Palak paneer recipe – Indian cottage cheese in smooth creamy delicious spinach gravy. Palak paneer is one of the most loved North Indian dishes that’s eaten with roti, paratha, naan, Jeera rice, Ghee rice or even with plain rice. It is very easy to prepare and can be made in so many ways. This is an easy and healthy palak paneer recipe which I finally arrived at after trying so many other recipes.
In this palak paneer recipe, I have not blanched the spinach to prevent loss of nutrients. In most Indian recipes spinach is not blanched and used directly to make dal palak, spinach paratha, palak rice, spinach omelette, aloo palak and many other recipes as the nutrients are lost when blanched.
Tips to make best palak paneer
1.Blanched Vs unblanched spinach: This palak paneer is the best I have made in the years. Not blanching the spinach and frying it for a short time is what makes this delicious. However this recipe also works with blanched spinach.
I would recommend blanching, if you have been on a low oxalate diet and do not consume spinach without blanching in any other foods like dal palak or any spinach curries.
To make palak paneer, always spinach is blanched prior to making a puree. But if you are trying to make the best palak paneer, give it a try without blanching.
I am sure you will wonder how good this tastes and completely different from the one made with blanched spinach.
2.Preserving the color of palak: To get the best color, keep garam masala to minimum in this recipe and also prevent overcooking spinach which darkens the dish.
3: Smooth creamy texture: I have used few cashews to give a slightly creamy texture to the palak paneer gravy. However you can just skip them and use about 3 tbsps cream. You can also use blanched almonds.
4.Blending: I often get queries asking about the kind of blender I use to puree the ingredients. I use a regular high speed blender. You can use any smoothie blender too.
If you do not have a powerful blender, then soak the cashews for 30 in hot water and then use. This helps to get a smooth puree.
5.Paneer: Do choose good quality paneer as it is the key ingredient in this palak paneer recipe. I use this homemade paneer which is soft with a melt-in-the-mouth texture.
If using frozen store bought paneer then soak it in slightly hot water for 15 to 20 mins. Drain and use. This helps to keep it soft.
You can check more palak recipes here which I have shared on the blog.
How to choose palak to make palak paneer
- Always choose tender palak that is light to medium green in color. Dark leaves are usually less tasty.
- Do not use the stalks or stems of palak as it makes the palak paneer bitter. It also leads to metallic taste.
- I have not made this recipe with frozen spinach anytime. But a few readers have had positive results even when made with frozen spinach.
More Paneer recipes
Paneer butter masala
Malai kofta
Paneer makhani
Easy paneer bhurji
Shahi paneer
Paneer tikka masala
Palak paneer recipe
Palak paneer recipe
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
Ingredients for palak paneer recipe
- 1¼ cup paneer or 150 grams Indian cottage cheese
- 2 cups palak or indian spinach, tightly packed (100 grams)
- 2 tablespoons Oil or butter as needed
- 2 to 3 green chilies deseeded (less spicy kind)
- ¾ cup onions fine chopped or ½ cup paste (2 medium)
- 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste or fine chopped
- ½ cup tomatoes (deseeded & chopped) or puree (2 small)
- salt as needed
- 8 to 10 cashewnuts or blanched almonds or 3 tbsps cream
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon kasuri methi or dried fenugreek leaves (skip if you don't have)
(optional) Whole spices for palak paneer
- 1/8 teaspoon cumin or jeera (optional)
- 2 green cardamoms or elaichi (optional)
- 1 inch cinnamon or dalchini (optional)
- 2 cloves or laung (optional)
How to make the recipe
Preparation for palak paneer
- Pluck only the young & tender palak leaves and discard the stems as they may leave a bitter taste.
- Add them to a large pot of water. Rinse them well few times & drain to a colander.
- Allow the water to drain completely otherwise it will let out lot of moisture while cooking.
- Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan. Fry green chilies and spinach for 3 to 4 mins until the leaves wilt off thoroughly & raw smell of spinach has gone away.
- OR another option is to blanch the palak in 4 cups of hot water with ¼ tsp salt for 2 mins. Then immerse in ice cold water. Drain completely.
- Cool this completely. Blend this along with cashews to a smooth puree.
- Optional: If using store bought paneer, then cube them and add to 2 cups hot water. Keep these immersed for 20 mins. Drain and use. Or you can also fry the paneer in 1 tsp oil for 2 mins and then add it to the hot water.
How to make palak paneer
- Heat 1.5 tbsp oil in a pan and fry cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves & cumin until they sizzle.
- Then add onions and fry till they turn transparent to golden.
- Next fry ginger garlic paste until the raw smell goes away.
- Then fry tomatoes with some salt until they break down and turn mushy.
- Add kasuri methi & garam masala. Saute until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.
