PALAK PANEER

Palak Paneer is a healthy curry of spinach (palak), fragrant Indian spices and cottage cheese (paneer). It was traditionally a North Indian winter dish but now all year through it is available in most parts of the country's restaurant menu card, and we also cook this at home not only during winter, but almost through out the year. It is so easy to cook and a favorite dish to many of us. 

Ingredients:

1. Spinach 350 grams 
2. Paneer - 200 gram
3. Garlic cloves finely chopped - 3
4. Ginger - 1" finely chopped
5. Green chilli - 2-3 as per your taste
6. Oil or Ghee - 2 tsp
7. Onion - 1 large (finely chopped)
8. Tomato - 1 (finely chopped)
9. Salt to taste
10. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
11. Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
12. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tea spoon
13. Red dry chilli - 1 
14. Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp or as per taste

Process: 

1. To a pot of boiling water, add little salt and then spinach leaves to it for about 2 to 3 minutes until wilted. Take them out and put them in ice cold water. In a blender, add the spinach and make a smooth paste and set aside.

2. Heat a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add oil or ghee, add the dry red chilli and then add the cumin seeds, green chili, chopped garlic and chopped ginger. Sauté for few minutes until it starts changing color, Then add the chopped onions and tomatoes. Cook the onion for 2 to 3 minutes until soft and translucent.

3. Add in the prepared spinach puree and mix. Also add around 1/2 cup water at the point. Once the spinach is cooked, add the garam masala, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt. Mix and cook for 1 minute. If you like you can add 1/2 tea spoon sugar also and at last 1/2 tea spoon ghee (optional). Then add paneer pieces and mix well, let the curry simmer for 2-3 minutes. 

Note : You can make this on full vegetarian way as well, without garlic and onion. Same process to follow.