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Home » Main Meals

Palak Paneer Recipe

Published: Sep 3, 2022 by Muna · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Recipe Video

Palak Paneer is a popular main vegetarian Indian dish made of soft and luscious paneer cubes (cottage cheese) smothered in a mildly spiced and vibrantly green spinach sauce.

Close image of palak paneer served with Indian bread.

You won’t believe how easy it is to follow this Palak Paneer recipe and how flavorful it stays even after reheating. Serve it with fluffy Parboiled Rice or soft Butter Naan bread. The spices used are what create that distinguished mouth-watering flaour and they are easy to find in stores.

Jump to:
  • 🥘 INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED
  • 🔪 HOW TO MAKE
  • 💭 COOKING TIPS
  • 📖 DELICIOUS VARIATIONS
  • 💬 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • 🍲 MORE VEGETARIAN DISHES YOU'LL LOVE
  • 🌡️ STORING AND REHEATING
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🥘 INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED

Paneer: It is cottage cheese, but they drain it for longer in India. You can get it in Indian stores. You can also make it at home using my Homemade Paneer Recipe.

Spinach (palak): I have used frozen and already chopped spinach to save time yet maintain the same flavor as the original dish. If you have fresh spinach, then read the tips below.

Green chilies: Some add more chilies in palak paneer than I did; it’s up to you but try not to skip it since, besides a bit of heat, it also adds flavor. To reduce the heat of chilies, read the tips.

Heavy cream: We won’t use much of it in this recipe, but it is essential.

Ghee: Ghee is clarified butter and adds a beautiful richness to the curry. You can buy it in-store or try my recipe for making ghee here.

🔪 HOW TO MAKE

Step 1

Add ghee to a pan and when hot, add the paneer and fry both sides till it’s crisp and has a golden exterior.

Frying paneer in ghee.

Step 2
Fry the onion until translucent. Then add garlic, ginger, and green chilis and cook these for a minute on medium heat. Now add chopped tomatoes to the pan and cook for a few minutes.

Frying tomatoes with onion and chili.

Step 3

Add all the spices and mix for a few seconds.

Mixing tomatoes with spices.

Step 4
Squeeze out all the liquid from the spinach. Add it to the tomato and onion mixture. Cook on medium heat for three to four minutes.

Adding spinach to fried onion and tomatoes.

Step 5

Keep three tablespoons of the mixture in the pan, and scoop the rest into a blender. Add half a cup of water to the blender and blend until smooth.

Blending spinach in a blender.

Step 6

Return the blended spinach mixture to the pan and cook for three minutes. Add another quarter cup of boiling water to the spinach and cook for three minutes, then add the salt and mix well.

Making spinach sauce.

Step 7

Fenugreek adds this amazing aroma to the dish, so add the dry fenugreek leaves and cook the mixture for three minutes.

Adding spices to spinach sauce.

Step 8

Pour cream into the mixture, and mix until it’s combined.

Adding heavy cream to palak paneer.

Step 9
Add the golden pan-fried paneer from step one into the curry and cook for another two minutes.

Mixing paneer in palak sauce.

Step 10
Gently stir the curry, and you’re done! You’ll have a beautiful, rich, creamy spinach curry with homemade Indian cottage cheese ready to go!

Freshly made palak paneer on stovetop,

💭 COOKING TIPS

  • When you use fresh spinach, cut the stems and discard them since it gives a bitter taste.
  • Blanch the fresh spinach leaves. Blanching removes the raw, bitter, and metallic flavor of spinach.
  • Blanch the spinach leaves in boiling water for two to three minutes. Remove the spinach from the boiling water and immediately place it in chilled water to stop it from cooking and maintain the beautiful green color. Chop the spinach and then use it as per the recipe.
  • To reduce heat from the green chilies, discard the seeds.
  • Do not fry the onions until brown, or the spinach sauce won’t have a vibrant green color.
  • It is best to fry the paneer. It gives it a golden color and firmer texture from the outside, so it won’t break while cooking in the sauce. However, you can skip the frying part.
  • You'll get that restaurant-style palak paneer flavor by adding dry fenugreek leaves (also known as Kasuri methi in Hindi).
Palak paneer served in a bowl and garnished with Coriander leave.

📖 DELICIOUS VARIATIONS

The gravy is delicious; hence, you can make variations of it and make it your own.

Make it vegan: Instead of paneer, use tofu cubes and coconut cream instead of heavy cream. Any cooking oil of your choice can replace the ghee.

