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Palak paneer is a popular North Indian dish of spinach and paneer (Indian cottage cheese). The spinach is cooked with aromatics, herbs and spices to make a creamy sauce, which is then mixed with the paneer. The sauce can be made with pureed or chopped spinach, and the paneer can be pan-fried before being added to the sauce. Palak paneer is typically served with rice or flatbreads such as naan, roti or paratha.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Palak Paneer |
Other Names | Spinach Paneer, Saag Paneer |
Origin | North India |
Main Ingredients | Spinach, Paneer |
Other Ingredients | Onion, Tomato, Ginger, Garlic, Chilli, Cream, Garam Masala, Cumin, Coriander, Fenugreek, Lemon, Salt, Pepper, Butter, Oil, Water |
Vegan Alternative | Tofu |
Vegan Cream Alternative | Coconut Cream, Cashew Cream |
Vegan Paneer Alternative | Cashew or Coconut Cream |
What You'll Learn
Palak Paneer is a popular North Indian dish
Palak Paneer is a simple yet delicious dish that is loved by many. The process of making it is quite straightforward. First, the spinach is blanched and pureed. This puree is then cooked with spices, and the paneer is added at the end. Some people also like to pan-fry the paneer before adding it to the curry. This gives the paneer a golden colour and a firmer texture.
The spices used in Palak Paneer can vary, but commonly used ones include cumin, coriander, fenugreek, turmeric, and red chilli powder. Some people also add cream, milk, or yogurt to the curry to make it richer and creamier. This step is optional and can be skipped if you prefer a lighter dish.
Palak Paneer is a great way to incorporate greens into your meal, and it is a dish that can be easily modified to suit your taste. It is a popular choice in restaurants, but it can also be made at home with relative ease. Whether you like it spicy or mild, with cream or without, Palak Paneer is sure to satisfy your taste buds!
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It is made with spinach and paneer (Indian cottage cheese)
Palak paneer is a popular Indian vegetarian dish made with spinach and paneer (Indian cottage cheese). Spinach and cottage cheese are the two main ingredients in this dish.
Spinach
Spinach is the star ingredient in palak paneer. The spinach is typically pureed into a smooth, creamy sauce that forms the base of the dish. The spinach can be chopped or pureed, and it is often cooked with spices, onions, and tomatoes to create a thick, curry-like consistency. Blanching the spinach before pureeing it is a common method of preparation, as it helps to retain the vibrant green colour and removes any bitter taste. However, some recipes call for sauteing the spinach first and then pureeing it, as blanching can affect the flavour.
Paneer
Paneer is a type of Indian cottage cheese made from curdled milk. It is a key ingredient in palak paneer, adding a creamy texture and a mild, milky flavour to the dish. The paneer is usually cut into cubes and added to the spinach sauce, creating a delicious contrast of colours and textures. In some recipes, the paneer is pan-fried before being added to the sauce, giving it a golden colour and a firmer texture.
Other Ingredients
In addition to spinach and paneer, palak paneer typically includes a variety of spices, such as cumin, coriander, fenugreek, turmeric, and red chilli powder. Onions, garlic, and tomatoes are also commonly used to add flavour and thickness to the sauce. Some recipes also include cream, milk, or yoghurt to enhance the creaminess and richness of the dish.
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Palak Paneer is a creamy spinach curry
Palak Paneer is an essential restaurant dish and dhaba food, but it can easily be made at home. It is also easily modified at home to become much healthier than what you would eat in a restaurant, where they often use a lot of butter or cream.
Palak Paneer is the ultimate and best-known Indian spinach curry, made with golden pan-fried pieces of paneer (cheese). It is a simple but absolutely irresistible dish that will satisfy all the taste buds. This deliciously creamy and vibrantly green dish is made with succulent paneer cubes in a mildly spiced fresh spinach sauce.
The spinach is blanched and then pureed. It’s then cooked with spices and simmered on low heat with paneer. Cream is added to cut down on the bitterness of the spinach leaves and also make it rich. If you don’t want to add cream, you can also use yogurt or milk instead.
