Quick and Easy Palak Paneer

I have not been to India yet but it is high on my list of places to visit. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t driven by my love for Indian food. One of my favorite Indian dishes is Palak Paneer, a vegetarian curry featuring paneer cheese in a creamy spinach sauce. I have tried a few recipes and have come up with a dish that is quick and easy without compromising the flavors. Pending the amount of cream and cheese used, this dish is a quick and healthy meal that is also cheap to make. Give it a go.

Quick and Easy Palak Paneer

Before you Start:

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Serves: 6

To make things easier:

– Small food processor
– Blender

Ingredients:

Spices and other

5 Tablespoons Olive oil
2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
1.5 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon paprika 
Course Salt to taste

Veggies

4 bunches of spinach
1 med-large onion
1 medium tomato
12 cilantro springs
1.5 inch piece of ginger (peeled)
3 garlic cloves

Protein

1 cup sour cream
8 ounces paneer cheese, cut into cubes (sub ricotta if you can not find paneer)

Carbs

1.5 cups basmati rice or naan (flat bread)

Directions:

1. Get your rice going then chop stems off spinach and place leaves in strainer. Rinse and set aside to drain. Note: You can buy pre-washed and cut spinach but is significantly more expensive.

2. In small food processor combine onion, garlic, and 1 inch of ginger root. Chop chop.

3. In a large pan heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil then add onion/garlic/ginger mixture and cook until brown.

4. Add spices then sour cream. Mix until color is consistent.

5. Add spinach, a couple handfuls at a time until it wilts and cooks down. Repeat with remaining spinach – about 10 minutes in total. – Be sure spinach is drained. You can squeeze the water out as you add to pan if water remains

6. Remove spinach mixture from heat and allow to cool. 5 minutes or so.

7. Meanwhile heat remaining olive oil in frying pan over medium heat. Add cheese and cook until brown.

8. Place tomato, remaining ginger, and 10 or so springs of cilantro in blender. Add spinach mixture once cooled and blend until the spinach is chopped.

9. Pour mixture back into the saucepan and warm up over low heat. Add fried cheese and salt to taste.

10. Server over rice and top with remaining cilantro springs.

11. Easy Palak Paneer right? Enjoy!

 UPDATE:

If you have a hard time finding paneer it is apparently very easy to make. All you need is whole milk, a lemon, and cheese cloth:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Paneer-%28Indian-Cheese%29

I have not tried this so if anyone is feeling adventurous I would love to hear how it goes.