Use potatoes instead of paneer: Cut the boiled and peeled potatoes into large cubes. Shallow fry them until they turn golden, and then use them in the recipe.

Overhead shot of palak paneer.

💬 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Palak Paneer?

Palak paneer is a traditional North Indian curry made with fresh spinach, tomatoes, onions, spices, paneer, and herbs.

What is the difference between Saag Paneer and Palak Paneer?

The difference between the two is simple: palak paneer recipe is an actual Indian dish that originated in North India and only has spinach, while saag paneer originated outside India by foreign chefs and at times they add fresh fenugreek in it.

Is this dish healthy?

It is a healthy dish if consumed in moderation. You can make it healthier by reducing ghee and skipping heavy cream.

What type of spinach should I use?

Fresh large spinach leaves can be a little bitter with less flavor. Go for smaller leaves or frozen spinach.

close up image of paneer palak smothered in curry.

🍲 MORE VEGETARIAN DISHES YOU'LL LOVE

If you liked my palak paneer, then you should try other amazing vegetarian dishes I have on my blog.

  • Small image mushroom and rice 2022
    Perfect One Pot Mushroom Rice (Easy to Make!)
  • Chow mein in a small white bowl.
    Easy Vegetable Chow Mein Recipe
  • Mujadara. Lebanese side dish turned into a meal in my house! Easy to convert to vegan delight by using vegetable stock. Lentils with rice topped with caramelized onion. You won’t believe how delicious this dish is until you taste it. www.munatycooking.com | @munatycooking
    Mujadara Lentils And Rice Vegan Recipe With a Video
  • Stuffed Grape Leaves Feature 2022
    Perfect Stuffed Grape Leaves Vegetarian Warak Enab

🌡️ STORING AND REHEATING

Fridge: Store the leftover in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Follow the same steps above and place it in the freezer for up to 2 months. The paneer might turn mushy since dairy does not freeze well.

Reheating: Reheat it on the stovetop in a pan or microwave it. If frozen, place it in the fridge to thaw for safety.

📖 Recipe

Palak paneer feature image 1200 x 1200

Palak Paneer Recipe

An Indian-style spinach curry with cottage cheese that’s quick to cook and outstandingly delicious.
4.94 from 15 votes
Print Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Palak paneer
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 504kcal
Author: Muna Kenny

Ingredients

  • 400 gram frozen spinach
  • 2 cups cubed paneer
  • ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste

Spices:

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon coriander powder
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder optional
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon dry fenugreek leaves

Other ingredients:

  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 medium tomato chopped and deseeded
  • 4 minced garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ginger paste
  • 1 green chili deseeded and cut in half
  • 2 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons Ghee

Instructions

  • In a pan, add ghee and fry the paneer until golden from both sides. Remove from heat and keep aside.
  • In the remaining ghee, add the onion and cook until translucent.
  • Add the garlic, ginger, and green chili, cook for a minute on medium heat.
  • To the previous mixture, add the chopped tomatoes and cook for three minutes. Add all the spices and mix for a few seconds.
  • Make sure to squeeze out all the liquid from the spinach and then add it to the tomato and onion mixture. Cook on medium heat for three to four minutes.
  • Keep around 3 tablespoons of the mixture in the pan and scoop the rest into a blender. Add half a cup of water to the blender and blend until smooth.
  • Return the blended spinach mixture to the pan and cook for three minutes. Add another quarter cup of boiling water to the spinach and cook for three minutes, then add the salt and mix well.
  • Add the dry fenugreek leaves and cook for three minutes.
  • Pour in the cream and mix until combined, then add the paneer and cook for two minutes.
  • The mixture should look creamy, but add a little hot water and cook for a minute if it is too thick.
  • Serve with rice or bread

Video

Notes

  • If using fresh spinach, cut the stems, discard them, and wash the leaves thoroughly. Place the spinach in boiling water for two to three minutes. Remove the spinach from the boiling water and immediately place it in chilled water to stop it from cooking and maintain the beautiful green color. Chop the spinach and then use it as per the recipe above.
  • How to make homemade soft paneer recipe is here.
  • This post was published in 2012. Updated with more information, new images, and a video.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 449mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 11918IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 707mg | Iron: 3mg
DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?Follow me on Instagram @munatycooking or tag #munatycooking!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angie@Angie's Recipes

    December 17, 2012 at 11:50 pm

    The paneer looks so GOOD with spinach! I bet I can prepare the tofu the same way...

