Palak Paneer Recipe

 "Namaste", "Sat-Sri-Akal", "As-salamu Alaykum", "Hello"!!

Comfort Food Creator is back again with a new recipe. This restaurant style recipe is really popular across various parts of India. Presenting one of the gems of North-Indian cuisines to you called - "Palak Paneer." This popular vegetarian dish consists of Paneer/Cottage-Cheese cubes in a creamy spinach-tomato gravy. A simple and an easy recipe made with some love, always creates wonders. This Palak-Paneer recipe is rich in texture as butter and cream is added to it. 

For our readers, we want to give you a small description of what "Palak Paneer" means. "Palak" is a Hindi word meaning Spinach, and "Paneer" translates to Cottage-Cheese. This is a traditional Indian curry, which also forms a part as a star item in many Indian restaurants across the world. In this recipe, spinach is cooked in an onion-tomato gravy with some Indian spices on it. 

This authentic Palak Paneer recipe uses fresh spinach which is blanched and then made into a paste. Blanching is the process of cooking leafy vegetables by simmering it in hot boiling water for 1-2 minutes. After that the vegetables are strained and transferred to a bowl of cold water so as to stop further cooking. This is the way we will blanch our spinach.

This homemade Palak Paneer recipe has always been one of my perfect option for dinner. A recipe which has been passed down to me by my mother. It also forms a part of a healthy recipe group which is loved not only by older people but also kids. The perfect side for this Palak Paneer recipe would be a Roti, Naan or Parantha. Below will show you the process of making this dish.

How to make this recipe?

1. Firstly will take 250 grams of spinach and rinse it nicely under water. Make sure you wash the leaves nicely, as this will make sure that the spinach remains green in colour after blanching.
2. After that will boil 4 cups of water in a pot. When the water starts to bubble, will add our washed spinach to it. Will cook it for around 2 minutes and then immediately strain it. Will keep the spinach in a bowl filled with cold water, so as to stop further cooking of the spinach. This also keeps it greener in colour.
3. After that will puree our spinach in a grinder with 1/4 cup of water. Keep the pureed spinach aside in a bowl.
4. Now will turn on the flame and keep a cooking Pot or Kadahi on it. Add 4tbsp of oil and keep it at a high flame. When the oil starts to heat up, will add 1tsp cumin seeds and 1bay leaf to it.  
5. When the seeds starts to crackle, add 2 chopped onions to it. Keep it at a medium flame. Cook till the onions are golden brown. This will take 4-5 minutes. Now will add 2 chopped tomatoes to it. Cook till the gravy starts to leave oil on the sides. 
6. After 4-5 minutes, add 1tsp salt, 1tsp red chilli powder, 1tsp turmeric powder, 1tsp Hing/asafoetida, 1tsp coriander powder and 1tsp black pepper to it. Mix it nicely and cook for another 2 minutes with 1/4 cup of water.
7. Now will turn off the flame and let the gravy cool down. After 5-10 minutes will puree this gravy in a grinder. In the same Kadahi will add 2tbsp of butter. Will turn on the flame and keep it at medium. When the butter starts to melt, add the pureed gravy to it. 
8. Cook for another 3-4 minutes. We will now add 1tsp garam masala powder and 1tsp salt to it. Sauté it nicely and then slowly add pureed spinach to it. Simmer the gravy for another 7-8 minutes. Cover it with a lid and keep it at a low flame. 
9. The gravy will start to thicken. Adjust the seasoning accordingly. Add 2tbsp of cream and mix it nicely.
10. Now when our gravy is ready, will add our Paneer Cubes to it. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Mix gently and turn off the flame.

Ingredients Required -

• 250 grams Spinach
• 250 grams Paneer/Cottage-Cheese
• 2 onions chopped
• 2 tomatoes chopped
• 1tsp cumin seeds
• 1 bay leaf
• 1tsp red chilli powder
• 1tsp turmeric powder
• 1tsp Hing/asafoetida
• 1tsp coriander powder
• 1tsp black pepper
• 1tsp garam masala powder
• 2 1/4 tsp salt
• 4tbsp oil
• 2tbsp butter
• 2tbsp cream
• 4 cups water for boiling
• 2 cups water for the ice bath

Try it and let me know how it turns up. Comfort FC is always there to help our comfort food makers.
Enjoy your food and stay tuned as Comfort FC has a lot to offer to our readers. 

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@waliaharsh
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