Have you ever found yourself in a situation where unexpected guests show up at your doorstep and you need to whip up a delicious meal in no time? After all, desi guests are the ultimate food critics, bound to silently judge you if you opt to order a pizza instead of whipping up something authentic. In such a situation, why don’t you make Palak Paneer? Rich cubes of cottage cheese, coated in a luscious sauce made with fresh spinach. The spinach gives the sauce a naturally thick and creamy consistency, and palak paneer’s signature deep, jungle-green hue.
What’s more, the gentle spicing from fenugreek, cumin, and coriander plays well with the delicate spinach flavor, without overwhelming it. Meanwhile, the paneer is like little creamy sponges that soak up all those tasty flavours in the sauce!
So, take out your aprons and let’s get cooking for your last-minute visitors!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of Shana frozen spinach
- 200 grams of paneer (Indian cottage cheese), cut into cubes
- 2 medium-sized onions, finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes, pureed
- 2 green chilies, finely chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 piece of ginger, grated
- ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 1 teaspoon of coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon of garam masala
- ½ teaspoon of red chili powder or 2 chopped frozen green chilies (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons of oil or ghee
- Salt to taste
Method of preparation:
- To start off, take a non-stick pan and heat a tablespoon of oil or ghee over medium heat. Add the paneer cubes and lightly fry them until they turn golden brown. Once done, remove the paneer cubes from the pan and set them aside.
- In the same pan, add another tablespoon of oil or ghee. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Then, add the chopped onions, minced garlic, grated ginger, and green chilies. Sauté the mixture until the onions become translucent and lightly golden.
- Next, add the pureed tomatoes to the pan and cook until the oil separates from the mixture. This ensures the tomatoes are well-cooked and adds depth to the flavors. Now, add the turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, and salt. Stir well to combine.
- Transfer the Shana chopped spinach into a blender and blend it to a smooth puree. Add the spinach puree to the pan and mix it well with the onion-tomato mixture. Allow it to simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Gently add the fried paneer cubes to the spinach mixture. Sprinkle the garam masala and fenugreek seeds over the dish and give it a gentle stir. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to let the paneer absorb the flavors.
- Once cooked, transfer the Palak Paneer to a serving dish. Garnish it with fresh cream to add a pop of color and richness.
- Last but not least, serve the delicious palak paneer with freshly baked plain naan to soak up the sauce.
So, the next time you find yourself in need of a quick and flavorful recipe, remember this Palak Paneer recipe as your go-to option. Happy cooking with Shana!
Are you looking for more vegetable recipes? If so, check out Shana’s Okra recipe and enjoy!