{"id":"2ab52dea-89cd-430f-b812-08e9a8fdc1f2","url":"https://recipestripper.com/recipes/2ab52dea-89cd-430f-b812-08e9a8fdc1f2","source_url":"https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/palak-paneer/","title":"Palak Paneer Recipe","description":"Palak Paneer is a smooth and creamy North Indian dish made with paneer cooked in a fresh spinach gravy. This easy Palak Paneer recipe uses fresh spinach leaves, paneer, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, herbs and spices. The gravy has a mild flavor with a natural green color from the spinach. It is one of the most popular vegetarian paneer dishes served with roti or rice.","servings":4,"servings_text":"4","prep_time":"PT30M","cook_time":"PT10M","total_time":"PT40M","image_url":"https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/palak-paneer-3.jpg","ingredients":[{"text":"250 grams spinach (or 5 to 6 cups roughly chopped spinach)","item":"spinach","quantity":250,"unit":"g","preparation":"or 5 to 6 cups roughly chopped spinach"},{"text":"1 to 2 green chilies (or 1 Serrano pepper or 1 to 2 Anaheim peppers - chopped)","item":"green chilies","quantity":1,"quantity_max":2,"preparation":"or 1 Serrano pepper or 1 to 2 Anaheim peppers - chopped"},{"text":"1 to 2 small to medium garlic cloves (- roughly chopped (optional))","item":"small to medium garlic cloves (- roughly chopped (optional))","quantity":1,"quantity_max":2},{"text":"1 inch ginger (- roughly chopped)","item":"inch ginger","quantity":1,"preparation":"- roughly chopped"},{"text":"3 cups water (for blanching spinach)","item":"water","quantity":3,"unit":"cup","preparation":"for blanching spinach"},{"text":"3 cups water ( for ice bath)","item":"water","quantity":3,"unit":"cup","preparation":"for ice bath"},{"text":"2 tablespoon oil (or ghee (clarified butter) or butter)","item":"oil (or ghee (clarified butter) or butter)","quantity":2,"unit":"tbsp"},{"text":"½ teaspoon cumin seeds","item":"cumin seeds","quantity":0.5,"unit":"tsp"},{"text":"1 small to medium tej patta ((Indian bay leaf))","item":"small to medium tej patta ((Indian bay leaf))","quantity":1},{"text":"⅓ cup finely chopped onions (or 1 small to medium sized onion)","item":"finely chopped onions","quantity":0.3333333333333333,"unit":"cup","preparation":"or 1 small to medium sized onion"},{"text":"1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic (or 4 to 5 small to medium garlic cloves)","item":"finely chopped garlic","quantity":1,"unit":"tsp","preparation":"or 4 to 5 small to medium garlic cloves"},{"text":"⅓ cup finely chopped tomatoes (or 1 small to medium sized tomato)","item":"finely chopped tomatoes","quantity":0.3333333333333333,"unit":"cup","preparation":"or 1 small to medium sized tomato"},{"text":"¼ teaspoon turmeric powder ((ground turmeric))","item":"turmeric powder ((ground turmeric))","quantity":0.25,"unit":"tsp"},{"text":"½ teaspoon red chili powder (or cayenne pepper or paprika)","item":"red chili powder","quantity":0.5,"unit":"tsp","preparation":"or cayenne pepper or paprika"},{"text":"1 pinch asafoetida ((hing) - optional)","item":"asafoetida ((hing) - optional)","quantity":1,"unit":"pinch"},{"text":"½ cup water ( or add as required)","item":"water","quantity":0.5,"unit":"cup","preparation":"or add as required"},{"text":"¼ or ½ teaspoon garam masala (- add more if required)","item":"garam masala","quantity":0.25,"quantity_max":0.5,"unit":"tsp","preparation":"- add more if required"},{"text":"200 to 250 grams paneer (or tofu)","item":"paneer","quantity":200,"quantity_max":250,"unit":"g","preparation":"or tofu"},{"text":"2 tablespoons low fat cream (or 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream)","item":"low fat cream","quantity":2,"unit":"tbsp","preparation":"or 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream"},{"text":"1 teaspoon kasuri methi leaves","item":"kasuri methi leaves","quantity":1,"unit":"tsp"},{"text":"salt as required","item":"salt as required"},{"text":"1 to 2 teaspoons cream ((low fat or heavy cream or cooking cream) or butter for garnish - optional)","item":"cream ((low fat or heavy cream or cooking cream) or butter for garnish - optional)","quantity":1,"quantity_max":2,"unit":"tsp"},{"text":"½ to 1 inch ginger (- julienne)","item":"inch ginger","quantity":0.5,"quantity_max":1,"preparation":"- julienne"},{"text":"lemon (or lime wedges or slices)","item":"lemon","preparation":"or lime wedges or slices"}],"instructions":[{"number":1,"text":"Rinse