Saag Paneer: Spinach with Indian Cheese

Saag Paneer: Spinach with Indian Cheese
The recipe Saag Paneer: Spinach with Indian Cheese is ready in approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes and is definitely an outstanding gluten free and vegetarian option for lovers of Indian food. This main course has 521 calories, 23g of protein, and 29g of fat per serving. This recipe covers 42% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. This recipe serves 4. Several people made this recipe, and 204 would say it hit the spot. A mixture of cardamom pods, onion, ground cumin, and a handful of other ingredients are all it takes to make this recipe so tasty. To use up the ground cumin you could follow this main course with the Moroccan Chocolate Mousse as a dessert.

Instructions

1
Watch how to make this recipe.
2
In a large bowl, whisk together the turmeric, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt and 3 tablespoons oil. Gently, drop in the cubes of paneer and gently toss, taking care not to break the cubes if you're using the homemade kind.
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TurmericTurmeric
Ground Cayenne PepperGround Cayenne Pepper
PaneerPaneer
SaltSalt
Cooking OilCooking Oil
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WhiskWhisk
BowlBowl
3
Let the cubes marinate while you get the rest of your ingredients together and prepped.
4
Thaw the spinach in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish, 5 minutes on high, then puree in a food processor until smooth. Alternatively, you can chop it up very finely with your knife.
Ingredients you will need
SpinachSpinach
Equipment you will use
Food ProcessorFood Processor
MicrowaveMicrowave
KnifeKnife
5
Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the paneer as the pan warms. In a couple of minutes give the pan a toss; each piece of paneer should be browned on one side. Fry another minute or so, and then remove the paneer from the pan onto a plate.
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PaneerPaneer
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Frying PanFrying Pan
6
Add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to the pan.
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Cooking OilCooking Oil
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Frying PanFrying Pan
7
Add the onions, ginger, garlic and chile. Now here's the important part: saute the mixture until it's evenly toffee-coloured, which should take about 15 minutes. Don't skip this step - this is the foundation of the dish! If you feel like the mixture is drying out and burning, add a couple of tablespoons of water.
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GarlicGarlic
GingerGinger
OnionOnion
ToffeeToffee
Chili PepperChili Pepper
WaterWater
8
Add the garam masala, coriander and cumin. If you haven't already, sprinkle a little water to keep the spices from burning. Cook, stirring often, until the raw scent of the spices cook out, and it all smells a bit more melodious, 3 to 5 minutes.
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Garam MasalaGaram Masala
CorianderCoriander
SpicesSpices
CuminCumin
WaterWater
9
Add the spinach and stir well, incorporating the spiced onion mixture into the spinach.
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SpinachSpinach
OnionOnion
10
Add a little salt and 1/2 cup of water, stir, and cook about 5 minutes with the lid off.
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WaterWater
SaltSalt
11
Turn the heat off.
12
Add the yogurt, a little at a time to keep it from curdling. Once the yogurt is well mixed into the spinach, add the paneer. Turn the heat back on, cover and cook until everything is warmed through, about 5 minutes.
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SpinachSpinach
PaneerPaneer
YogurtYogurt
13
Serve.
14
Line a large colander with a large double layer of cheesecloth, and set it in your sink.
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CheeseclothCheesecloth
ColanderColander
15
In a large wide pot, bring the milk to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to avoid burning the bottom (a nonstick pot works really well for this purpose). This will take a little while so be patient!
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MilkMilk
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PotPot
16
Add the lemon juice and turn the heat down to low. Stirring gently, you should almost immediately see the curds (white milk solids) and whey (the greenish liquid) separate. Don't fret, this is perfect!
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Lemon JuiceLemon Juice
MilkMilk
17
Remove the pot from the heat and carefully pour the contents into the cheesecloth-lined colander. Gently rinse with cool water to get rid of the lemon flavor. At this point, you could squeeze out some of the liquid, and serve with some honey and some nuts, almost like a fresh ricotta!
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Ricotta CheeseRicotta Cheese
HoneyHoney
LemonLemon
WaterWater
NutsNuts
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CheeseclothCheesecloth
ColanderColander
PotPot
18
Grab the ends of the cheesecloth and twist the ball of cheese to squeeze out the excess whey. Tie the cheesecloth to your kitchen faucet and allow the cheese to drain for about 5 minutes.
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CheeseCheese
Equipment you will use
CheeseclothCheesecloth
19
Twisting the ball to compact the cheese into a block, place it on a plate with the twisted part of the cheesecloth on the side (this will ensure your block of cheese is nice and smooth!) and set another plate on top. Weigh the second plate down with cans of beans or a heavy pot. Move to the refrigerator and let it sit about 20 minutes.
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CheeseCheese
BeansBeans
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CheeseclothCheesecloth
PotPot
20
Combine the cinnamon sticks, cloves, green cardamom seeds, black cardamom seeds, if using into a spice grinder or coffee grinder and grind until fine. Store the spice mix in an airtight container away from direct sunlight.
Ingredients you will need
Cinnamon StickCinnamon Stick
Cardamom SeedsCardamom Seeds
Seasoning MixSeasoning Mix
CloveClove
CoffeeCoffee

Recommended wine: Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Riesling

Asian on the menu? Try pairing with Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling. The best wine for Asian food depends on the cuisine and dish - of course - but these acidic whites pair with a number of traditional meals, spicy or not. The Quintan Essentia Chenin Blanc with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating seems like a good match. It costs about 35 dollars per bottle.
Quinta Essentia Chenin Blanc
Quinta Essentia Chenin Blanc
A deep yellow color suggests full ripeness and complexity. Aromas of baked pear, ripe apple, hints of fresh citrus and roasted nuts are present on a complex and layered nose. The palate is richly textured revealing pineapple, tropical fruits and golden delicious apple. The finish is long complemented by a firm acidity that gives the wine length and focus.Pair this wine alongside grilled fish and seafood in general.
DifficultyExpert
Ready In1 h, 20 m.
Servings4
Health Score69
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