Palak Paneer is a famous Indian dish made with soft paneer cubes (Indian cottage cheese) cooked in a creamy spinach sauce. It’s healthy, delicious, and packed with nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamin C.
This is my family’s recipe, passed down from my mom, and it’s one of our all-time favorites. You can enjoy this dish with roti, naan, paratha, or even rice like cumin rice or ghee rice.
🌿 Ingredients
- 250 grams spinach (palak) – fresh
- 200–250 grams paneer (Indian cottage cheese)
- 1 inch ginger – chopped
- 1–2 garlic cloves
- 1–2 green chilies – adjust to taste
- ⅓ cup onions – finely chopped (1 small/medium onion)
- ⅓ cup tomatoes – chopped (1 small/medium tomato)
- 2 tablespoons oil, ghee, or butter
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 small bay leaf (tej patta)
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic (for sautéing)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder (or paprika/cayenne)
- A pinch of asafoetida (hing) – optional
- Salt to taste
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon garam masala
- 2 tablespoons cream (or 1 tablespoon heavy cream)
- 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) – optional
🥬 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Blanch and Purée the Spinach
- Rinse the spinach leaves well using a colander or strainer.
- Boil 3 cups of water and add ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Add the spinach to the hot water and leave it for 1 minute.
(Turn off the heat or remove the pan from the stove.) - Prepare ice-cold water in a separate bowl (use 8–10 ice cubes in 3 cups water).
- After 1 minute, drain the spinach and put it into the ice-cold water.
(This keeps the green color bright.) - After another minute, drain the spinach again and press out any extra water.
- Blend the spinach with ginger, garlic, and green chilies into a smooth purée.
(No water needed while blending.)
Set the purée aside.
Step 2: Make the Gravy
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil, ghee, or butter in a pan.
(If using butter, melt it on low heat—don’t let it brown.) - Add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and let them splutter.
- Add 1 bay leaf (tej patta).
- Add chopped onions and sauté until golden brown.
- Add 1 teaspoon chopped garlic. Cook just until the raw smell goes away.
- Add chopped tomatoes and cook until soft.
- When you see oil separating on the sides, add:
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- A pinch of asafoetida (optional)
- Mix everything well.
Step 3: Add Spinach Purée and Simmer
- Add the spinach purée to the pan and mix well.
- Add ½ cup water (or as needed) and stir.
- Simmer the gravy for 6–7 minutes until the spinach is cooked.
- Add salt to taste.
- Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon garam masala. Stir well.
Step 4: Add Paneer and Finish
- Add paneer cubes directly to the spinach gravy.
- Optional: Lightly fry the paneer cubes in oil before adding.
- Turn off the heat and add 2 tablespoons light cream (or 1 tablespoon heavy cream).
- Optional: Add 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi for extra flavor.
- Mix gently.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Serve hot with roti, naan, or paratha.
- If you prefer rice, try it with jeera rice (cumin rice), saffron rice, or ghee rice.
- For extra flavor, top with a small piece of butter, cream, or a few drops of lemon juice.
- Garnish with thin slices of ginger (julienne style), if you like.
Health Benefits of Palak Paneer
Palak Paneer is not only tasty but also good for your health. Here are some simple reasons why you should eat it:
✅ 1. Good for Blood and Energy
Spinach has iron which helps make healthy blood. It also gives you more energy and helps fight tiredness.
✅ 2. Makes Bones Strong
Paneer is full of calcium, which makes your bones and teeth strong. It is very good for kids, women, and older people.
✅ 3. Full of Vitamins
Spinach gives you Vitamin A, C, and K:
- Vitamin A – good for your eyes
- Vitamin C – helps your body fight diseases
- Vitamin K – helps your bones and blood
✅ 4. High in Protein
Paneer gives protein, which helps build muscles and keeps your body strong. This is great for vegetarians and people who go to the gym.
✅ 5. Low in Carbs
This dish has less sugar (carbs), so it’s a good option for low-carb diets or weight loss meals.
🚫 Who Should Not Eat Too Much Palak Paneer?
While it is healthy, some people should be careful:
❌ 1. People With Kidney Stones
Spinach has something called oxalates which can cause kidney stones in some people. If you had kidney stones before, eat only a small amount or ask your doctor.
❌ 2. People With Milk Allergy or Lactose Intolerance
Paneer is made from milk. If you can’t drink milk or are allergic, avoid this dish or use tofu instead.
❌ 3. People on Low-Protein Diet
If your doctor told you to eat less protein because of a kidney or liver problem, don’t eat too much paneer.
❌ 4. People With Thyroid Problems (in large amounts)
Raw spinach is not good in large amounts for people with thyroid issues. But in this recipe, spinach is boiled and cooked, so eating in small amounts is usually fine.
✅ Who Can Eat Palak Paneer?
Palak Paneer is a good meal for many people:
- Kids – helps them grow strong and healthy
- Teenagers – gives energy and helps bones
- Pregnant Women – has iron and folic acid
- Adults & Seniors – easy to digest and keeps them strong
- Vegetarians – gives them protein
- People trying to lose weight – low in carbs and healthy
- Fitness lovers – rich in protein for muscles
📌 Final Tip
To make it even healthier:
- Use less cream
- Use fresh spinach
- Use homemade paneer if possible
- Eat with roti or rice for a complete meal