Palak Paneer Recipe – How to Make Palak Paneer

Palak paneer that is ready in 30 Minutes, easy to make, delicious as well as healthy. Yes! a paneer recipe that we all love so much is super easy to make with this healthier recipe. Soft Indian cottage cheese in green spinach gravy is one of most popular paneer recipes on most restaurant menus. I have given this classic paneer recipe a healthier touch and I promise it is healthier than the restaurant style palak paneer .

Palak Paneer is a popular dish made across North India. Some of you also know it as spinach cottage cheese curry. But, I know most of us enjoy it in restaurants and at the comfort of our homes. This particular recipe I am sharing with you is slightly different with its slightly sour and nutty-creamy flavours. Also one of the easiest and best Palak paneer recipe that I have cooked till now.

I am saying easy palak recipe because, unlike restaurant style recipe, you do not need to blanch the spinach to make the vibrant green spinach gravy. I have pureed the spinach with herbs, nuts and a surprising ingredient that adds tanginess and keeps the green colour intact. This way, not only I can cook it faster but it is healthier too.

I have made a few changes by adding curd to this basic green palak gravy. This makes it a little more creamy with a sour ting. The walnuts are another healthy addition here, as compared to only cashews used in Indian curries. When it comes to walnuts, you already know California walnuts are my favourite :). These and thick yogurt are my secret ingredients to make a delicious and easy palak paneer curry. Also, the quality of ingredients matters too. Soft paneer and fresh spinach will make it even more delicious. Homemade paneer is best for any paneer recipe. Here’s my no fail method to make soft homemade paneer. 

Spinach is a summer season vegetable easily grown in your backyard and kitchen gardens. In Fact, I am thinking of getting its seeds right away for my small balcony garden. It is so refreshing to be able to pluck fresh herbs and veggies on your own, in this metro city multi storey life. A small patch of green has been a must for me. 

Though I  love the leafy and nutritious spinach but they still lay in the bland veggie side.  All thanks to ‘popeye- the sailor man’ I never had to convince my kid to have spinach for meals. He happily had them in curries and soups but his favorites are crispy palak paneer pakoras. Who doesn’t love fried fritters in breezy rains evenings!

How to Make Palak Paneer (Recipe Video)

Most of restaurant style recipes of palak paneer recipes are loaded with fats to make them taste good. In this recipe I have relied upon taste of healthy ingredient shine. Even if you plan to top this bowl of curry with small amount of of cream,  you are still eating a low in calorie and fat -spinach based gravy. Palak is an amazing vegetable, it is rich in iron and calcium. It has fat soluble dietary fiber which is good for stomach digestion and maintains low blood sugar. It is great for eyes, skin, bones, brains, nervous system, stomach digestion. We all know this is good for us!

I have always urged you to include paneer and eggs in your weekly diet for the required protein one needs for healthy living. Having these super ingredients like paneer and eggs with leafy green becomes a win win situation. It is always wise to add spinach to other dishes than curries. You can try some of these delicious palak recipes too.  Palak anda bhurji, kacchi kairi and palak fried rice, aloo palak chaat and Saag Anda . 

Paneer Recipes You May Like to try

• Butter Paneer Masala
• Paneer Balti Masala
• Paneer Tikka Masala
• Tandoori Paneer Tikka

So much for the benefits, this dish also wins hearts due to its perfect creamy smooth gravy with a nutty undertone. Make this invincible palak paneer curry at weekends or even for weeknight Indian dinners because it is simple and super tasty. Serve it hot with fresh cream on top paired with some crispy layered parathas and jeera rice.

Palak Paneer – Recipe Notes

• Some recipes use blanched spinach but this one is made simply with washed leaves. This helps retain maximum nutritions in the curry as boiling may dissolve some nutrients to the water.
• Make sure the palak puree is smooth to get that creamy texture.
• Use soaked cashews for this curry.
• Do not use old and sour curd it might just take the curry to taste sour.
• You can use Tofu if you want to make it vagan Palak tofu. 
• This recipe uses less and basic masalas as it doesn’t overpower the taste of the veggies and makes spinach star of the dish.
• I make this without onions you can add if you like, but it tastes better without onions.

Print

Easy Palak Paneer - How to Make

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

Easy Palak paneer that is ready in 30 Minutes, delicious and healthy. Soft Indian cottage cheese aka Paneer in green spinach gravy is one of most popular paneer recipes.

Course: curry

Cuisine: Indian, indian cuisine

Keyword: palak, Paneer, paneer recipes

Servings: 4

Calories: 225 kcal

Author: Rekha Kakkar

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup tomato puree
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
• 3 tablespoon cream
• 200 grams paneer cut in 1 inch cubes

For palak paste,

• 5 cups of spinach palak,cleaned and washed,
• 3 green chillies
• 8-10 cashews
• 5-6 walnuts
• 2 tablespoon thick curd dahi
• ½ cup of water

Instructions

1. To prepare the palak paste, blend spinach, chillies, cashews, curd, walnuts along with water to make a smooth paste. keep it aside.
2. In a pan, heat up oil and add bay leaves in it.
3. Now add fresh tomato puree and let it cook for 4-5 minutes on medium heat. Keep stirring in between.
4. Then add salt to taste, black pepper, coriander powder and mix them well in the curry.
5. Close the lid and let it cook for 7-8 minutes. Keep stirring occasionally in between.
6. Cook the masala till it leaves the sides of the pan. Take care to roast the masalas really well because this step enhances the taste of the curry.
7. Now add the palak paste and mix it well.
8. Let this curry cook for 10-12 minutes on slow-medium heat with stirring once or twice in between.
9. Add garam masala powder and cream and mix them in the curry.
10. Now put in the cubed Paneer .
11. Cook this for 5-6 more minutes on slow medium heat. Keep stirring in between as thick curries tend to stick to the bottom of the pan.
12. Serve it hot in a bowl and garnish the palak paneer curry with some cream or malai.
13. Enjoy this bright and beautiful palak paneer curry with hot crisp paratha and some veg pulao at dinner. Make a flavorful curry each day with my tasty curry’s collection for your family.

Recipe Video

If you like this recipe feel free to share it on Facebook and WhatsApp and leave us your comments below. We love listening to your feedback! You can Subscribe to Our WhatsApp subscription for Free by saving “mytastycurry” in your contact list and sending  Subscribe on  91-8368756817