Palak Paneer

How to make Restaurant Style Palak Paneer Masala | पालक पनीर मसाला रेसिपी | Cottage Cheese in a Creamy Spinach Gravy | Protein Rich Spinach and Cottage Cheese Gravy

Palak Paneer is an authentic, most popular, north Indian, vegetarian, thick green leafy curry sauce consisting of fresh spinach puree and soft cottage cheese, which is cooked with onions, ginger, garlic and spiced with green chillies and garam masala powder.

Palak is a Hindi word which means Spinach and Paneer means Cottage Cheese. Palak Paneer is loaded with full of flavors and health benefits from both spinach and paneer. Spinach is a super food and packed with nutrients that help keep the body in good shape. Spinach is a fantastic source of iron, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C and K. It is also a very good source of vitamins E, B1, B2 and B6. Regular consumption of spinach helps in maintaining good health as well as possible prevention from several medical conditions. 

Paneer is very much loved food in India. It is milk based product and prepared by the curdling of milk. Paneer is rich in proteins and a dependable source of calcium, which helps in building strong bones and teeth, and also prevents osteoporosis and highly recommend and promoted by dietitian in a weight loss program. Palak Paneer goes well with Chapattis, Naans, Kulcha, Roti or even Steamed Rice or whichever way you like it! 

Today's recipe is Restaurant Style Palak Paneer. In today's Palak Paneer Recipe, good care is taken to maintain the natural color of Palak. This is again my version of Palak Paneer Recipe and the USP of this recipe is that onions are first blanched, then pureed and then sautéd as that helps a lot to maintain the natural color of spinach.

♨ Let's go to step by step Palak paneer masala recipe

♨ RECIPE DETAILS 

• Cuisine: Indian
• Category: Vegetarian 
• Course: Main Course
• Difficulty: Easy
• Serving: 4
• Prep Time 20 min
• Cook Time 15 min

♨ INGREDIENTS REQUIRED FOR Palak Paneer (Cottage Cheese And Creamy Spinach Mix Veg Masala)

• 200g Paneer cubes 
• 1 Bunch or 200g Palak (Spinach) 
• 1tsp cumin seeds
• 1tsp garam masala powder
• 2 Onions Finely chopped
• 3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 small piece ginger
• 3 green chillies
• Pinch of turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh milk cream 

♨ COOKING PROCESS

♨ STEP 1: MISE EN PLACE - Vegetables Chopping 

✒ Onions:- Peel and finely chop

✒ Garlic:- Peel and chop

✒ Green chillies:- wash and finely chop

✒ Spinach:- Wash, Chop, Blanch and puree it. (Refer to step no. 3)

✒ Paneer cubes - Cut paneer into small cubes. Save 4-5 cubes aside for garnish.

♨ Step 2: Blanch and puree onions

✒ Boil 100 ml of water. Add chopped onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Once done switch off the gas stove, remove in a colander, toss away the water. Allow it cool down and then puree it.

♨ Step 3: Blanching and pureeing of the spinach 

✒ Wash the spinach leaves and roughly chop it. Add the chopped spinach leaves in boiling water. Add a pinch of turmeric powder, as that helps to retain its natural color. Boil for 2-3 minutes. Drain the water and immediately transfer it in a colander and keep spinach leaves under running water tap. Put it in blender jar and puree it.. Keep it aside until called for..

♨ Step 4: COOKING TIME

✒ Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat, add cumin seeds, let them splutter, then add onion, ginger garlic and green chillies paste. Sauté the onion g3 paste till they turn translucent.

✒ Add garam masala, turmeric powder and salt to taste. Stir and fry for another minute or so. Add spinach puree, cream and ½ cup water , mix and simmer for 3-5 minutes. If you feel the whole mixture is getting too thick, add little bit of  water.

✒ Lastly, add the paneer cubes and mix gently.. Saute for 2-3 minutes or cook till done. Don't cover the pan with the lid.

✒ Once ready, turn off the heat. Serve hot garnished with paneer and fresh milk cream.