Palak Paneer - Indian Cheese-Spinach Curry

Palak Paneer is a delicious, hearty North Indian dish prepared with spinach and Indian cheese. This traditional greens based vegetarian dish 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.

I have tried various variations of the Palak Paneer curry and one of my favorites has been this particular recipe given to me by a dear Punjabi friend, Darshan.

The smooth and creamy consistency, melt in the mouth paneer cubes and the simple ingredients which go into making this dish give it a delightful subtle sweet flavor that is sure to keep you satisfied. This curry makes a great accompaniment with rotis, naan or hot steamed rice

Palak Paneer Recipe

Prep & Cooking: 45mts

Serves 5-6 persons

Cuisine: North Indian



Ingredients:

250 gms paneer (cubed and lightly fried till brown in a tsp of ghee)

3 big bunches spinach (discard the coarse stems) – blanch in hot water for 2 mts and make a paste and keep aside

1 ½-2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)

1 tsp cumin seeds

2 onions finely chopped

2 green chillis slit length wise

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp red chilli pwd

1 tbsp coriander pwd

2 big juicy tomatoes (blanched in hot water, peeled and pureed)

1 cup water (use the water in which spinach was blanched)

salt to taste

½ tsp garam masala pwd (make a pwd of 2 cloves, 1 cardamom and 1” cinnamon stick)

1 tbsp malai (top of milk)

¼ tsp kasuri methi (optional)

1 Add ghee in a heavy bottomed vessel and add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Add the onions and green chillis sauté them till light brown. Don’t burn them.
2 Add ginger garlic paste and fry further for 3 minutes. Add red chilli pwd and coriander pwd and combine well.
3 Add the tomato paste and let it cook for 5-6 mts on medium heat. Add the palak paste and let it cook further for another 4-5 mts.
4 Add the fried paneer cubes and combine. Cook covered on low heat for 3 mts. Add the palak water and salt and cook on medium heat for 10-12 mts.
5 Add malai, garam masala pwd and kasuri methi and mix well.
6 Reduce flame, cover and cook for 2 mts.
7 Serve hot with rotis or white steamed rice or rotis

Tomato Kothimira Pachadi

There is nothing more satisfying than cooking with vegetables grown in one’s own backyard. Today I used a few not so ripe orange tinge tomatoes from our vegetable garden to make a perfectly simple pachadi.

To make this deliciously tangy pachadi all you need are simple everyday ingredients like fresh firm tomatoes, coriander, green chillis, onion and the all important spice - cumin seeds. Ultimate in simplicity yet flavorful this chutney tastes best with idlis and dosas. The greenish shade of the pachadi is due to coriander which should not be overused and may play a dominant flavor but used subtly to harmonise with the tangy flavor of tomatoes.

Tomato Kothimira Pachadi Recipe

Prep & Cooking: 20 mts

Serves 3-4 persons

Cuisine: Andhra

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Ingredients:

4-5 medium sized tomatoes

1 onion, sliced

1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander (adjust)

1/2 tbsp cumin seeds

2 green chillies (adjust)

salt to taste

1 tbsp tamarind paste (optional)

1 tbsp oil

For the tempering/poppu/tadka:

1/2 tsp oil

1/2 mustard seeds

1/2 tsp split gram dal

8-10 curry leaves

pinch of asafoetida (optional)

1 Heat half a tbsp of oil in a non-stick pan. Add the cumin and let them brown. Add the slit green chillis and saute for a few seconds, add the sliced onion and saute for 4 mts on medium heat. Lastly add the chopped coriander and saute further for a mt. Remove and keep aside.
2 In the same pan, add a tsp of oil, add the chopped tomatoes and on medium flame saute till the rawness of tomato disappears and the water evaporates (approx 4-5 mts). Remove and keep aside.
3 Grind the sauteed onions, coriander, tomato, tamarind along with salt, to a coarse paste adding a few tbsps of water.
5 Heat oil in a pan for the tempering, add the mustard seeds, let them pop and add the split gram dal and curry leaves and fry till the dal turns red. Lastly add the asafoetida and immediately add this seasoning to the ground pachadi. Serve with hot idlis or dosas