Palak Paneer

I am not an expert in making north Indian dishes. But I like to give a try. This is something my MIL told me over phone and I tried yesterday. It came out well. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:-

1. Palak Spinach - 1 cup ( I used a box of frozen spinach)
2. Paneer - 10 to 15 small cubes (acc to your taste)
3. Tomato - 1
4. Onion -1/2
5. Garlic - 1 clove
6. Green chillies - 3 (acc to taste)
7. Ginger - a small piece
8. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
9. Salt to taste
10. Asafoetida powder - a pinch (optional)
11. Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp
12. Oil - 1 tsp
13. Unsalted butter - 1 tbsp (preferably more)
14. Whole milk - 6 ounce (or sweet cream ; can also use half & half)
15. Rice flour - 1 tsp ( mix it with 3 tbsp water and keep it aside)
    

Now thaw the frozen spinach and keep it aside. Chop onion, tomato, garlic, green chillies and ginger. Take a pan, add 1 tsp oil (can also use ghee) and fry the paneer pieces to golden brown. Keep it aside. In the same pan, add the chopped ingredients and saute until it becomes tender and a nice aroma comes. Let it cool. Now take a blender, grind spinach and the fried ingredients to a smooth paste. Preheat the pan, add butter, asafoetida powder and cumin seeds, when it crackles, add the grounded paste. Add a little water, turmeric powder and salt and let it cook for 5 mts. Now add the whole milk, rice flour mixture and mix it well. Let it cook for another 5 to 7 mts. Now add the fried paneer pieces to it. Add little more water if necessary and let it cook together for another 3 mts. When everything mixes together, serve it hot with soft rotis or chapathis.

This Palak Paneer recipe goes to BSI event, this 95th week - BSI - Paneer, hosting by Ruchika.