Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Matar Paneer aur Palak Saag - Creamy Spinach and peas curry with Indian cottage cheese


Palak or Spinach is one of the favorite greens and is loved by everyone . Every week , I prepare some or the other dish with Spinach.  Some days, it is Palak roti/Spinach paratha  or Palak Pulao or Palak waali Dal or Palak raita. Lately, I have been making a delicious curry "Matar Paneer and Palak Saag" , that has become my family's favorite. It's creamy, delicious and has a restaurant style taste to it. Pair it with your favorite Indian flat bread, you are sure to have a great meal:)






INGREDIENTS:
Note: All measurements are based on the US measuring cup and spoon sizes where 1 cup = 235 ml
  • Spinach / Palak (cleaned, washed and stems removed) : 6 cups  (about 200 grams)
  • Green Peas (fresh or frozen) : 1/2 cup
  • Paneer / Indian cottage cheese (grated) : 1.5 cups (SEE NOTES)
  • Onion (chopped) : 1 cup
  • Tomato (pureed or diced) : 1/2 cup
  • Ginger (grated) : 1.5 tbsp
  • Garlic (finely chopped) : 1.5 tbsp
  • Green chillies (small variety) : 1 (adjust according to taste)
  • Green cardamom / Elaichi : 3
  • Cinnamon / dal chini : 2 inch (broken in to pieces)
  • Cloves / lavang : 5
  • Cumin seeds / Jeera : 1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder / haldi : 1/2 tsp
  • Red chilli powder / paprika : 1/2 tsp (adjust according to taste)
  • Coriander powder / Dhania powder : 1 tsp
  • Garam masala : 1 tsp
  • Kasoori Methi (dried fenugreek leaves) : 1 tbsp
  • Evaporated milk : 1 cup
  • Sugar : 1 pinch
  • Oil : 1 tbsp
  • Salt as per taste.
PROCEDURE:
  • Heat water in a large pot. Once it starts boiling, add the washed spinach leaves. Cook for a couple of minutes. Drain the hot water and run some cold water through the leaves. This step is essential to retain the color of the spinach. Set aside.



  • Heat 1 tbsp oil in a deep bottomed pan. When hot, add the cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves and cumin seeds. Once the cumin seeds start to splutter, add the onions, grated ginger, grated garlic and chopped green chillies. Cook until the onions turn translucent.



  • Add the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add the turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder and garam masala. Cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat. 


  • Once the mixture has cooled down a bit, grind this mixture along with evaporated milk in to a smooth paste.




  • Now, add the blanched spinach to the above ground mixture and grind it coarsely .

  • Heat a pan and add the ground spinach mixture.Add the peas, grated paneer, salt and pinch of sugar. Lastly, take Kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves). Rub them between your two palms and then add to the gravy. Cook the mixture for 10 minutes.





  • Serve Matar Paneer  and Palak saag with the flat bread of your choice.
NOTE:
  • I have used VERKA brand paneer that I bought from COSTCO. This paneer is very firm and shreds really well (I shredded it thick). If using paneer that is very soft, you can chop the paneer into small pieces or cubes (instead of shredding).
  • Evaporated milk is nothing but reduced milk with no sugar added. You can make it at home too. Take about 2 1/4 cup of regular milk. Simmer it until it reduces to 1 cup.
  • You can substitute 1 cup of evaporated milk with 3/4 cup full fat milk and 1/4 cup cream.

24 comments:

  1. Loooove the recipe!
    The addition of condensed milk must have given it a nice creamy smoothness!
    It looks beautiful and healthy too!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks puneet. I have added evaporated milk and not condensed milk. Condensed milk will be too sweet. I have used evaporated milk to replace cream. Thanks for writing:)

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  2. That looks so creamy and tempting. Loved it!

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  3. Looks delicious, I too use spinach regularly

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  4. great way to include two greens in our diet...

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  5. I love the combination you used here.. Matar,panner and palak... seems delicious... I am gona try this for sure....

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  6. Ohlalala!! I can scoop the gravy and eat just like that.

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  7. Wow...this sounds super healthy and delicious... :)

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  8. What a luscious, super rich and creamy gravy..totally drooling!!

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  9. very nice and delicious inviting matar paneer palak saag..Shubha .well explained ...recipe...to follow...

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  10. Wow Shubha this matar paneer and palak is looking really awesome. Beautiful pictures. Love it

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  11. Yumm..., you combined two popular punjabi recipes, I would love to try, Shubha.

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  12. Looks so inviting and delicious..loved the addition of using milk it it. I would love to try soon, Shubha

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  13. Wow! Fantastic share, Shubha. Love the addition of evaporated milk to the curry. I bet it must have added a rich and classic touch!

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  14. Evaporated milk gives a great texture to the curry.. Looks so creamy, can scoop it and eat it right away!

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  15. That looks really enticing, Meri.Pinning to try later.

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  16. This is such a delightful recipe.. me and my family loves spinach and would live to give this version a try.. I have to say I have neverseen or heard someone using evaporated mik.. good one!

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  17. What a delicious and healthy curry recipe, great way to include so many greens in one go.

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