Palak Paneer
Palak paneer or Palak Chhena is an Indian dish consisting of chhena or paneer in a thick paste made from puréed spinach, called palak in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and other Indian languages. The terms palak chhena and saag chhena are sometimes used interchangeably in restaurants.
Region:
India
Main Ingredients:
Spinach, paneer/chhena, onions chopped
Variations:
Open to your imagination
Serving Size:
4 x Adult sized portions
Prep Time:
10 Mins
Cooking Time:
20 Mins
Total Time:
30 Mins
Recommended Spice Level:
Medium to Mild
Recipe Ingredients:
Spinach Puree:
250 g spinach (only leaves)
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 bay leaf
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1” fresh ginger, chopped
2 green chilies, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium tomatoes, chopped
Palak Paneer:
2 tsp oil
1/2 tsp ground turmeric (turmeric powder)
1/2 tsp ground cumin (cumin powder)
1/2 tsp ground coriander (coriander powder)
1 tsp red chili powder
2 tbsp fresh cream (or yogurt or cashew nut paste)
1/4 tsp garam masala
225 g paneer (Indian cottage cheese), cubed
Salt to taste
Recipe Method:
Spinach Puree:
Into a pot of salted boiling water, add spinach leaves and blanch for 1-2 minutes. Transfer blanched spinach into chilled water set in another bowl. This will stop the cooking process. Set aside.
Meanwhile heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add bay leaf and cumin seeds. Sauté until the seeds splutter. Add garlic, ginger and green chilies. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. Add onions. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or until onions turn light brown. Add tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or until tomatoes are mushy. Remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly.
Place this mixture in a food processor along with blanched spinach. Process to a smooth purée.
Palak Paneer:
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add ground turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander and red chili powder. Stir fry for a minute. Add spinach purée. Stir to combine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add cream. Stir to combine. Add garam masala. Season with salt. Simmer for another 2 minutes. Add paneer. Cook, covered, for 2 minutes.
Nutritional Information:
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 222
Total Fat: 23g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 47mg
Sodium: 638mg
Carbohydrates: 11g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 5g
Protein: 14g