PALAK PANEER

PALAK PANEER

 

 

INGREDIENTS

• Spinach (palak) - 1 bunch
• Paneer (cottage cheese) 200 grams (cut into cubes)
• Tomatoes - 2 medium sized (puree form)
• Green chilli - 1
• Ginger grated - 1/2 inch
• Jeera (cumin seeds) - 1/4 teaspoon
• Heeng (Asafoetida) - a pinch
• Turmeric powder (haldi) - 1/4 teaspoon
• Dhania (coriander) powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Red chilli powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Garam masala powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Salt to taste (1 teaspoon approx.)
• Oil - 1-2 tablespoons
• Oil - for deep frying
• Water - 2 cups

METHOD

• Chop spinach leaves and wash them with water nicely.
• Put spinach leaves in a pressure cooker with 1 cup water.
• Keep them on high flame. As the pressure reaches maximum, lower the flame and let it get cooked for 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes, turn off the flame and allow the pressure to get released.
• Once pressure releases, turn off the flame and open the cooker.
• Allow the boiled spinach leaves to cool down.
• Once they are cooled down, use a hand blender and blend the leaves.
• This would make them turn into a smooth paste or a liquid.
• Keep this aside.
• Next, heat oil for deep frying.
• Place paneer inside the hot oil for deep frying.
• When it turns golden brown in color, take it out on a tissue paper or paper towel to soak excess oil.
• Keep fried paneer aside.
• Next, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan.
• Put Heeng (asafoetida), cumin seeds (jeera) & grated ginger to the hot oil.
• As they crackle and change color, add tomatoes and chopped green chillies.
• Next, add turmeric powder (haldi), red chilli powder, dhania powder.
• Allow it to get cooked well.
• As the mixture starts leaving oil, add salt and garam masala powder.
• Once it leaves oil, add spinach mixture prepared to the cooked tomatoes.
• Mix them well. Add approximately 1 cup water at this time.
• Bring it to a good boil on high flame.
• When it gets boiled, reduce the flame and cover the pan.
• Let it simmer on low flame.
• It will take around 15-20 minutes to get cooked and become thick.
• Keep checking in between.
• Once cooked, add deep fried paneer pieces.
• Cook them for 2 more minutes and turn off the flame.
• Palak paneer is ready to serve.