Palak Paneer / Spinach and Cottage cheese

Palak Paneer is a delicious, hearty North Indian dish prepared with spinach and Indian cheese.Its my favorite one since my childhood.This is a very popular and served in every Indian restaurant. The creamy texture of spinach with paneer is a very good combination.

Palak paneer ingredients:

1. Spinach - 1 bunch
2. Paneer - 200 gms ,cut into 1 inch cubes
3. Tomato medium size -1 (puree)
4. Onion small - 1 finely chopped
5. Green chillies - 5
6. Ginger garlic paste - ½ tsp
7. Coriander powder - 1 tsp
8. Cashew nuts - 15
9. Salt - to taste
10. Sugar - ¼ tsp
11. Red chilli pwd - 1/2 tsp
12. Garam Masala -1/2 tsp
13. Kasuri Methi -1/4 tsp
14. Malai - 1 tbsp

Method:-

Clean and wash the spinach.
Cut the green chillies into 2 or 3 pieces.
Take a pan and heat with 1 tsp oil.
Add green chillies and washed spinach .
Sauté till the leaves are wilted.
Then switch off the stove.
Leave it to cool for 5 mins.
After 5 mins grind spinach and Green chillies to a fine paste.
Now take a pan and heat with 1 tsp of ghee /Butter.
Add Cumin seeds.After it starts to pop add chopped onions.
Fry till transulent.
Then add ginger garlic paste and coriander powder ,red chilli powder.
Sauté till the raw smell disappears.
Add spinach paste, tomato puree, a pinch of turmeric powder and cashew nut powder (if using).
Add salt and adjust to taste.Add Sugar.
Combine well and add little amount of water.
Do not add too much of water.
If you add too much of water then it spread like flooding river.
Cook on medium heat for about 10mins or until flavors combines well.
Just before switch off the stove add fried and soaked paneer cubes.
Add malai, garam masala pwd and kasuri methi and mix well.
Reduce flame, cover and cook for 2 mts.
Now palak paneer is ready.
Serve hot with roti, paratha or naan.

Tomato puree:

Boil tomato in hot water and peel the skin. Now mash or grind the tomatoes in mixer grinder without adding any water.

Cashewnut powder:

Dry roast and make a fine powder.

Paneer cubes:

Sauté paneer cubes in 1 tsp of ghee or deep fry till they are golden brown and soak in warm water with pinch of salt for 10 mins.

This is reaching Sara's Say Cheese Event