Palak paneer recipe | How to make palak paneer
Palak paneer recipe – Palak is the Hindi word for spinach and paneer is Indian cottage cheese. So this dish is nothing but Indian cottage cheese simmered in a smooth creamy & delicious spinach gravy. Palak paneer is one of the most loved North Indian dishes that’s eaten with roti, paratha, garlic naan, Jeera rice, Ghee rice or even with plain basmati rice. It is very easy to prepare and can be made in so many ways. This is an easy and healthy palak paneer recipe which I finally arrived at after trying so many other recipes.
In this palak paneer recipe, I have not blanched the spinach to prevent loss of nutrients. In most Indian recipes spinach is not blanched and used directly to make dal palak, spinach paratha, palak rice, spinach omelette, aloo palak and many other recipes as some nutrients are lost when blanched.
This palak paneer is the best I have made in the years. Not blanching the spinach and sauteing it for a short time is what makes this delicious. However this recipe also works with blanched spinach.
Preparation-for-palak-paneer
1. This recipe needs about 4 cups loosely measured or 2 cups tightly packed (100 to 120 grams) palak leaves. Use only young and fresh spinach. Avoid using large stems or stalks, especially from mature spinach/ palak as they make the gravy bitter. If using baby spinach keep the tender stalks.
Rinse cleaned palak thoroughly in a large pot filled with water. I also spray some vinegar and salt to remove the pesticide residue first. Rinse a few times more. Drain off the water completely. If you are on a low oxalate diet then you can blanch the spinach by following the steps mentioned in the recipe card.
2. Add half tablespoon oil to a pan. then add 1 to 2 chopped green chilies. There is no red chilli powder used in this recipe. So use enough green chilies to give that heat. Adjust accordingly.
3. Add palak and 8 to 10 cashew nuts. Saute on a medium heat until the palak wilts off completely. This takes only 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook, spinach takes only 2 to 3 mins to cook.
4. Ensure the raw flavor from the leaves has gone. If there is any stock (moisture) of spinach left, you can use up to blend. You need not evaporate it.
5. Cool it completely. Transfer these to a blender jar. Pour ¼ cup clean water to the blender.
6. Blend this to a smooth puree. It has to be thick and smooth. Keep this aside
Make-gravy
7. Heat the same pan with 1 tablespoon butter and half tablespoon oil . Add 2 whole cardamoms, one inch cinnamon, 2 cloves and 1/8th teaspoon cumin seeds. If you do not have whole spices you may skip them. But we are not going to use much garam masala in powder form so I use them.
8. Add ¾ cup fine chopped onions or boiled onion paste. Fry until the onions turn golden. Then add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste. Saute for 1 minute or until the aroma of ginger garlic comes out.
9. Then add deseeded fine chopped half cup tomatoes or tomato puree and half teaspoon salt. Saute them well.
10. When the tomatoes turn fully mushy, add ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala. Please use a good flavorful garam masala. Saute until the masala smells good for 2 to 3 mins. (Optional if you don’t like chunky curry, then you may blend this as well with ¾ cup water. More in the recipe card notes)
11. Pour ¾ cup water and cook covered on a medium heat until the onions are completely soft cooked. After cooking, onion tomato masala has to be thick yet should have some water. (check video for consistency) Take half teaspoon kasuri methi in your palm and crush it. Add it here.
How to make palak paneer
12. When the gravy thickens, lower the flame completely. Next add the palak puree. Mix it well and cook until it begins to bubble just for about 2 mins. I do not suggest cooking for long at this stage as it discolors the gravy. If you prefer your curry slightly thin, then you may stir in a few tablespoons of hot water at this stage. Taste test and add more salt.
13. Add cubed paneer.
14. Give a good stir. Switch off the stove. If using cream pour it now. You can skip cream is you have used cashews while pureeing the spinach. Honestly this recipe does not need cream & I don’t use on a regular basis. I only used for garnishing in the pictures below.
Serve palak paneer with butter naan, jeera rice, ghee rice, roti or plain paratha
Tips to make best palak paneer
1. Blanched Vs unblanched spinach: I would recommend blanching, if you have been on a low oxalate diet and do not consume spinach without blanching in any other foods like dal palak or any spinach curry.
To make palak paneer, always spinach is blanched prior to making a puree. But if you are trying to make the best palak paneer, give it a try without blanching.
I am sure you will wonder how good this tastes and completely different from the one made with blanched spinach.
2. Preserving the color of palak: To get the best color, keep garam masala to minimum in this recipe and also prevent overcooking spinach which darkens the dish.
3. Smooth creamy texture: I have used few cashews to give a slightly creamy texture to the palak paneer gravy. However you can just skip them and use about 3 to 4 tbsps cream. You can also use blanched almonds.
4. Paneer: Do choose good quality paneer as it is the key ingredient in this palak paneer recipe. I use this homemade paneer which is soft with a melt-in-the-mouth texture.
If using frozen store bought paneer then soak it in slightly hot water for 15 to 20 mins. Drain and use. This helps to keep it soft.
You can check more palak recipes here which I have shared on the blog.
how-to-choose-palak”
- Always choose tender palak that is light to medium green in color. Dark leaves are usually less tasty.
- Do not use the stalks or stems of palak as it makes the palak paneer bitter. It also leads to metallic taste.
- I have not made this recipe with frozen spinach anytime. But a few readers have had positive results even when made with frozen spinach.
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1¼ cup paneer (150 grams) Indian cottage cheese
- 3½ to 4 cups palak (spinach) (100 to 120 grams) (2 cups tightly packed)
- 2 tablespoons oil (or 1 tbsp oil & 1 tbsp butter)
- 2 green chilies (deseeded) (less spicy kind)
- ¾ cup onions (fine chopped) (2 small, 90 grams)
- ½ cup tomatoes (deseeded & chopped) or puree (2 small)
- 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste (or 1 tsp each fine chopped)
- ¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 8 to 10 cashewnuts or 7 blanched almonds
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) (skip if you don’t have)
- 3 tablespoons cream (optional)
(optional) Whole spices for palak paneer
- ⅛ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera) (optional)
- 2 green cardamoms (elaichi) (optional)
- 1 inch cinnamon (dalchini) (optional)
- 2 cloves (laung) (optional)
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