The star of the dish is the creamy sauce, which is made of chopped or pureed spinach cooked in a medley of spices. Complementing the sauce are pieces of paneer, or Indian cottage cheese.
Paneer is Indian cottage cheese. It is a fresh cheese used in Indian cooking. Even though nowadays you can buy it at stores, homemade is superior by a long shot. It’s softer, with a much more creamy texture (store-bought is hard and dry). It’s easy to make, it’s just milk curdled with lemon juice or vinegar, then strained.
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It is a great way to incorporate greens into your meal
Palak paneer is a great way to incorporate greens into your meal. It is a popular North Indian dish of Indian-style cottage cheese mixed with a creamy spinach sauce that is infused with spices. The star of the dish is the creamy sauce, which is made of chopped or pureed spinach cooked in a medley of spices. The sauce is then mixed with pieces of paneer, or Indian cottage cheese.
Palak paneer is a simple yet irresistible dish that will satisfy all the taste buds. It is also a healthy dish, packed with nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamin C. The spinach in palak paneer is a great way to get your daily dose of greens, and the paneer provides a good source of protein.
This flavorful dish is easy to make at home, and the spinach sauce tastes even better the next day as leftovers. Palak paneer is a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides, such as basmati rice, coconut rice, naan, paratha, or roti. It is a great option for a weeknight meal or for feeding a crowd.
The key to making delicious palak paneer is in the preparation of the spinach and paneer. Some people like to blanch the spinach before pureeing it, as this can help to preserve the bright green color and reduce the oxalic acid content. Others prefer to saute or blend the spinach to retain a slightly chunkier texture.
As for the paneer, some people like to pan-fry the cubes before adding them to the sauce, as this gives them a golden color and a firmer texture. However, others prefer to add the paneer directly to the sauce without frying, as this creates a softer texture.
Whether you choose to blanch, saute, or blend your spinach, and whether you pan-fry your paneer or not, palak paneer is a delicious and nutritious dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. It is a great way to incorporate more greens into your meal, and the combination of spinach and paneer creates a creamy and flavorful curry that is hard to resist.
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It is an essential restaurant dish and can be made at home
Palak paneer is a popular North Indian dish of spinach and paneer (Indian cottage cheese). It is a creamy, mildly spiced dish that is a favourite in restaurants and can be easily made at home.
The process of making palak paneer is simple and begins with blanching the spinach leaves, which removes any bitterness and preserves the vibrant green colour. The spinach is then pureed and cooked with spices, onions, tomatoes, and herbs. The sauce should be thick and creamy.
The paneer is cut into cubes and can be lightly fried to add texture and flavour before being added to the spinach sauce. The dish is often garnished with a drizzle of cream or butter and served with rice or Indian flatbreads such as roti, naan, or paratha.
Palak paneer can also be adapted to be vegan by substituting the paneer with tofu and using coconut cream or cashew cream instead of dairy.
This is a versatile and nutritious dish that can be made in larger batches and frozen for a quick and convenient meal.
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Frequently asked questions
Palak Paneer is a popular North Indian dish made with spinach and paneer (Indian cottage cheese). It is a creamy curry and is often served with rice or flatbreads like naan, roti, or paratha.
Palak means spinach in Hindi, so Palak Paneer is made with spinach. Saag, on the other hand, refers to a mix of different leafy greens like mustard greens, radish greens, fenugreek, and spinach. Saag Paneer is less common in India and is more likely to be found in restaurants outside of the country.
Paneer is a type of Indian cottage cheese. It is a soft, creamy, and delicate cheese that is often made from scratch using milk and lemon juice or vinegar.
Yes, frozen spinach can be used instead of fresh spinach, but it may affect the flavor and texture of the dish. Frozen spinach has already been blanched, so you can skip that step. Make sure to squeeze out any excess water from the thawed spinach before using it.
Yes, Palak Paneer can be made without cream. You can use milk, yogurt, cashew cream, or coconut cream as substitutes, or simply omit the cream altogether for a lighter version.