Palak Paneer Recipe, how to make Palak Paneer - Edible Garden (2024)

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Ingredients Instructions FAQs

Palak Paneer Recipe, how to make Palak Paneer - Edible Garden (1)Pin

Learn how to make Palak Paneer: this my recipe that’s perfected over the years by adding and subtracting ingredients to suit our palates. Thisversion of Palak Paneer contains no cream.

Today, TH turns 31. I met him when he was 24. Both of us were younger, slimmer, naive, and he really wasn’t TH back then, just this goofy funny guy who made me laugh all the time and ridiculed my Tamil. Most of that has changed now except one thing. TH’s love for Palak Paneer. When he first told me how much he loves Garlic Nan with Palak Paneer, I was surprised because where I come from, most guys don’t really like spinach. TH is neutral towards other spinach dishes but Palak Paneer, he adores. He has tried Palak Paneer in pretty much every city we have traveled to and is still on the quest to find the best Palak Paneer in Singapore.

Since we eat palak paneer so often when we go out for meals, I rarely make itat home. This one time I did make it, I used red amaranth leaves and way too much spices.Since then I’ve realised that Palak needs spices to make it less blandbut the spices need to edge it on, not overpower it and become bossy. If you are serving this with nan, the flavours need to be just right so that it complements the nan perfectly.

Anyway, on TH’s birthday this year, I wanted to share his most favourite dish and the recipe I have perfected over 4-5 trials. As mentioned, when I make Palak Paneer, I like to keep the recipe simple and don’t add unnecessary thickening agents or cream.

Browse all paneer recipes here.

Serve Palak Paneer as a Side Dish with:
Tawa Naan
Jeera Rice
Methi Paratha
Simple Vegetable Pulav
Triangular Chapatis
Vegetable Biryani

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Palak Paneer Recipe Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Serves 4

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Paneer

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of cubed paneer how to make paneer
  • 4-5 cups of palak or green spinach, packed
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 tsp of minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp of minced ginger
  • 1 tsp of red chilli powder
  • 1 tsp of coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp of jeera cumin powder
  • 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder
  • 1 large pinch of kasuri methi dried fenugreek leaves
  • 1 tsp of garam masala
  • 2 tsp of ghee or oil
  • 1 pinch of hing or asafoetida
  • 1 heaping tsp of tomato paste or 1 pureed tomato - optional
  • 1 cup of milk or water
  • 1 tbsp of plain curd or yogurt - optional

Instructions

  • How to Make Palak Paneer:

  • The first step is to blanch the spinach. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and dunk the washed spinach leaves in it. Let it simmer for about 2 mins and then remove. Puree to a smooth paste.

  • Drain the water and in the same bowl, heat the ghee or oil. Add the cumin powder and within 5 seconds, add the chopped onions. Saute until golden brown and add the spice powders like coriander powder, turmeric, chilli powder, and hing. Fry for a few seconds, taking care not to burn them spices.

  • Next, add the minced ginger and garlic and the tomato paste if using. Mix well and add the pureed spinach.

  • Top this off with the milk. Mix well, bring to boil and add the kasuri methi and salt.

  • Cook covered for about 6-8 mins until the spinach is completely cooked and spices have blended well into the gravy. Gently add the paneer pieces to the gravy.

  • Top off with a tbsp of curd (plain yogurt) if you want the gravy to be thicker. Sprinkle garam masala. Mix well and remove from the stove.

  • Serve hot with nan, roti, or pulao

Step by Step Palak Paneer Recipe:

1. The first step is to blanch the spinach. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and dunk the washed spinach leaves in it. Let it simmer for about 2 mins and then remove. Puree to a smooth paste.

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2. Drain the water and in the same bowl, heat the ghee or oil. Add the cumin powder and within 5 seconds, add the chopped onions. Saute until golden brown and add the spice powders like coriander powder, turmeric, chilli powder, and hing. Fry for a few seconds, taking care not to burn them spices.

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3. Next, add the minced ginger and garlic and the tomato paste if using. Mix well and add the pureed spinach.

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4. Top this off with the milk. Mix well, bring to boil and add the kasuri methi and salt.

Palak Paneer Recipe, how to make Palak Paneer - Edible Garden (6)Pin

5. Cook covered for about 6-8 mins until the spinach is completely cooked and spices have blended well into the gravy. Gently add the paneer pieces to the gravy.

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6. Top off with a tbsp of curd (plain yogurt) if you want the gravy to be thicker. Sprinkle garam masala. Mix well and remove from the stove.

