Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer

Ingredients:

for the palak puree:

• 2 bunch of fresh spinach 
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 5 small to medium garlic roughly chopped
• ½ inch ginger roughly chopped
• 2 cups water for blanching spinach

palak curry:

• 1onion finely chopped
• 1tomato chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp red chili powder
• a pinch of asafoetida
• ½ tsp garam masala powder
• 1 stick of cinnamon, 4 to 5 cloves  4 to 5 pepper(kalimiri)
• 200 gms paneer
• ½ cup water as required
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp kasuri methi leaves
• salt as required

• lemon juice

Method:

How to make spinach puree:

1. Rinse the spinach leaves very well in running water then discard the stems keep only the leaves.....
2. Boil 2 cups water in a pan add ¼ tsp salt to the hot water and stir then add the palak leaves in the hot water and let the palak leaves sit in the water for 2-3 mins strain the palak leaves.
3. Immediately add the spinach leaves in a pan or bowl containing cold water this method helps in preserving the green color of the spinach allow the spinach leaves to be in the cold water for a minute.
4. Then drain the water n add the spinach in a blender  jar with chopped ginger, garlic and green chilies.Make a smooth palak puree no need to add water while making the puree. keep the spinach puree aside.

Palak curry:

1. Heat oil kadai add the cumin and let them splutter add the finely chopped onions. saute till the onions become golden then add the finely chopped garlic. saute till the raw aroma of garlic goes away.
2. Now add the chopped tomatoes. stir and saute the tomatoes till they soften then add the turmeric powder,red chili powder and hing ........stir very well.
3. then add the palak puree.........stir well.......add about ½ cup water or as required. stir again.
4. simmer for 3- 4 minutes or more till the palak or spinach is cooked. season with salt. the gravy or sauce will also thicken by now.......stir and add garam masala powder.
5. stir again and then add the paneer cubes......stir gently and simmer on a low flame till the paneer cubes become soft and succulent. about 1 to 2 minutes......... switch off the flame.
6. serve the palak paneer hot with some rotis, naan or rice you can drizzle a few drops lemon juice on top.......