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Spinach Curry with Paneer Cheese | Palak Paneer

What is Palak Paneer?

Palak Paneer is a spinach curry with paneer cheese.  It is flavored with spices and it seems every family has their own recipe, as is the norm with Indian food.  This vegetarian dish probably originated in Northern India and is especially common in the Punjabi region.  It is a simple and super healthy dish to make.

Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food

What is the difference between Palak Paneer and Saag Paneer?

This is where it gets a little fun, or fuzzy, whichever term you prefer.  Palak paneer is only made with spinach as the base and is made with paneer cheese.  This is usually served over rice.  Saag is a dish of mixed greens, made almost identical to Palak, same methods, spices etc, but never has paneer cheese AND it is served with Indian bread, not rice.

It is commonly believed that ‘Saag Paneer’ is an invention in the US or some other country other than India.  Probably a chef that was getting creative or a mis-interpretation of Indian cuisine.  That’s the fuzzy part, nobody seems to know.  If you heard of a different version of the story, please leave a comment.  I would LOVE to hear more!

It all started with paneer.

Does this ever happen to you?

You are being the obedient shopper at the market, dutifully going through your shopping list, only getting things on your list when suddenly an item jumps in your cart.  It happens to me a lot!  This time it was paneer cheese.  I had no idea how it got there or what I was going to do with it but I didn’t want to hurt its feelings so I graciously took it home.

Then I googled ‘paneer’ on the World wide of web.

Palak Paneer filled my search results and that’s how I came to make Palak Paneer.

This recipe is a combination of many different recipes that I found in my cookbooks and on Youtube.  Youtube is the official research medium of this blog.  I get a lot of inspiration for Indian cooking from Chetna and Manjula.  They are my favorites!  Do you have a favorite Indian Youtube channel?  Let me know, I spend a good deal of my life on YT:)

This will be perfect with Indian Naan bread, click here for the recipe!

Enjoy and let me know how yours turns out!

Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food
Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food
Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food
Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food
Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food
Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food
Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food

CONFUSED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CHILI POWDERS? I’ve got the details in my article What is Chili Powder?

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Spinach Curry with Paneer, also known as Palak Paneer, is a super healthy dish from Northern India packed with spinach and Indian spices. Paneer cheese is fried and added to this super easy Indian curry. This dish is spicy but not hot. | FusionCraftiness.com | Curry | Palak | Paneer | Indian food

Spinach Curry with Paneer Cheese - Palak Paneer

Yield: 6 bowls
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

A super healthy and easy vegetarian curry with spinach and paneer cheese.

Ingredients

  • 16 oz fresh spinach, may use frozen
  • 1-3 chopped serrano chillies
  • 3 cloves of garlic, peeled
  • 1 Tbs fresh ginger
  • water
  • 4 Tbs oil
  • 1 block of paneer cheese, about 12-16 oz, sliced thick
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp chile powder
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground fennel
  • 1 can lite coconut milk
  • 1 tsp salt or more to taste
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 2 cups chopped tomatoes

Instructions

  1. Add the first 4 ingredients to a food processor, add enough water to make the mixture combine.Process until you get a chunky but chopped mixture, set aside.
  2. In a large frying pan or dutch oven, fry the paneer in 2 Tbs oil until brown, flip over.
  3. Cook the other side until brown, set aside.
  4. In the same frying pan or dutch oven, on medium heat add oil and onions and fry until soft and translucent.
  5. Add the spices, cook for one minute stirring constantly.
  6. Add the spinach mixture, stir and cook for 5 more minutes.
  7. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook for 5-10 more minutes on medium heat until all is hot and well cooked.  The spinach with be soft and not raw.
  8. Serve over rice.

Notes

Optional: You may melt a little butter in a frying pan, add some chile powder, fry for a few seconds and drizzle on top of palak paneer.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 217Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 613mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 7g

Did you make this recipe?

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Nora Chavez - Punjabi Desi Foods

Thursday 6th of December 2018

I heard that this was an absolutely delicious dish, and I am curious. Isnt it wonderful that there are so many ways in the world to make food. Is your recipe hot? meaning you put red pepper or hot palak? This Indian dish combines fresh spinach and ricotta in a creamy palak paneer. Use paneer if you can find it! It is absolutely wonderful with basmati rice or naan.

Tina

Saturday 15th of December 2018

Mine wasn't spicy hot. I love paneer too! Definitely serving it with naan or basmati rice for the win:) My favorite thing about cooking is discovering new foods to eat and cook. I also love the history behind them, especially if there is family story that goes with it.

Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

Sunday 29th of October 2017

This looks so tasty! I love paneer cheese! Will have to give this a try

Serena

Sunday 29th of October 2017

This sounds delish! I'm such a fan of vegetarian curries. Thanks for sharing :-)

Helene

Sunday 29th of October 2017

Always enjoy palak paneer with chapati, it's a classic in my house. However I have never tried it with coconut.

Ginny

Sunday 29th of October 2017

Thanks for explaining the nuances of two great dishes. It really is good information. The recipe also sounds amazing!

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