Best 2 Authentic Saag Paneer Recipes

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**Saag Paneer: A Culinary Journey to North Indian Delights**

Originating from the heart of North India, Saag Paneer is a delectable vegetarian dish that has captured the taste buds of food enthusiasts worldwide. This vibrant dish features soft, pillowy paneer (homemade cheese) cubes nestled in a rich, creamy gravy made from pureed spinach and flavorful spices. The fusion of textures and flavors in Saag Paneer makes it an irresistible dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or as an accompaniment to other North Indian delicacies.

Within this comprehensive article, you'll find a collection of authentic Saag Paneer recipes that cater to diverse preferences and skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, these recipes will guide you through the process of creating this classic North Indian dish with ease. From the traditional Saag Paneer recipe to variations that incorporate unique ingredients and cooking techniques, this article offers a culinary adventure that promises to tantalize your taste buds.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

AUTHENTIC SAAG PANEER



Authentic Saag Paneer image

Saag paneer is a classic Indian dish of cooked spinach studded with cubes of fried paneer cheese. Thickened with cream or coconut milk, it's a hearty and filling vegetarian meal.

Provided by Allrecipes

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Indian

Time 1h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 bunches spinach, roughly chopped
1 bunch fenugreek leaves, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon canola oil
½ pound paneer, cubed
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tomato, diced
2 teaspoons garam masala
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ cup heavy whipping cream
salt to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Cook spinach and fenugreek in the boiling water until wilted, about 3 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a food processor. Puree until finely chopped, about 5 pulses.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry paneer cubes, stirring constantly, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in the skillet and fry the cumin seeds until lightly toasted and aromatic, about 3 minutes. Add onion; cook and stir until onion begins to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in ginger, garlic, tomato, garam masala, turmeric, and cayenne pepper; cook and stir until tomatoes break down and onions are translucent, about 10 minutes.
  • Stir in spinach and fenugreek, cream, paneer cubes, and salt to taste. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 299 calories, Carbohydrate 18 g, Cholesterol 29 mg, Fat 19.9 g, Fiber 5.2 g, Protein 17.1 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 479.9 mg, Sugar 2.9 g

SAAG PANEER



Saag Paneer image

Eat homemade Indian food tonight with Aarti Sequeira's Saag Paneer: Spinach with Indian Cheese recipe from Aarti Party on Food Network.

Provided by Aarti Sequeira

Time 1h20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
12 ounces paneer, (Indian cheese, either store-bought or made from my recipe, recipe follows), cut into 1-inch cubes, see Cook's Note*
1 (16-ounce package) frozen chopped spinach
1 medium white onion, finely chopped
1 (1-inch thumb) ginger, peeled and minced (about 1 tablespoon)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large green serrano chile, finely chopped (seeds removed if you don't like it spicy!)
1/2 teaspoon store-bought or homemade garam masala, recipe follows
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup plain yogurt, stirred until smooth
Cheesecloth
8 cups whole milk
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more as needed, see Cook's Note*
3 large cinnamon sticks (if you have the kind you get at Indian stores, it's about 3 tablespoons of cinnamon bark bits)
3 tablespoons whole cloves
1/4 cup green cardamom pods, shelled, husks discarded (about 2 tablespoons of seeds)
4 large black cardamom pods, shelled, husks discarded (about 1 tablespoon of seeds), optional

Steps:

  • 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. Let the cubes marinate while you get the rest of your ingredients together and prepped.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to the pan. 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.
  • 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.
  • Add the spinach and stir well, incorporating the spiced onion mixture into the spinach. Add a little salt and 1/2 cup of water, stir, and cook about 5 minutes with the lid off.
  • Turn the heat off. 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. Serve.
  • Line a large colander with a large double layer of cheesecloth, and set it in your sink.
  • 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!
  • 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!
  • 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!
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Don't be afraid to adjust the spices to your taste.
  • If you don't have paneer, you can substitute tofu or another firm, mild-flavored cheese.
  • Serve saag paneer with naan, roti, or rice.
  • Saag paneer is a great dish to make ahead of time. It can be reheated gently over low heat.

Conclusion:

Saag paneer is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and it is also a relatively low-calorie dish. With its creamy, flavorful sauce and tender paneer, saag paneer is a dish that is sure to please everyone at your table.

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