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Done! Delicious piping hot Palak Paneer is now ready.

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Palak Paneer with Easy Vegetable Pulao(click for recipe)

Notes:

– You can fry the paneer pieces in some oil, dunk it into hot water for a few seconds, squeeze and set aside to be added to the gravy later. This makes the paneer softer. Since I used fresh homemade Paneer, I avoided this step.

– Adjust the quantity of spices to your liking. For me, these quantities work out perfectly.

– You can add a couple of green chillies to the spinach while grinding instead of using red chilli powder. I generally do this but didn’t have any fresh green chillies in hand that day.

For palak paneer recipe in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Marathi, Kannada etc please use the Google translate button in the sidebar.

Palak Paneer Recipe, how to make Palak Paneer - Edible Garden (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat palak and paneer together? ›

The nutrients iron, folic acid, vitamins A, E, and K, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which help to prevent diseases like skin cancer, are abundant in spinach, a green leafy vegetable. When consumed together, the calcium in the paneer restricts the iron absorption from spinach.

What can be made from leftover Palak Paneer? ›

Here I have used leftover palak paneer gravy to make this pulav. Whole spices and vegetables give it a flavour as well as a texture while protein packed paneer adds to its taste.

How to get rid of the bitter taste of palak? ›

Once the palak gravy is cooked, add whisked curd or fresh cream to it. This will balance the bitterness and also give a rich texture to the dish. If your palak gravy is too thick, you can add milk to it as well. This will give a bright green colour to the dish while reversing its bitter flavour.

Why does my palak paneer taste sour? ›

To prevent your palak paneer from tasting bitter, simply use young spinach which is more tender and sweeter in taste and flavor. Also overcooking spinach makes it more bitter. It only requires a few minutes to cook.

Is palak paneer good for high blood pressure? ›

Spinach. This green leafy super food is rich in folate, contains potassium and magnesium, and is full of antioxidants, all of which contribute towards maintaining blood pressure levels. Spinach can easily be enjoyed in salads or sandwiches or in the form of the much loved dishes like palak paneer.

Is palak paneer good for constipation? ›

A cup of spinach contains around 4 g of fiber, which is known to add bulk to stools and makes it easier to through the gut. To reap the benefits of spinach, include this leafy vegetable in your diet without fail. You can make palak parathas and palak paneer or add palak to smoothies or salads.

Is paneer good or bad for you? ›

Paneer is a rich source of potassium, which helps in regulating blood pressure and maintaining a healthy heart. It also contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are considered to be good fats that can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Can palak paneer be reheated? ›

In my recipe notes, I share a tempering technique I use to add an extra layer of oomph and decadence to this recipe for special occasions. The Palak Paneer can be cooked a day or two ahead and reheated. It keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Can we use palak without blanching? ›

Some chefs prefer to skip blanching to retain the raw freshness of the spinach, and that's perfectly acceptable if the taste aligns with their culinary vision. As a food blogger, I believe that blanching spinach can be beneficial in terms of reducing oxalates and retaining color and nutrients.

What is best to eat with Palak Paneer? ›

Rice Varieties: Pair your Palak Paneer with a fragrant serving of plain rice, veg biryani or spiced rice for a hearty and satisfying meal. The aromatic spices infused into each grain of rice perfectly complement the creamy texture of the paneer, creating a harmonious symphony of flavours on your plate.

Is Palak Paneer healthy for you? ›

He added, “Palak Paneer as a dish is rich in protein, B vitamins, folates, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, magnesium, phosphorous, and dietary fiber – that it can be a great addition to your wholesome diet. In fact, it's a delicious way of adding some greens and high quality protein to your daily food.

How long does Palak Paneer last? ›

In a sealed container, palak paneer will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How do you remove bitterness from masala? ›

You can add more vegetables, protein, and liquid (like coconut milk or broth) to balance the flavors. Add Sweetness:Sweetness can help counteract bitterness. Consider adding a small amount of sugar, honey, or a sweet ingredient like mango chutney to your curry. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste.

Why does paneer turn bitter? ›

There can be many factors responsible for paneer to taste bitter. If the milk used to make paneer is already spoiled it will result into bitterness. If paneer is kept outside the fridge for long it will get infected with fungus which will give it a yellowish tinch and make it bitter.

How to remove bitterness from curd? ›

Yogurt can taste very sour and to some people sour tastes bitter. To make your current batch edible add some fruit and enough sugar or honey to overcome the sour taste.

How to reduce bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

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