the palak or spinach leaves very well in running water. Tender stem are fine. If the stems are stringy, then discard the stems.","section":"Making spinach puree"},{"number":2,"text":"Boil 3 cups water in a pan or microwave or electric heater. Add ¼ teaspoon salt to the hot water and stir.","section":"Making spinach puree"},{"number":3,"text":"When the water comes to a rolling boil, turn off the heat. Add the spinach leaves in the hot water.","section":"Making spinach puree"},{"number":4,"text":"Let the spinach leaves sit in the water for about 1 minute. After 1 minute, using a pasta tong, take the leaves.","section":"Making spinach puree"},{"number":5,"text":"Immediately add the palak or spinach leaves in a pan or bowl containing ice cold water. This method helps in preserving the green color of the spinach.","section":"Making spinach puree"},{"number":6,"text":"Just add 8 to 10 ice cubes to 3 cups water to get cold water. Allow the spinach leaves to be in the cold water for a minute.","section":"Making spinach puree"},{"number":7,"text":"Then drain the ice cold water. Add the spinach in a blender or grinder jar with chopped ginger, garlic and green chilies.","section":"Making spinach puree"},{"number":8,"text":"Make a smooth palak puree. No need to add water while making the puree. Keep the spinach puree aside.","section":"Making spinach puree"},{"number":9,"text":"Heat oil or ghee or butter in a pan or kadai. If using butter, melt it a low heat making sure that the butter does not brown.","section":"Sautéing onions and tomatoes"},{"number":10,"text":"Add the cumin and let them splutter.","section":"Sautéing onions and tomatoes"},{"number":11,"text":"Then add the tej patta or Indian bay leaf.","section":"Sautéing onions and tomatoes"},{"number":12,"text":"Add the finely chopped onions. Saute till the onions become golden.","section":"Sautéing onions and tomatoes"},{"number":13,"text":"Then add the finely chopped garlic. Saute till the raw aroma of garlic goes away. No need to brown the garlic.","section":"Sautéing onions and tomatoes"},{"number":14,"text":"Add the chopped tomatoes. Stir and saute the tomatoes till they soften.","section":"Sautéing onions and tomatoes"},{"number":15,"text":"Once the tomatoes are softened and you see fat releasing from the sides of the mixture.","section":"Sautéing onions and tomatoes"},{"number":16,"text":"Then add the turmeric powder, red chili powder and asafoetida/hing and mix very well.","section":"Sautéing onions and tomatoes"},{"number":17,"text":"Then add the palak puree and mix well.","section":"Making palak paneer"},{"number":18,"text":"Add about ½ cup water or as required. Mix again.","section":"Making palak paneer"},{"number":19,"text":"Simmer for 6 to 7 minutes or more till the palak or spinach is cooked. Season with salt. The gravy or sauce will also thicken by now.","section":"Making palak paneer"},{"number":20,"text":"Stir and add garam masala powder.","section":"Making palak paneer"},{"number":21,"text":"Stir again and then add the paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cubes.","section":"Making palak paneer"},{"number":22,"text":"Mix very well and turn off the heat. Be quick as we don't want heat the paneer for more 30 seconds to 1 minute. Overcooking paneer will make them chewy and dense.","section":"Making palak paneer"},{"number":23,"text":"Lastly, add 2 tablespoons of low-fat cream. If using heavy whipping cream, then add 1 tablespoon of it.","section":"Making palak paneer"},{"number":24,"text":"Stir and mix gently again so that the cream gets incorporated in the gravy uniformly.","section":"Making palak paneer"},{"number":25,"text":"Pour the palak paneer in serving bowls. While serving you can top it with some butter or cream.","section":"Garnish"},{"number":26,"text":"You can also drizzle a few drops of lime or lemon juice on top along with ginger julienne on the palak paneer.","section":"Garnish"},{"number":27,"text":"Stir and serve palak paneer hot with some roti. It also goes very well with Indian breads like tandoori roti, phulka, paratha or naan.","section":"Serving Suggestions"},{"number":28,"text":"Being a versatile dish, it also accompanies rice dishes from the Indian cuisine like cumin rice, vegetable pulao, ghee rice, saffron rice and even a simple steamed rice very well.","section":"Serving Suggestions"}],"date_published":"2026-10-30T23:12:27.719839+00:00","date_modified":"2026-10-30T23:12:27.719839+00:00"}