Palak Paneer/Fresh Spinach with Indian Cheese

Palak paneer is a north Indian delicious dish prepared using spinach and paneer.It is simple yet special. 

Palak Paneer

Serves 5-6
Cooking time 45 minutes

Ingredients:
2 big bunches of spinach (Clean and blanch in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, make a paste and keep aside)
200 grams paneer(half a 14oz packet) cubed into 1 inch pieces sauted in 1 tsp oil.
2 medium tomatoes blanched(drop the tomatoes with a slit on top into boiling water,let it boil for 5 minutes,peel the skin and puree in a blender)
2-3 green chilies slit length wise
2 onions very finely chopped
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 and ½ tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp dry fenugreek leaves/kasuri methi(opt)
½ tsp garam masala
2 tbsp oil/ghee
half cup heavy cream

Method:
1.Heat ghee in a non stick pot. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
2. Add green chilies and onions. Sauté till light brown.Dont let them brown. Add ginger garlic paste fry it for 2 more minutes. Add all the dry spices except garam masala and kasuri methi.fry for a minute.
3. Now add pureed tomatoes. Let it cook for 5-7 minutes.
4. To this add palak/spinach paste cook for 5 more minutes
5.Add fried paneer cubes.Cook for 3 minutes, add water if you need to add at this point, salt and let it cook for 8-10 minutes.
6. Add garam masala ,kasuri methi and cream.
7. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Goes well with Rotis,naan,white rice,parathas.
Note: You can always substitute heavy cream with whole milk or evaporated milk.

Tips:
1.If using frozen spinach packet(16oz),Thaw spinach in the microwave safe bowl for 5-7 minutes on high with ½ cup water. Then puree in a food processor until smooth.
2.You can also add 1 tbsp lime juice at the end if you don’t like to use tomatoes.
3.Put remaining paneer cubes in a zip lock and store them in a freezer. Next time you can add them directly into the gravy.