Palak Paneer (Spinach with Fresh Cheese)

Palak Paneer

Hello everybody!!! A famous dish from the North Indian Cuisine.Spinach is highly nutritious.The white chunks you see is called Paneer(Indian fresh cheese).This  usually goes as a side-dish with rotis and  has a mild spicy yet buttery taste.I would go for the spicy version.I am spiceholic.

Ingredients:
Spinach-2 cups
Onions finely chopped-1 cup
ginger-garlic paste-2 tbsp
turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
garam masala-1 tbsp
red chilli powder-1/2 tbsp
cumin seed and coriander seeds powder-1/2 tbsp
green chilli slit-2
Paneer cubes-3/4 cup
oil-4 tbsp
butter-1tbsp
salt
lemon juice for serving -2 tsp(optional)
asafoetida-1/2 tsp
cumin seeds-1/2 tsp


Procedure:

1)Take some water in a vessel and add the spinach just enough to soak and cook the spinach.When the spinach is 3/4 cooked ,take it in a colander.Donot throw the water.Save it,we would be using it for gravy.
2)In a pan with oil,add asafoetida,cumin seeds,chopped onions,green chillies and ginger garlic paste.Fry the onions till golden brown.
3)In the mean time grind the spinach to a fine paste.
4)After the onions are done add the spinach paste.
5)Add turmeric powder,garam masala,red chilli powder,salt,cumin and coriander seed powder.Mix well and let the mixture stay on low to medium flame for 10 min and keep stirring.
6)Simultaneously,in a seperate pan,take some butter/oil and add the paneer cubes.Fry them till light brown.Be cautious as they are quick at burns.
7)Now add the paneer cubes to the spinach mixture,let all of them cook together for 15 min.Adjust any spice&salt contents if required.
8)Cook the mixture on low flame till spinach is cooked enough and the paneer has got enough of the spicy taste on it.
9)Serve with rotis or tandoori rotis.
10)For garnish you can add a dash of lemon juice based on individual preference.


P.S:Donot fry the paneer to golden brown.You can also add some butter while mixture cooks,just to have a buttery aroma and taste ofcourse.
All the spice contents can be varied if you donot want it to be very spicy.I have given a mild to medium spicy version.

Storage:It can be relished for 2 days without losing its taste if refrigerated.