Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is considered to be one of the delicacies in North India made of Spinach and cottage cheese. It goes extremely well with naan, roti , jeera rice or pulav.

Ingredients :

• Spinach - 2 bunches
• Paneer ( cottage cheese ) - 100 grams or as many as you like
• onion - 1 medium
• Tomato - 1
• Butter - 3 tbsp
• Bay leaves - 2-3
• Cumin Seeds - 1 tbsp
• Black Pepper powder - 1/4 tbsp
• Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
• Green Chillies - 2
• Garam Masala - 1/2 tbsp
• Oil/Butter - 3 tbsp
• Salt - to taste
• Heavy Cream - 1/2 cup

Directions :

• Boil spinach in some water for 7-8 minutes. Grind it to a paste when it cools.
• Heat butter in a pan and fry bay leaves , slit green chillies, and cumin seeds
• Add finely chopped onions and ginger garlic paste, saute till onions turn transparent.
• Add finely chopped tomatoes and cook till tomatoes are mashed up.
• Add salt, black pepper powder, garam masala . Stir well.
• Add ground palak and cook on low.
• In another pan, heat oil and fry paneer cubes till they turn golden brown.
• Now add these paneer cubes to palak. Cook it covered in medium flame till the butter separates. This is when you know that the curry is cooked.
• Add the fresh cream and cook for just another minute or two just to incorporate the cream well with the gravy. 
• Transfer it to serving bowl and garnish with grated paneer, and a small cube of butter.

Tip : You can put raw paneer cubes instead of frying them. That tastes good as well.

Note : There is a belief that tomatoes mixed with palak is not good for people having kidney stones. I would not be able to tell you how far that is true. You might want to do some research on that. If You believe so, then you can avoid tomatoes and instead add amchoor powder to the curry.

Enjoy !! :)