Vegetarian Recipes - Palak Paneer (spinach and cottage cheese)

Vegetarian Recipes - Palak Paneer (spinach and cottage cheese)

Another hot favorite North Indian dish! This mildly flavored dish is super healthy too. If Paneer is not on hand or you want a dairy-free option you can also use tofu or veggies like cauliflower or potato.

Ingredients:

* 500 gms Paneer (look below for recipe to make your own Paneer)
* 2 medium-sized bunches of fresh spinach
* 1/2 bunch fresh fenugreek leaves
* 4 tbsps vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil
* 1 large onion chopped fine
* 1 large tomato diced
* 2 tsps garlic paste
* 1 tsp ginger paste
* 2 tsps coriander powder
* 1 tsp cumin powder
* 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
* 1 tsp garam masala powder
* Salt to taste
* 1 tbsp of butter to garnish

Preparation:

* Cut the paneer into 1" cubes. Heat 2 tbsps of oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and stir-fry the paneer till golden. Remove and drain on paper towels. Keep aside.
* Add 2 tbsps of oil to the same pan and fry the onions in it till soft.
* Add the ginger and garlic pastes and fry for a minute.
* Add the spinach, fenugreek leaves, tomato, coriander, cumin, turmeric and garam masala powders and mix well. Add salt to taste and mix well.
* Cook till the spinach and fenugreek leaves are soft and like pulp. Mash well into a rough paste. If you prefer, you can also blend this paste in the food processor to get a smoother consistency.
* Add the previously fried paneer cubes to this gravy and mix to coat the pieces.
* Garnish with butter and serve hot with Chapatis (Indian flatbread), parathas (pan-fried Indian flatbread) or Makki Ki Roti (pan-fried maize bread).