

 

Ingredients :

  • 250  gm paneer
  • 3 bunch of spinach (around 2 lb)
  • 2 medium size onions 
  • 2 medium size tomatoes 
  • 4 cloves of garlic 
  • 1 inch of ginger 
  • 3 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 
  • Salt as per taste 
  • 3 green chili 
  • 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder 
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder 
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder 
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder 
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala powder 
  • Coriander leaves for garnishing 

 

How to make Palak Paneer?

 Palak paneer is a simple and delicious green gravy-based recipe that is easy to make. Everyone has their own recipe for palak paneer but I used to make this simple and easy method.

Palak Paneer step-by-step recipe:

  1. Remove the stems and wash the palak thoroughly.
  2. take a big pan and add 3 glasses of water in it and boil it. Then add spinach to it and give it a nice boil.
  3. After one or two boils, remove the spinach from the water and drain it and let it cool down. After cooling down add spinach to a mixing jar, grind it, and make a smooth paste, keep it aside.
  4. Take a pan and heat 1 tablespoon of oil in it. Add roughly chopped onion in it and then add 4 cloves of garlic and half inch of ginger and 2 green chilies in it. sauté all the things until the onion becomes translucent.
  5. Add tomatoes to it.
  6. Sauté all the things until all the ingredients are well cooked.
  7. Remove the vegetables from the flame and let them cool down. After cooling them down, grind them and make a smooth paste. And keep it aside.
  8. Take a new big pan and heat 1 tablespoon of oil or butter in it. Add cumin seeds in it and let it drizzle. Then add the onion tomato paste which we made earlier. And sauté it for 1 to 2 minutes.
  9. Then add all the spices like 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of red chili powder, salt as per taste, 1 tablespoon of garam masala and 1 teaspoon coriander powder and 1 teaspoon cumin powder, and mix it well.
  10. Then sauté all the things for 3 to 4 minutes till the masala removes the fats.
  11. After that add spinach paste to it.
  12. Mix it well and cook it for 3 to 4 minutes.
  13. Take a paneer cube, put it in lukewarm water before use for 15 minutes, and cut it into small pieces.
  14. Add paneer to the pan and mix it with the green gravy.
  15. Cook it for only 2 to 3 minutes and it is ready to serve.

Instructions :

  1. Remove the stems and wash the palak thoroughly.
  2. take a big pan and add 3 glasses of water in it and boil it. Then add spinach to it and give it a nice boil.
  3. After one or two boils, remove the spinach from the water and drain it and let it cool down. After cooling down add spinach to a mixing jar, grind it, and make a smooth paste, keep it aside.
  4. Take a pan and heat 1 tablespoon of oil in it. Add roughly chopped onion in it and then add 4 cloves of garlic and half inch of ginger and 2 green chilies in it. sauté all the things until the onion becomes translucent.
  5. Add tomatoes to it.
  6. Sauté all the things until all the ingredients are well cooked.
  7. Remove the vegetables from the flame and let them cool down. After cooling them down, grind them and make a smooth paste. And keep it aside.
  8. Take a new big pan and heat 1 tablespoon of oil or butter in it. Add cumin seeds in it and let it drizzle. Then add the onion tomato paste which we made earlier. And sauté it for 1 to 2 minutes.
  9. Then add all the spices like 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of red chili powder, salt as per taste, 1 tablespoon of garam masala and 1 teaspoon coriander powder and 1 teaspoon cumin powder, and mix it well.
  10. Then sauté all the things for 3 to 4 minutes till the masala removes the fats.
  11. After that add spinach paste to it.
  12. Mix it well and cook it for 3 to 4 minutes.
  13. Take a paneer cube, put it in lukewarm water before use for 15 minutes, and cut it into small pieces.
  14. Add paneer to the pan and mix it with the green gravy.
  15. Cook it for only 2 to 3 minutes and it is ready to serve.

Notes:

  • Don’t overcook spinach in boiling water. (overcooking spinach will make it lose its nutrients.)
  • Always use homemade paneer for the best results. It is so easy to make at home.
  • If you use store-bought paneer please follow the instructions given on the wrapper.
  • For vegan options, you can replace paneer with firm tofu.
  • Serve it with roti, naan, paratha, or rice.
  • Always use fresh spinach for this recipe and you need 2 pounds of spinach for 4 servings.