- Pour half cup water and cook until the mixture thickens.
- Lower the flame, add the pureed spinach.
- Mix well and cook until it begins to bubble for about 2 to 3 mins.
- Avoid overcooking. Add paneer & mix well.
- If using cream pour it now. Switch off. Serve palak paneer with naan, roti or rice.
NUTRITION (estimation only)
Notes
- Avoid using stalks & stems of spinach as they may lend a bitter taste. Cut off each stem from the leaves.Overcooking palak can leave a bitter taste.
- You can use more spinach if you like.
If you are a beginner or new to Indian cooking, I highly suggest you to check the supporting step by step photos for best results. Step by step photos with description available below after the recipe card.
Serving suggestions: palak paneer goes well with
Indian flat breads like roti, naan or plain paratha.
Plain or flavoured rice like jeera rice, biryani rice or ghee rice or veg pulao.
Preparation
1. Avoid using stems or stalks of palak as they make the gravy bitter. Use only young and fresh spinach. Wash cleaned palak thoroughly in a large pot filled with water. I also sprinkle vinegar and salt to remove the pesticide residue. Rinse a few times more. Drain off the water completely.
If you are on a low oxalate diet then you can blanch the spinach by following the steps mentioned in the recipe card above.
2. This step is optional. Heat a pan with 1 tsp oil and saute paneer just for 2 to 3 mins. You can add them to warm water and leave for 10 to 15 mins to keep them soft. Drain and set aside. I do not add to water.
3. To the same pan add another tsp oil, then saute green chilies and palak on a medium heat.
4. Switch off when the leaves wilt off. This takes only 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook, spinach takes only 2 to 3 mins to cook. If there is any stock of spinach left, you can use up. You need not evaporate it.
5. Cool it completely. Add to a blender with green chilies. We are not going to use red chilli powder, so the heat comes only from green chilies. Mine were not hot, so I used 3. You can also add 8 to 10 cashews at this stage to make creamy palak paneer.
6. Make a smooth paste. Set aside.
Make gravy
7. Heat oil in a pan or pot. Add cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and jeera as well. Do not skip the dry spices as we are not going to use much garam masala in powder form which helps to retain a good color.
8. Add onions or onion paste. Fry until golden.
9. Add ginger garlic paste or garlic paste alone. Fry until the raw smell goes off.
10. Add deseeded tomatoes or tomato puree and salt.
11. When the tomatoes turn fully mushy, add crushed kasuri methi and garam masala. You can also add kasuri methi later along with pureed palak.
12. Saute until the masala smells good for 2 to 3 mins or until it begins to leave the sides of the pan.
13. Add half cup water and cook on a medium heat.
14. When the gravy thickens, lower the flame completely. Next add the puree.
15. Mix it well and cook until it begins to bubble just for about 2 mins. I do not suggest cooking for long at this stage as it discolors the gravy.
How to make palak paneer
16. Add the paneer. Mix well. Switch off the stove.
17. If using cream pour it now. You can skip cream is you have used cashews while pureeing the spinach.
Serve palak paneer with rice, roti or paratha.
Mita Shah says
Very easy to follow your recipe and turned out delicious palak panner, my family enjoyed it.
swasthi says
Hi Mita,
Thank you! Glad you all liked it!
🙂
Sneha says
It’s an awesome recipe. The curry turned out to be sooo yummy 😀
swasthi says
Thanks Sneha,
Glad your palak paneer turned out good.
Shari Savage says
I am speechless. For years, I’ve tried to make palak paneer as wonderful as Indian restaurants do. This is as good or better than any I’ve ever had. I am thrilled and cannot wait to try your other recipes. After the tomato-onion mixture was complete, I did cool it and add it to the food processor with the spinach mixture to make everything very smooth, adding yogurt instead of cream for the consistency I prefer, then returning it to the pan for re-warming. Beyond fantastic!
swasthi says
Hi Shari Savage,
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it. It should have tasted great!
Hope you enjoy more recipes from here.
🙂
Phoebe says
Hi Swasthi,
I tried Ur palak Paneer yesterday for my daughter’s birthday party and it was a blast.. everyone love it and all sold out… thank you so much for the details receipt with picture, very easy to understand for me, a Vietnamese also living in Singapore to follow… even my Indian friends love it so much yesterday!!
swasthi says
Hi Phoebe,
You are most welcome! So glad to know palak paneer was a blast at the party.
Thank you so much for the comment.
🙂
Jane says
I have never loved spinach through out my life. But this was simply delicious.
swasthi says
Thanks Jane
Angela says
Hi Swasthi,
I made this recipe first time a few months ago and absolutely in love with it. I grown my own baby spinach. We have been making this palak paneer every week and my family loves it so much. I have also tried your cauliflower potato and cumin rice. All turn out to be 😋. Thank you for the amazing recipes. 👍
swasthi says
Hi Angela,
You are welcome. Glad you like the palak paneer. Thank you so much for the comment!
