Friday, August 26, 2011

Palak Paneer

(Chunks of cottage cheese cooked with spinach herbs & spices)

A very popular north indian dish, a crowd pleaser & favourite in my house....

Palak Paneer (click image to enlarge)




Serves – Approx. 8
Ingredients for preparing spinach:

1.      Spinach (chopped) – 20 oz. Frozen
2.      Ginger paste – 1tbsp.
3.      Garlic paste – 1 tbsp.
4.      Green chili – 1 finely chopped
5.      Salt – 1 tsp.
6.      Cinnamon stick - ¼
7.      Green cardamom – 5 lightly crushed
8.      Cloves – 4
9.      Water – ½ cup
      10.  Baking soda – ¼ tsp.

Method for preparing spinach:
1.      In a deep container add all the ingredients together and cook till the spinach is soft.
2.      Let it cool and grind it in a blender to a fine consistency.

Ingredients for the gravy:
1.      Oil – ¼ cup
2.      Butter salted – 3 tbsp.
3.      Cumin seeds – 1 tsp.
4.      Onion grated – 1(small) 
5.      Dry fenugreek leaves – 2 tbsp
6.      Tomato crushed (tin) – ½ cup
7.      Chana masala – ½ tbsp. (MDH brand)
8.      Garam masala – ½ tsp. (MDH brand)
9.      Cayenne pepper – ½ tsp.
10.  Paprika - ½ tsp.
11.  Sour cream – ¼ cup
12.  Paneer – ½ lb. (cut into 24 cubes approx.)
13.Heavy Whipping Cream – for garnish

Method for the gravy:
1.      Heat oil and butter together in a pan.
2.      Add cumin seeds and let them sputter.
3.      Add grated onion and sauté till light brown
4.      Add the fenugreek leaves lightly crushed in your palms.
5.      Add the crushed tomato and the spices from nos. 7 to 10.
6.      Mix and cook for 1 or 2 minutes.
7.      Now add sour cream and mix well.
8.      Add the ground spinach (previously prepared).
9.      Mix and bring it to a boil.
10.  Add the paneer cubes, mix, and cover and let it simmer on low heat for 8 – 10 minutes or till the oil separates from the sauce/gravy.
11.  Serve hot garnished with heavy whipping cream.