Description
Saag Paneer is a delicious Indian vegetarian dish featuring creamy spinach blended with soft paneer cheese and a mix of aromatic spices. It’s a perfect accompaniment to naan, roti, or rice, making it a flavorful addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250 grams paneer (Indian cottage cheese), cut into cubes
- 500 grams fresh spinach leaves, washed and chopped
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, pureed
- 2–3 green chilies, slit (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil or ghee
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
- Fresh cream for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt.
- Add the chopped spinach leaves and blanch for 2-3 minutes until wilted.
- Transfer the spinach to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Drain and squeeze out excess water, then blend into a smooth puree. Set aside.
- Optionally, fry the paneer cubes in a tablespoon of oil or ghee until golden brown on all sides (5-7 minutes). Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add another tablespoon of oil or ghee if needed. Heat and add cumin seeds until fragrant.
- Sauté the chopped onions until golden brown (5-7 minutes).
- Add ginger-garlic paste and green chilies, sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the pureed tomatoes and cook until oil separates (5-7 minutes).
- Add turmeric, red chili powder, and salt. Mix and cook for another minute.
- Stir in the spinach puree and cook for 5 minutes, adding water if too thick.
- Sprinkle garam masala, adjust seasoning, and add lemon juice if desired.
- Gently fold in the fried paneer cubes and simmer for another 5 minutes on low heat.
- For a creamier texture, stir in fresh cream (optional).
- Remove from heat and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with additional cream if desired. Serve hot with naan, roti, or rice.
Notes
- Adjust the spice levels according to your preference by modifying the amount of green chilies and red chili powder.
- For a vegan version, substitute paneer with tofu and use oil instead of ghee.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes