Palak Paneer

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves 7 to 8

Ingredients:

• 250g paneer(cottage cheese) sliced into small cubes
• 500g palak(spinach)
• 4 cups water
• 3 large onions(blended into paste)
• 3 tomatoes(blended into paste)
• 1tsp garlic mince
• 1tsp ginger mince
• 1tsp green chilies finely chopped
• 1tsp cumin(zeera)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 green cardamom pods
• 3 cloves
• salt as per taste
• red chili powder as per taste
• 1tsp coriander powder
• 1tsp turmeric powder
• 1tsp garam masala powder
• 1tsp cumin powder
• 1tbsp olive oil
• 1tsp butter for garnish

Wash and chop the spinach and pressure cook it with water and half a tsp of salt for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oil in the wok and add cumin, cardamoms, cloves and cinnamon. Let them crackle and then add the ginger-garlic mince. Fry it for half a minute and add the onion paste. Cook it for few minutes and add the coriander and turmeric powder. Cook till onions are done and oil starts separating. Add the tomato paste, salt red chili powder and green chilies.

Let it cook till the tadka is done and oil separates. Meanwhile, blend the spinach into a paste. Add the spinach paste to the tadka and bring it to the boil. Add the garam masala and cumin powder. Simmer and cook till the mixture reduces by 1/4th. Now add the paneer cubes. You can fry them light golden brown beforehand. Stir well and let it cook for another 4-5 minutes.

Garnish with butter and enjoy.