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Palak Paneer

Name: Palak Paneer
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 64 fl oz Whole milk, for the paneer; 2 Lemon, juiced, for curdling the milk; 20 oz Spinach, two packages; 2 tbsp Ghee; 1 tsp Cumin seeds; 1 Yellow onion, finely chopped; 1 tbsp Ginger root, grated; 4 cloves Garlic, minced; 10 g Serrano peppers, minced; 200 g Roma tomatoes, chopped; 1 tsp Ground coriander; ½ tsp Ground turmeric; 1 tsp Garam masala; 1 tsp Table salt; ¼ cup Heavy cream

2 hrServes 4$66.94

Blanched spinach is puréed and simmered with an onion, tomato, ginger, and garlic masala, finished with cream, and folded with cubes of paneer. Because ready-made paneer is not stocked at the reference store, this version makes the paneer at home from whole milk and lemon juice.

Ingredients

64 fl ozWhole milkfor the paneerBuy 1 carton
2Lemonjuiced, for curdling the milk
20 ozSpinachtwo packagesBuy 2 packages
2 tbspGheeBuy 1 jar
1 tspCumin seedsBuy 1 jar
1Yellow onionfinely choppedBuy 0.32 lb
1 tbspGinger rootgratedBuy 0.02 lb
4 clovesGarlicmincedBuy 1 head
10 gSerrano peppersmincedBuy 0.03 lb
200 gRoma tomatoeschoppedBuy 0.45 lb
1 tspGround corianderBuy 1 jar
½ tspGround turmericBuy 1 jar
1 tspGaram masalaBuy 1 jar
1 tspTable saltBuy 1 canister
¼ cupHeavy creamBuy 1 carton

Substitution

Whole milk in place of “Paneer, about 225 g (store-bought)”. Paneer is made at home from whole milk curdled with lemon juice, because ready-made paneer is not stocked at the reference store; homemade paneer is softer and fresher than packaged blocks.

Method

Bring the milk to a boil, turn off the heat, and stir in the lemon juice until the curds separate; drain in a cloth-lined sieve, rinse, and press under a weight for 45 minutes, then cut into cubes.
Blanch the spinach for 1 minute, cool it in ice water, squeeze out the water, and purée until smooth.
Heat the ghee, fry the cumin seeds until they crackle, then cook the onion until golden; add the ginger, garlic, and chile for 1 minute.
Add the tomato, coriander, turmeric, and salt and cook until the tomato breaks down.
Stir in the spinach purée and a splash of water and simmer 5 minutes; add the garam masala and cream.
Brown the paneer cubes lightly in a nonstick pan if you like, fold them into the spinach, and simmer 2 minutes.