Palak Paneer is a vegetarian North Indian dish consisting of spinach and paneer in a thick sauce made from pureed spinach and seasoned with spices.

Ingredients:
  • 2-3 large bunch or 4 cups chopped Spinach
  • 1/2 cup Paneer,cubed into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1-2 Green Chillies, seeded and chopped (or to taste)
  • 1 Onion, finely chopped
  • 4-5 cloves of Garlic (crushed or paste)
  • 1/2 Ginger,grated or 1 tbsp Ginger and Garlic paste
  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Coriander Powder
  • 1 tsp Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 tsp Kasuri Methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Cream
  • 1/4 cup Yogurt+milk
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/4 tsp Sugar-optional
  • 1/2 tsp Garam masala powder
  • 2 tbsp+1 tbsp Oil or Ghee
  • 1/4 cup + 1/3 cup Water
Method:
  • Clean and wash spinach in water to remove any soil or impurities. To blanch the spinach, boil it in salted water for 2 minutes.
  • Drain it using a big perforated spoon or a strainer.Immediately transfer drained spinach into cold water and keep for a minute.
  • Drain excess water and transfer blanched spinach to the medium size jar of a mixer grinder. Add ginger, green chillies and 1/4 cup water and grind until smooth puree.
  • Heat 2 tbsp oil or ghee in a non-stick pan or kadai over medium flame. Add paneer cubes and shallow fry them until the sides turn light brown.
  • Transfer them to a plate and keep aside. You can remove excess ghee or oil from it by placing them on absorbent kitchen paper napkin.
  • Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in the same pan over medium flame. Add finely chopped onion and stir fry until it turns translucent. Add crushed garlic and ginger and stir fry for few seconds.
  • Add in the spices;turmeric powder,red chilli powder,coriander powder and mix well.
  • Now add in the smooth yogurt mixture and stir well for about a minute.
  • Add in the spinach puree, salt and sugar. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add 1/3 cup water ,mix well and bring it to boil. Stir occasionally in between.
  • When gravy starts to boil, add shallow fried paneer cubes and cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add lemon juice, kasuri methi and mix well. Turn off the flame.
  • Transfer it to a serving bowl,top it with cream and serve with tandoori roti, plain paratha or butter naan.