Abijesh Chandrasekaran says
Hi Swasthi,
I prepared Palak Paneer for the first time. It came out very well, it was yummy. My wife loved it.
Thank you…
swasthi says
Hi Abijesh Chandrasekaran,
You are welcome. Glad your palak paneer turned out good.
Thank you!
Dk says
Please change your statement about frozen spinach. It is much more convenient to use frozen spinach to make palak paneer. I have made this dish many times with frozen spinach though you warn not to. Love your recipe. It turns out much delicious than what I have eaten in the most expensive restaurants. I insist you add a note about the frozen greens. Thank you.
swasthi says
Hi Dk,
You are welcome. Glad the palak paneer recipe worked out for you with frozen spinach! Unfortunately it didn’t for me. So I mentioned it. Sure! I will put a note. Thank you!
Su says
This was absolutely delish. My vegetarian friends loved this and we had no leftovers though I doubled the recipe. Blending the cardamoms with spinach made it pretty flavorful. Thank you for the recipe. Will be making this again.
swasthi says
Hi Su!
You are welcome. Glad you all loved the palak paneer. Thanks for sharing your tip! Sure blending them adds more flavors.
Akshata says
I prepared palak paneer for the first time using your recipe & it was heavenly yummy!! Thoroughly enjoyed eating! It was the best palak paneer I ever tasted!!
swasthi says
Hi Akshata!
Glad your enjoyed it! Thank you!
Bhuvaneshwari says
Beautifully done
swasthi says
Thank you!
Ria says
Hello Swasthi,
Glad to have found your blog. I am a British woman married to a Indian. We have been making a lot of your Indian recipes and eggfree cakes. This recipe is amazing & 😋 !!! I made this with paneer and grilled potatoes.Turned out fabulous. I also made my own paneer from your recipe and it came out well. My Indian husband loves anything I make from here. Thank you!
Cheers!
swasthi says
Hi Ria,
You are welcome. Glad to know you! Thanks for the comment. Indeed very happy to know the recipes have been useful. Grilled potatoes would have tasted awesome in this recipe. Glad you both are enjoying the Indian food!
🙂
pieter says
Have to try this recipe – and some others!
Five stars already for the joy of consuming your great site! Thanks.
Kind regards,
Pieter
The Netherlands
swasthi says
Hi Pieter,
You are most welcome. Glad you like the site. Do try them! Hope you enjoy the food!
🙂
Ganesan says
Hello Swasthi,
I made this palak paneer yesterday and it turn out well. My wife and kids enjoyed this dish. I am excited to prepare all your recipes. Once done I will post the feedback.
Once again thanks a lot for your great effort.
swasthi says
Hi Ganesan,
Glad your family enjoyed palak paneer!Thanks for the comment. Yes do try more recipes. Hope you enjoy them!
Sruthi says
Haven’t tried this recipe , but I have tried all the other ones and trust me I love the way you simplify and cook. It gives the chance for homemakers to substitute their ingredients even if the main contents are unavailable with your suggestions. Thankyou
swasthi says
Hi Shruti,
You are welcome. Thank you so much!
🙂
Radhika says
Turned out very delicious. Thanks for the recipe and detailed explanation.
swasthi says
Welcome Radhika
Glad your palak paneer turned out good.
🙂
Anaikya says
Very impressed with this palak paneer.. Followed the exact recipe and added more spinach. The end result was more than delicious.. Definitely is my favorite. The fact that it was healthy made eating more enjoyable. But It was just enough for 2. My husband finished half of it. Next time will be doubling the recipe and intend to add some sautéed mushrooms. Thank you for the recipe but the ingredients are not properly organised in the recipe.
swasthi says
Hi Anaikya,
You are welcome. Glad you liked the recipe. Yes mushrooms will be a great addition but the color of the gravy may alter if you cook them in the gravy. Thanks for the mention. I have arranged the ingredients now.
🙂
Sp says
I tried it. It came out tasting like in a restaurant.
swasthi says
Thank you so much SP. Glad it turned out well.
Anita Setty says
Excellent, with good , crystal clear information, very well explained, simple n inspire people to try out ur recipe, …
Regards
AnitaBalu
swasthi says
Hi Anita
Thank you so much!
🙂
Indhu says
Quick n easy
Very nice thanks for the recipe
Loved it
swasthi says
Welcome Indu,
Glad you loved the palak paneer. Thank you
Deepthi says
I made Palak paneer for the first time , thanks for your easy recipe. Every one loved.
swasthi says
Hi Deepthi
Happy to know everyone loved your palak paneer. Thank you!