Palak Paneer( Indian Cottage Cheese In Spinach Curry )

Palak Paneer is a popular indian dish orginated from Punjab( North India ). This mildly flavored curry is made with spinach(palak) and indian cottage cheese( paneer ). This is a delicious and super healthy dish. I know there are so many variations for this recipe, but the basic idea is not to overpower the dish with spices. I make palak paneer in 2 types., but this one is the tastier and easier of the two.



Ingredients:

• 1 box chopped frozen boxed spinach
• 2 big onions
• 2 tomatoes
  
• 15 - 20 1 inch paneer cubes
  
• 3 - 4 green chillies( please adjust spice to your taste, as the hotness of the chillies varies )
• 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
• 2 tbsp coriander( dhaniya) powder
• 1 tbsp cumin( jeera ) powder
• 1 tbsp curry powder or garam masala
• 1/2 tbsp dried mango powder( amchur powder )
  
• 12 cashews( optional ) or 1/2 cup cream
  
• 1 tbsp red chilli powder( if required )
• 1 cup milk
  

Procedure:

• Cook the frozen spinach in microwave for 5 min
• In a chopper or food processor chop onions with green chilies very finely
• Chop the spinach similarly
• In a microwave blanch tomatoes and puree them
  
• Heat kadai( pan ) with little oil or butter and fry paneer( cheese ) cubes until golden brown
  
• In the same pan add jeera( cumin seeds optional )
  
• Once the cumin seeds are browned, add ginger garlic paste and saute until the raw smell fades
• Now all the powders and saute for 15 sec.
• Add the chopped onions and fry till the onions are browned
• Add the spinach paste and fry until the oil comes out from paste
• Add tomato puree and cook till the water evaporates
  
• To this add milk and cook stirring occasionally
• You can either add powdered cashew nuts paste or cream at this point
• Cook till done and adjust salt and spice to taste.

Serve this palak paneer hot with rice, biriyani, chapathi or naan.

Tags: indian cottage cheese and spinach curry, indian spinach, palak curry, palak paneer, saag paneer