Garlicky Palak Paneer

This is restaurant quality palak paneer. Serves 3.

Recipe adapted from Little Spice Jar.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 lb. (20 oz.) spinach 
• 8 oz. paneer, cut into small cubes
• 4 TBSP ghee or oil, divided
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 serrano peppers, seeded and minced
• 8-10 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 TBSP fresh dill, chopped
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. white pepper
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
• 1 c. whole milk or 2%
• 1/2 – 3/4 c. heavy cream
• 2 tsp. dried fenugreek leaves, optional
• Serve over basmati rice and/or naan

Directions:

1. Spinach: Fill a large stockpot (or saucepan) with water, when boiling, salt the water with a big pinch of salt. Add the spinach to the water and blanch for 1 minute and immediately drain and plunge the spinach into a cold ice water bath. When cooled, drain the spinach and press out as much water as you can. You want the spinach to be pretty dry; set aside for now.
2. Paneer: Cut the paneer into small cubes. Add 1 TBSP of butter (or ghee) to a large skillet placed over medium heat. When hot, add half of the paneer pieces and pan-fry, flipping as needed, until it turns golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Remember the paneer just needs to heat through and brown on the outside a bit. Remove to a plate, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
3. Palak Paneer: Once the spinach is cooled, add the remaining 3 TBSP of ghee or oil to a hot pan and sauté the onions and serrano over medium heat for 9-11 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Then add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring for about 1-2 minutes. Add the dill, blanched spinach, and milk and bring to a boil. When boiling, remove from heat, add this mixture to a blender and blend until mixture is incorporated and reaches your desired consistency. Then put the mixture in the same pot. Turn the stove on to medium heat and season with salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using). Allow it to heat through. Drizzle with cream and stir to combine, allow to simmer for 3-5 minutes. If the puree is too watery, allow it to cook for slightly longer; if it’s too thick add some milk or cream. It shouldn’t be too thick or too thin. When it thickens a bit, taste and adjust with salt as needed. Add the paneer, crush the fenugreek leaves between your fingers and add them to the palak paneer. Taste and adjust with more fenugreek is desired.
4. Serve: Serve over basmati rice and/or with naan.

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Garlicky Palak Paneer

Recipe by RC

0.0 from 0 votes

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 lb. (20 oz.) spinach 

• 8 oz. paneer, cut into small cubes

• 4 TBSP ghee or oil, divided

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• 2 serrano peppers, seeded and minced

• 8-10 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 TBSP fresh dill, chopped

• 1 tsp. kosher salt

• 1/2 tsp. white pepper

• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional

• 1 c. whole milk or 2%

• 1/2 - 3/4 c. heavy cream

• 2 tsp. dried fenugreek leaves, optional

• Serve over basmati rice and/or naan

Directions

• Spinach: Fill a large stockpot (or saucepan) with water, when boiling, salt the water with a big pinch of salt. Add the spinach to the water and blanch for 1 minute and immediately drain and plunge the spinach into a cold ice water bath. When cooled, drain the spinach and press out as much water as you can. You want the spinach to be pretty dry; set aside for now.
• Paneer: Cut the paneer into small cubes. Add 1 TBSP of butter (or ghee) to a large skillet placed over medium heat. When hot, add half of the paneer pieces and pan-fry, flipping as needed, until it turns golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Remember the paneer just needs to heat through and brown on the outside a bit. Remove to a plate, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
• Palak Paneer: Once the spinach is cooled, add the remaining 3 TBSP of ghee or oil to a hot pan and sauté the onions and serrano over medium heat for 9-11 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Then add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring for about 1-2 minutes. Add the dill, blanched spinach, and milk and bring to a boil. When boiling, remove from heat, add this mixture to a blender and blend until mixture is incorporated and reaches your desired consistency. Then put the mixture in the same pot. Turn the stove on to medium heat and season with salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using). Allow it to heat through. Drizzle with cream and stir to combine, allow to simmer for 3-5 minutes. If the puree is too watery, allow it to cook for slightly longer; if it's too thick add some milk or cream. It shouldn’t be too thick or too thin. When it thickens a bit, taste and adjust with salt as needed. Add the paneer, crush the fenugreek leaves between your fingers and add them to the palak paneer. Taste and adjust with more fenugreek is desired.
• Serve: Serve over basmati rice and/or with naan.