Palak Paneer is a creamy gravy made with spinach puree simmered with Indian Cottage Cheese and basic Indian spices. This is a simple and hearty gravy from the Punjabi cuisine.
While there are many ways of making Palak Paneer, this recipe is the simplest one can make. Ever since we got introduced to the North Indian cuisine, and following Khana Kazana, this has been religiously prepared at home.
This dish was also one of the initial dishes I shared and had a picture that was clicked in few seconds. While I still continue to click my main pictures in flat few minutes, the setup has improved over the years and I feel my current pictures are far better than what it used to be.
Konda always loved it, later when we introduced this to the boys, they loved it too. So one of the frequently prepared dishes over the weeks is surely this Palak Paneer. This greens is the only one that my boys have. So it's more the reason I repeat it often.
Though we make this dish almost fortnightly, it took me these many years to finally click the step by step pictures and a better setup. I am sharing this as part of the BM#93, week 4 Redo Old pictures theme.
- Updated 24 2018
"I yam what I yam, and that's all I yam," is one of the catchphrases of Popeye the Sailor. Who wouldn't know Popeye the sailor, especially with kids this is a very popular show on TV. This character is better known for his superhuman strength he gets on eating spinach or palak.
It is said that spinach farmers in Crystal City, Texas were so grateful for this they erected a statue of Popeye in the town and credited him for saving the then-dying spinach industry.
- source Wikipedia
The influence of such cartoon characters is amazing as I have seen my friend's son, who initially refused to eat spinach, started eating after seeing this show. He is such a great fan and forever saying his biceps have grown big because of eating spinach.
Coming to facts, spinach is a great leaf. Tastes great and easy to make. And such a wonderful dish from a simple leafy vegetable is unbelievable.
Palak Paneer is our all time favorite dish at home. We all like Spinach paneer with pulka and naan whereas my Dad likes to have this with rice too.
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Step By Step Pictures for making Palak Paneer
Palak Paneer | Indian Cottage Cheese in Spinach Gravy
Serves - 4
Preparation Time - 10 mins
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Cuisine: Punjabi
Ingredients
2 cups Paneer, cubed
1.5 cups Spinach Puree / Palak, approx 2 bundles
1 cup Onions, finely chopped
1 cup Tomato Puree
1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1.5 tsp Red Chilli Powder
A Pinch Turmeric Powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
Salt to taste
2 tsp Cooking Oil
1/2 tsp Sugar
1 tbsp Butter
Instructions
Wash and blanch the spinach leaves for 5 to 7 mins. Once it cools down, grind to a fine paste. Keep it aside.
Heat a nonstick pan with oil saute the finely chopped onions, till it turns colour. Next, add ginger garlic paste. Fry for few mins. Add few spoons of water and simmer.
Add salt and turmeric powder.
Now, add the tomato puree, cook till the puree is done. Add chili powder and cook for 5 mins.
Next, add the spinach puree. Bring to boil. Add 1 cup water. Simmer for 5 mins, add sugar and paneer cubes along with butter.
When the gravy is thick enough, switch off.
Serve hot with pulkas.
Recipe
Palak Paneer | Indian Cottage Cheese in Spinach Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 cups Paneer cubed
- 1.5 cups Spinach Puree / Palak, approx 2 bundles
- 1 cup Onions finely chopped
- 1 cup Tomato Puree
- 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1.5 tsp Red Chilli Powder
- A Pinch Turmeric Powder
- 1/2 tsp Garam Masala
- Salt to taste
- 2 tsp Cooking Oil
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Butter
Instructions
- Wash and blanch the spinach leaves for 5 to 7 mins. Once it cools down, grind to a fine paste. Keep it aside.
- Heat a nonstick pan with oil saute the finely chopped onions, till it turns colour. Next, add ginger garlic paste. Fry for few mins. Add few spoons of water and simmer.
- Add salt and turmeric powder.
- Now, add the tomato puree, cook till the puree is done. Add chili powder and cook for 5 mins.
- Next, add the spinach puree. Bring to boil. Add 1 cup water. Simmer for 5 mins, add sugar and paneer cubes along with butter.
- When the gravy is thick enough, switch off.
- Serve hot with pulkas.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM
Richa says
looks so tasty 🙂 will take paneer anytime 🙂
archana says
Love palak paneer, more so becoz there is paneer in it. I don't like palak so much. Yours is a good recipe 🙂
Seema says
yummy yummy and very great for tummy. Palak is so very delicious plus very very healthy. Curry looks buttery and yummy.
Suganya says
RCI entry already??!! Now this is called planning..
Cynthia says
Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving kind comments. They are deeply appreciated.
I was just looking at the coconut-milk rice on your blog, my mom loves that dish very much, she calls it shine rice 🙂 I don't know, maybe the coconut milk and oils from it makes the rice shine.
I've added your blog to my feeds.
Sharmi says
palak paneer is my favorite!
Srivalli says
Me too Richa
Thanks archana..do try this method, will like it
yes Seema and thanks for dropping by
Thanks Suganya
Thank you Cynthia for your comments. Your cookies and cakes looked ultimate and thanks for adding me. Its a honour
Good for you Sharmi...am sure we can expect a spread of punjabi feast from you this time
Anonymous says
you forgot to mention when to put panneer !!!
Srivalli says
Anon thank you for pointing it out, I was checking who would point it out..:)..but seriously thanks for the efforts!
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says
Palak paneer is something that I make almost every week for myself. I am yet to get the girls to love this green deliciousness... 🙁 Your palak paneer looks so tempting, would love to pick up that naan and dip in straight away!
gayathriraani says
I could make Sruit eat palak as a simple kadasal, but she never ate this . She would pick out the paneer and let the gravy be. But this is my fav way of eating spinach. With naan or other flat bread this would taste yum..
Sharmila says
That looks so awesome! I have tried many palak paneer recipes, but not at all satisfied. Will try your recipe and update how it turned out..
harini says
Looks good, Valli. I make palak paneer often as well. Like you mentioned, never get enough time to click pictures for a redo post 🙂
Pavani says
I love Palak Paneer - such a classic and easy to make dish. Always a hit with everyone.
code2cook says
palak paneer in winters taste more awesome then in any other time during a year. so creamy and perfectly cooked look, feels like having it with paratha now itself.
Sushma Pinjala says
Palak Paneer looks amazing. This is one dish which i always make for my veggi friends.
Annapurnaz says
Palak paneer is a family favourite. In summers, my palak either goes in pakoras or for making this palak paneer. Healthy and delicious
Priya Suresh says
I always love to have some rotis with palak paneer, its been a while i made them,you are tempting me to make some soon. Healthy and inviting side dish..
Nalini says
Tempting palak paneer,I make often but never get a chance to click and post.
chefmireille says
one of my all time veg Indian dishes - looks so good with perfect nice and creamy consistency
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I also realized that the most often made recipe is the last to be clicked and paid attention. I also recently updated my palak paneer recipe. It is one of my favorite. Looks so tempting!
themadscientistskitchen says
One of the most common dishes in an Indian kitchen Valli and most neglected 😀 I d love your pics now Valli deliciously done.
Simply Tadka says
Palak Paneer is one of mine family fav.. its look so yum and rich gravy.