Palak Paneer | Saag Paneer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Palak Paneer made of? ›

Palak paneer is a classic curried dish from North Indian cuisine made with fresh spinach, onions, spices, paneer and herbs. 'Palak' is a Hindi word for 'Spinach' and 'Paneer' is 'Indian cottage cheese'. So Palak Paneer translates to paneer simmered in a smooth spicy and delicious spinach gravy or sauce.

(Note: If it is too watery, you add roasted gram flour or almond flour). Adjust the spices and add Paneer/Tofu to the curry. If you like, you can also Air-Fry or Shallow Fry the pieces before adding.

The nutrients iron, folic acid, vitamins A, E, and K, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which help to prevent diseases like skin cancer, are abundant in spinach, a green leafy vegetable. When consumed together, the calcium in the paneer restricts the iron absorption from spinach.

He added, “Palak Paneer as a dish is rich in protein, B vitamins, folates, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, magnesium, phosphorous, and dietary fiber – that it can be a great addition to your wholesome diet. In fact, it's a delicious way of adding some greens and high quality protein to your daily food.

Rice Varieties: Pair your Palak Paneer with a fragrant serving of plain rice, veg biryani or spiced rice for a hearty and satisfying meal. The aromatic spices infused into each grain of rice perfectly complement the creamy texture of the paneer, creating a harmonious symphony of flavours on your plate.

There can be many factors responsible for paneer to taste bitter. If the milk used to make paneer is already spoiled it will result into bitterness. If paneer is kept outside the fridge for long it will get infected with fungus which will give it a yellowish tinch and make it bitter.

The main distinction between these two is the sort of vegetable used to prepare them. For instance, Saag, or podium, is used to make saag paneer, a mixture of green leaves, including spinach, mustard, fenugreek, radish greens, and Chenopodium. Palak paneer, on the other hand, contains spinach leaves.

Spinach is full of oxalic acid, a compound that's also found in leafy greens like Swiss chard, amaranth, beet greens, and sorrel. In his book The Flavor Equation, Nik Sharma notes that oxalic acid is also what makes these vegetables taste more acidic when raw.

Top tip: If you find your paneer can get a bit dry or chewy when fried or cooked, you can soak it in water for 10 minutes so it retains more moisture while cooking.

Heating dries up the moisture content in the paneer and it makes it hard and rubbery. Hence after frying paneer in oil or ghee, always soak it in warm water for five to ten minutes. Then add the soaked paneer to any gravy of your choice.

Why does my paneer fall apart? ›

Paneer made with toned milk or skimmed milk or low fat milk breaks while cooking and does not set well. Do make sure that you drain the whey very well. Keeping paneer in the fridge also helps to firm it.

Paneer should be avoided during fever as during this condition the digestive fire gets disturbed resulting in poor digestion. Paneer being heavy and rich in protein and fat becomes difficult to digest. This results in poor digestion which might further worsen the condition.

Spinach. This green leafy super food is rich in folate, contains potassium and magnesium, and is full of antioxidants, all of which contribute towards maintaining blood pressure levels. Spinach can easily be enjoyed in salads or sandwiches or in the form of the much loved dishes like palak paneer.

Definitely Not a Good Option for People with High Cholesterol. Paneer is a rich source of protein but comes with a disadvantage of causing high cholesterol, and even if combined with spinach makes no significant difference. Some people may even develop allergies that stay for a longer time.

Paneer can be made with buffalo milk, goat milk, sheep milk or cow's milk. Although it is similar to cottage cheese, paneer is usually made without rennet and therefore has a different texture. Paneer is made by curdling milk with a food acid, usually lemon juice, vinegar, or citric acid.

The taste of Palak Paneer is a delightful blend of flavors. The spinach imparts a mildly earthy and slightly bitter taste, while the creaminess of the sauce balances it with a rich, mildly spicy, and aromatic flavor. The addition of various spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala enhances its complexity.

Paneer is a fresh cheese so it's somewhat similar to other fresh cheeses like ricotta, quark and cottage cheese. It's got a milky flavour and a lovely texture a bit like firm ricotta. It's not as creamy as say a brie, because it doesn't have anywhere near the same amount of fat.

Fortunately, North Indian cuisine has a far superior version of creamed spinach, enlivened with chilies, cumin, and ginger: palak paneer. Palak means spinach; paneer is a fresh cheese with a firm, almost rubbery texture.