PALAK PANEER(SPINACH COTTAGE CHEESE CURRY)

Palak Paneer is a yummy North Indian dish prepared with spinach and Paneer(Indian cottage cheese). This  is a rich, smooth, creamy curry where paneer cubes are cooked in a onion-tomato-spinach based gravy which is moderately spiced with Indian spices.

INGREDIENTS:

•    3- 4 big bunches of spinach (discard the coarse stems) -pressure cook 5 minutes and make a paste and keep it ready
• 250 gms paneer (cubed and lightly fried till brown in a tsp of ghee)
• 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 3 onions finely chopped
• 4 green chillies slit length wise
• 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chilli Powder
• 1 tsp coriander Powder
• 2 big juicy tomatoes (blanched in hot water, peeled and pureed)
• 1 cup water (use the water in which spinach was cooked)
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp garam masala powder
• 1/2 tsp kasuri methi 
• 1 tsp malai

HOW TO MAKE:

• Add ghee in a Kadai/saucepan  and add cumin seeds and let them splutter. 
• Add the onions and green chillies and sauté them till light brown. Make sure you do not burn them!
• Add ginger garlic paste and fry further for 3-4 minutes. Add red chillies powder and coriander powder and mix well.
•  Add the tomato paste and let it cook for 5-6 mins on medium heat. Add the palak paste and let it cook further for another 4-5 mins.
•  Add the fried paneer cubes and mix well. 
• Cook covered on low heat . 
• Add the palak water and salt and cook on medium heat for 10-12 mins.
• Add malai,garam masala powder and kasuri methi and mix well.
• Reduce flame, cover and cook for 2 mts.
• Serve hot with chapathis.

Preparation time: 45 mins - 1 hour