Palak Paneer

                                                                             

I have been making Palak Paneer since forever but I don't have a recipe for it??!!?? Sounds weird? What I mean is that I do not have any recipe for it, written down in my diary, which I follow religiously to make it. I just go by instinct and put it together. Of course, this time round I kept note so that I could explain everything clearly.

Basically Palak Paneer is a curry of pureed spinach to which cubes of paneer ( cottage cheese) are added. However everyone has their own recipe for this amazing dish. I prefer to keep it really simple with bare minimum spices that provide just a hint of flavour but let the two main ingredients stay in the spotlight.

Ingredients:

250 gms paneer
250 gms spinach
1 onion
1 tomato
1 tbsp cream or 1/4 cup milk
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper powder
Whole spices: 1/2 inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamom, 1 bay leaf, 2 cloves, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds.
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp butter
Ginger juliennes to garnish

Method:   Wash the spinach well. Discard the stems which are hard while retaining the soft ones. Heat water in a pan and add a tsp of salt.When water starts boiling add the spinach. Drain spinach after 2 minutes and plunge it in cold water. Sieve and blend to a puree with 1/2 cup of water in a blender.

Finely chop onions. Puree the tomatoes. Cut the paneer into cubes and place in a bowl of lukewarm water.

In a heavy bottom pan pour oil and add the whole spices, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves,bay leaf and cumin seeds. When they start crackling add the onion and saute till it is translucent. Add the tomato puree and ginger garlic paste. Stir for a minute.  Add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder and pepper. When the mixture starts drying out add cream ( or milk) and keep stirring till oil separates. Add the spinach puree and salt. Lower flame and let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Add water if required for correct consistency.  Check seasoning and finally add the paneer cubes. Mix well and close flame.Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with ginger juliennes and a tbsp of butter.

If you like you can grind green chilly with the spinach and avoid red chilly powder.