Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is a popular Indian main course dish. Palak paneer is made with paneer/cottage cheese cooked in palak/spinach gravy.

Recipe video:

Ingredients:
For Palak Puree:
Palak/Spinach – 200 gm fresh
Garlic – 3 to 4 cloves
Ginger- 1/2 inch chopped
Green Chilies- 2

For Gravy:
Paneer – 250 gm
Onion – 1 medium chopped
Tomato- 1 medium chopped
Garlic- 4 to 5 finey chopped
Jeera/Cumin seeds- 1/2 teaspoon
Tej patta/Bay leaf- 1
Haldi/Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon
Mirch/Red Chili powder – 1/2 teaspoon
Kasoori Methi – 1 teaspoon
Dry Red Chili- 2 broken into two halves
Garam masala powder- 1/2 teaspoon
Oil- 1 tbsp
Butter – 2 tbsp
Salt as required

Making Palak/Spinach puree-

• Rinse the palak/spinach well in running water.
• Boil 4 to 5 cups of water in a pan and add 1/4 tsp salt. Now add Palak/spinach leaves in the hot water. Cover it and let cook it for 3 minutes on medium flame.
• When the palak leaves are blanching, take some water in a pan and add some ice cubes.
• After 3 minutes strain the blanched palak leaves from hot water and add them to cold water. Keep Palak stock aside to use later.
• After 1 minute strain it again from cold water.
• Now add Palak/spinach leaves a grinder jar with 1/2 inch chopped ginger, 3 to 4 cloves garlic, 2 green chilies.
• Make a smooth palak/spinach gravy without adding water. Keep it aside.

Making Palak Paneer Gravy-

• Heat 1 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp butter in a pan or kadai.
• Add 1/2 tsp jeera/cumin seeds, 1 Bay leaf/tej patta and 2 red chilies. Let them splutter.
• Now add 1 medium chopped onion. Saute till Onion turns light golden.
• Add 4 to 5 finely chopped garlic. Saute until raw aroma of garlic goes away.
• Now add 1/4 tsp haldi/turmeric powder and 1/2 tsp chili powder. Saute for 10 to 20 seconds.
• Add 1 medium chopped tomato. Stir and saute till tomatoes soften.
• Once the tomatoes are softened, add salt.
• Then add 1 tsp Kasoori Methi and mix well.
• Add Palak/Spinach Puree.
• Add 1/2 cup of palak/spinach stock or water or as required.
• Add Garam Masala powder and stir very well.
• Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes till palak or spinach is cooked.
• Now add Paneer cubes(250 gms) and stir well.
• Now cover and simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Now add 2 tbsp cream. This is optional. I have not added.
• Now stir and switch off the flame.
• Serve Palak Paneer hot with roti, naan or rice.

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