Palak and Paneer both are very nutritious foods. Palak or Spinach is a very nutrient rich vegetable. It is rich in Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Folic acid and Calcium. As our previous two recipes, Spinach is also believed to have originated in ancient Persia about 2000 years ago. It is believed that it traced its way to India via modern day China and Nepal.
Palak or Spinach is shown in famous comic and cartoon character “Popoye – the sailor man” since 1931 as it shows the lead character Popoye having liking to spinach and after eating a tin full of spinach gives him instant energy to fight the negative characters in the comic.
Below is my recipe of Palak Paneer. Hope you would like it.
| Serves | 2 |
| Preparation Time | 10 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20-25 minutes |
Ingredients:
- Spinach (Palak) washed and strained – 250 gms
- Indian cottage cheese (Paneer) cut into cubes – 150-200 gms
- Medium onions finely chopped – 2
- Medium Tomatoes pureed – 1
- Green chilli finely chopped – 2
- Garlic cloves – 4
- Oil – 2-3 tbsp
- Bay Leaves (Tej Patta) – 1-2
- Cloves – 2
- Green Cardamom – 1
- Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
- Black Pepper whole – 1 tsp
- Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
- Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
- Garam Masala – 1 tsp
- Asafoetida (Hing) – Pinch
- Salt – to taste
Method:
- Blanch palak in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Transfer quickly into cold water as soon as it is blanched. Once cooled, create a paste of palak and keep it aside.
- Add garlic cloves, clove, green cardamom, cumin seeds, black pepper, coriander powder, turmeric powder and garam masala in a mixer jar and create a smooth paste.
- Heat oil in a pan on medium flame and fry paneer pieces till it has a light texture and keep aside.
- In the same oil add bay leaves, asafoetida (hing), green chilli and chopped onions and cook it till onions turn translucent. Then add the masala paste. Sauté the onions and paste till you smell the aroma of the spices and the oil separates from the paste.
- Add the tomato puree and salt and sauté for about 3-4 minutes and then add the palak paste to it. Add the paneer cubes and mix well. Add approximately 1 cup of boiling water or as per the thickness required and cook for another 5-7 minutes.
- Serve hot with your favourite roti or rice.
Tip: You can add 1 tsp of sugar in palak to retain the colour of Palak.
