Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is a unique Indian dish known for its rich flavor and vibrant green color. If you’ve eaten it at an Indian restaurant, you will know how delicious this vegetarian dish can be. The spinach is cooked until it becomes buttery in flavor, and the milky paneer , when browned, is one of the most splendid tastes on earth.

One of the great benefits of indulging in this dish is that it is healthy and has many benefits for your skin and hair.

Ingredients to make Palak Paneer.

Spinach, Paneer, Onions, Tomatoes, Olive oil, Garam masala, Chili powder, Cumin powder, Butter, Red chilies.

Palak is the Indian word for Spinach, which has been used in Indian cuisine for centuries. Ayurvedic traditions emphasize the health benefits of leafy greens, including Spinach. 

Paneer is the Indian word for fresh cheese made from curdled milk. This soft and milky cheese has been a staple for Indians for over a thousand years. Paneer cheese is a versatile ingredient since it absorbs the flavour of the dish and creates a complex flavour profile. We can all thank the Indian people for combining palak and paneer, which resulted in a dish that is both nourishing and rich in flavour. 

Instructions

Prepare the vegetables: Rinse the tomatoes, garlic cloves, and onion. Then chop the tomatoes, mince the garlic cloves, and cube the onion. 

Sauté the tomato, onion, and garlic: Preheat a pot on medium-high heat, drizzle the olive oil, and add the garlic, onion, and dried red chili. Sauté the ingredients for three minutes or until browned. Then, add the tomato and cook for two more minutes. Make sure to stir to prevent burning. Add more olive oil if necessary.

Add the spinach to the food processor and spin to make it smoother and more refined. It may take a few pulses to get the spinach into a fine-paste like mixture.

Butter is instrumental to adding flavour to the palak paneer. It helps to cut through the herbaceous flavours of the spinach and adds a rich taste to the overall meal. Add the spinach and butter. Stir to mix, and cook the spinach for fifteen minutes on medium-high heat.

While the spinach is cooking, lightly brown up the cheese in a separate preheated pan. Drizzle the olive oil and add the paneer. Cook all the sides for thirty seconds or until brown. When the cheese has browned, add it to the pot and stir gently to coat it with the spinach base. Serve immediately with your favourite side-dish.

What can be Served with Palak Paneer?

Indian cuisine has a ton of variety. If you’re curious about options, then you will soon find out that there is a wide array of different options. And, luckily if you don’t want to make it at home, you can easily buy it ready-made from Indian supermarkets. Naan is a chewy, soft, and airy flatbread. It is the perfect choice for a wholesome meal.

Another great option is Roti which is made from unleavened whole wheat, a classic choice for Indian cuisine. The elastic texture of roti is perfect for scooping the gravy of palak paneer.

Basmati rice has a lovely fragrance and light and fluffy texture, which enhances the dish’s overall flavour. Jeera (cumin) rice adds warmth to every bite of the dish. It has a slight nutty flavour, which does not overpower the authentic taste of palak paneer. 

Cucumber raita will add a cooling and refreshing crunch to the dish. Boondi raita is a type of yogurt made from fried chickpea flour balls. Mint yogurt enhances the overall flavour of palak paneer with a burst of freshness.

Expert tips

Using the frozen, pre-chopped spinach is a convenient option. Avoid using wilted or old spinach, which can be bitter and slimy. Overcooking the spinach can turn the colour to a dull green, and result in the loss of nutrients, this will also alter the natural taste of the spinach.

How to Store and reheat Palak Paneer?

Cool down the palak paneer and store it in an airtight container. It can be stored in the fridge for two to three days. To keep it in the freezer, put the food in a freezer-safe zip-lock packet, which will last for up to three months.

To reheat the palak paneer, transfer the food to a pan and reheat on low to medium-low heat. This ensures that the food won’t burn while cooking. Add a tablespoon of water if the gravy is too thick. Serve when it’s hot. To reheat in the microwave, place the palak paneer in a microwave-safe dish or bowl. Cover with a microwave-safe lid and heat in one-minute intervals to ensure that it is heating evenly.

What is Palak Paneer?

This delicious and healthy dish consists of soft cubes of cottage cheese and spinach cooked with various spices. The aromatics include onion, garlic, tomato, and condiments like cumin, turmeric, coriander, garam masala, and chili. The infused flavours of milky cheese and earthy spinach create a rich and nourishing dish.

Health benefits of Palak Paneer

Palak paneer is rich in protein, loaded with iron, and packed with Vitamins and minerals. Paneer is the curdled cheese with protein essential for muscle building, tissue repairs, and overall body growth. This meal is especially beneficial for vegetarians looking for an alternative source of proteins. Paneer is also a good source of calcium, which helps with bone growth.

Palak, spinach, is rich in iron and vital for haemoglobin production. Haemoglobin helps transport oxygen throughout the body and transports carbon dioxide to the lungs to exhale. Having spinach is beneficial for those who have anaemia. Spinach has vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B.