    Reply
  2. Medeja

    December 18, 2012 at 9:37 am

    Oh thanks for this recipe! This kind of paneer I haven't made at home yet 😀

    Reply
  3. Vimitha

    December 18, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    I love this with chapathis. Healthy at the same time rich too

    Reply
  4. munatycooking

    December 18, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    Thanks for the kind comments ladies 😉 This dish is my number one vegetarian dish, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

    Reply
  5. foodwanderings

    December 18, 2012 at 10:53 pm

    Wow, love the colors in this palak paneer. i also saw your previous post, how to make Indian cheese. I don;t believe I ever made cheese from scratch! Superb job!

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      December 19, 2012 at 3:29 am

      Thanks for your kind words, I'm sure that When you make this dish you'll love the taste too 🙂 ... We make Paneer often at home and it is far much better than what you get in stores.

      Reply
  6. maha

    December 21, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    Delicious and creative, I'd love to try it....BTW plz visit my space n check out new FB page if u free..Hope u will ..thanx in advance.
    maha

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      December 22, 2012 at 5:47 am

      It's pleasure to meet you Maha, I'll for sure give your blog a visit. And thanks for your kind comment 🙂

      Reply
  7. Sandra's Easy Cooking

    December 22, 2012 at 11:32 am

    5 stars
    I love this! Looks delicious, flavorful, colorful and healthy! Great recipe and yummy pics!
    I wish you and yours very Happy New Year!!!!

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      December 22, 2012 at 11:39 am

      You're so sweet Sandra! Wish you and your family a happy and blessed new year 🙂

      Reply
  8. Su Halfwerk

    December 24, 2012 at 5:59 am

    5 stars
    Another wonderful recipe. Sharing it on FB.
    Thanks for posting it.

    Reply
    • Abida

      December 28, 2021 at 6:17 am

      The Palak Paneer recipe looks great. Gotta try it out soon!

      Reply
  9. Elizabeth O

    December 27, 2021 at 7:25 am

    5 stars
    I just tried this, and it's amazing! I've never had anything like it. It was really easy to make and sooo good.

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      December 28, 2021 at 7:46 am

      So glad you liked it 😊 and thanks for sharing your feedback.

      Reply
  10. April

    December 27, 2021 at 8:44 am

    This looks so yummy! Definitely want to try this!

    Reply
  11. Rosey

    December 27, 2021 at 8:40 pm

    I think it would be a great idea to make a spinach gravy. I have never had or even seen one before but it sounds so good.

    Reply
  12. Clarice

    December 28, 2021 at 5:57 am

    This looks good. I haven't tried making my own Palak Paneer at home but I guess it's worth the try. Hopefully, I can find fresh spinach in the market. Thank you for sharing this.

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      December 28, 2021 at 7:44 am

      You are most welcome 😊

      Reply
  13. Life Mag Health

    December 28, 2021 at 7:33 am

    The finished product looks really delicious!! I always love to try Indian Cuisine, I would definitely share this recipe to my Indian colleague so she can have us try it!

    Reply
  14. Anshika Juneja

    December 28, 2021 at 8:13 am

    Oh I love Palak Paneer, I make it exactly the same way.

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      December 29, 2021 at 12:42 am

      I would crave some palak paneer at least one time every two weeks 😄

      Reply
  15. Christiana Acha

    December 29, 2021 at 7:45 am

    5 stars
    This sounds like a really yummy dish. I would definitely love to try it out sometime.

    Reply
  16. Thena Franssen

    December 29, 2021 at 10:24 am

    What a great recipe. This dish always intimidated me but after seeing the video, I think that it's something I can do!

    Reply
  17. Nilakshi

    December 30, 2021 at 3:30 am

    5 stars
    I love to eat palak paneer. I guess, it's the only way for me to consume something green.

    Reply
  18. Zehraa Alam

    May 09, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    5 stars
    Made this today. Was simple and delish! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      May 10, 2022 at 3:30 am

      Hi Zehraa, Thank you so much for the kind words 😊

      Reply
  19. Jill E. Bean

    January 27, 2023 at 3:54 am

    5 stars
    Just made this with some kale and Diakon radish leaves. Delicious!
    Thank you!

    Reply

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Hello there, and welcome! I’m Muna, the writer, food photographer, and videographer at Munaty Cooking. I’m also the mother of a handsome young man. I’m from and reside in Sharjah. Oh, and there are more fun facts about me!

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