When you make this classic and homely Punjabi Saag Paneer-Spinach and Indian Cottage Cheese Curry, surely you're going to forget any restaurant style Saag Paneer or Palak Paneer, trust me because exactly that happened in my home.
This absolutely delicious and finger licking Saag Paneer is prepared with truckloads of fresh mature spinach (palak), fresh homemade Indian cottage cheese (paneer) and a few basic spices and clarified butter (ghee). You can enjoy this North Indian homely and traditional Saag Paneer with roti, phulka or crispy ajwain paratha.
I doubt this dish needs any introduction, mention about Indian food to anyone and they will say that they may not know about any other dishes, but they have heard the word ' Saag Paneer'
If you are an Indian food fanatic, I bet you must have tried Palak Paneer or Saag Paneer first thing in a restaurant or at an Indian party.
If you are spinach, paneer or an Indian food fan, surely you are going to love this recipe and it will be a definite addition to your recipe file.
As much as we love this curry, I resist making this curry too often as it is cooked in ghee and full-fat paneer, and I choose my Vegan Kale and Tofu curry for a healthy option.
But let's talk today about this homely and traditional Saag Paneer, that is packed with flavours and goodness.
WHAT IS SAAG PANEER
Saag paneer is a North Indian style of preparing spinach and Indian cottage cheese, Saag aka spinach and Panner is freshly made Indian cottage cheese.
This classic version is an easy and simple recipe, can be ready in less than 30 minutes, freshly cut spinach and paneer is cooked with basic spices and onion, garlic.
This saag paneer with plenty of flavours, gluten-free and perfect for a vegetarian dining.
WHAT TYPE OF SPINACH DO I NEED
Usually, most of the Indian households use fresh Indian spinach aka palak, which is mature spinach with large leaves and thicker stalks and available in Indian grocery stores.
Around summertime, you can get 4 good sizes bunches for £1. Only one thing that this spinach leaf comes unwashed and unprepared with dirt and you have to thoroughly wash it under the running water.
So, really if you are pressed for time use baby spinach from any superstore or market. Also for this recipe, you need to chop the spinach into the size of a big confetti, rather than boiling whole leaves.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED FOR THE SAAG PANEER
For this recipe, you won't need tons of ingredients, once you have fresh spinach and paneer, you will need onion, garlic and a few basic spices such as Punjabi garam masala and ghee.
Paneer and ghee don't have to be homemade.
HOW TO COOK SAAG PANEER
To make saag paneer, you will need to do some preparation work before you start cooking it.
If you have bought palak, then thoroughly wash the leaves under the running water and remove any dirt or damaged leaves.
Then cut them into small bits. Cook the spinach in a big pan with a little amount of water without covering the pan.
If you have shop bought paneer, then cut into small dice and soak in hot water for 5-7 minutes.
Then prepare dry masala gravy itself, the masala is prepared in ghee with garlic onion and green chillies and seasoned with turmeric, garam masala and salt.
Generally, basic Punjabi gravy masala prepared with tomatoes but in this recipe, tomatoes are not used.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH SAAG PANEER
This particular version of saag paneer is dry so I would love to serve this with garama garam (hot) round and soft gujarati rotlis, Daal Makhani and Potato Chips Curry.
I am not a big fan of eating Naan with dry sabji or curries. Some people prefer to have it with hot and steamy rice too.
So, now you have this really easy and tasty saag paneer recipe.
Other Best Paneer Recipes
Shahi Paneer (Creamy Paneer Curry)
Saag Paneer
Punjabi saag paneer, a vegetarian and flavoursome dish that hails from Punjab, India. Prepared with fresh spinach and Indian cottage cheese.
Ingredients
- 4 medium bunches palak roughly 200g each
- 300 gram Paneer
- 2 tbsp. oil
- 3 tbsp. homemade desi ghee
- 1 big onion roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp. ginger-garlic minced
- 3-4 green chillies finely chopped
- 1 tsp. cumin seeds
- 1 tsp. garam masala
- ½ tsp. turmeric powder
- Few drops of lemon juice
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash the spinach leaves under cold running water to remove any dirt, remove any damaged leaves.
- Roughly chop the leaves with the stalks.
- Place it in the pan and add less than ¼ cup cold water.
- Don’t cover the pan, and cook the spinach, keep an eye on the water level.
- Meanwhile, heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan or kadai and add chopped onion.
- After a couple of minutes, add ginger, garlic and green chillies.
- Fry this mixture on a medium to low heat for 6-7 minutes.
- Keep an eye on spinach.
- While the onion mixture and spinach are cooking, heat oil in another frying pan and add cubed paneer.
- Shallow fry the paneer cubes until lightly golden all the sides.
- Add turmeric, garam masala, salt and cumin seeds into the onion mixture and mix well.
- Then add shallow fried panner into the onion mixture and mix gently.
- Turn off the heat and leave it aside.not make puree, but make smooth with some texture.
- Once spinach is cooked and almost all the water evaporates, mash the spinach with a potato masher.
- Add into the onion and paneer mixture and mix well, reheat the curry and add lemon juice.
- Serve in a serving bowl and enjoy with roti, phulka or naan.
Notes
If you are buying regular spinach from the supermarket, add less water as this baby spinach won't need much water.
Nutrition
Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 73IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 249mg | Iron: 1mg
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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Sujata Roy says
Saag paneer sounds mouthwatering Jagruti. Amazing click. Always make palak paneer but never tried this dry Saag paneer. Its seems more easy and delicious. Lovely share.
Poonam Bachhav says
We love aloo saag so i am sure we would love this utterly delicious and flavorful paneer saag as well. Would give this combo a try for sure. Thanks for the share Jagruti.
Prajakta Sukhatme says
This is absolutely gorgeous meal. So scruptious and comforting. Love your step by step details recipe. Pictures are so inviting. 5* recipe
Nisha says
As usual amazing clicks Jagruti. 🙂 I am not a great saag fan but when anything made with paneer becomes my favourite. 🙂 🙂 Wonderful recipe!
Lathiya says
The saag Paneer looks lip smacking with those rotis...Love to have some right now...you have explained very well about the making
code2cook says
palak paneer is something which any north Indian love. But saag paneer and palak paneer is different for us. Looking such a tempting dish and want to finish asap.
Lata Lala says
Saag paneer looks absolutely lip smacking. This recipe is bit different from regular palak paneer. Would love to give it a try. Wonderful clicks. Thanks for sharing.
Geetha Priyanka says
Saag paneer looks absolutely delicious .This is the only palak dish my family likes. Lovely share.
Unknown says
This recipe of saag paneer looks divine Jagu!! Its raining cats and dogs hear in Arizona and this is sounds perfect dish. Making this for dinner. Thanks for sharing.
cookwithrenu says
Yum this is, looks so so delicious. I am hungry now. Beautiful pics too. And 4 bunches for a pound, I need to shift to UK.
Sasmita says
Punjabi saag paneer is looking super tempting. I can mop up the bowl with some paratha 😉 LOvely share .....
Anshika Juneja says
I've grown up eating Saag Paneer. It is one of my favorite punjabi cuisine. I like when it's generally spicy and use a lot of butter and ghee.
Anshika Juneja says
I've grown up eating Saag Paneer. It is one of my favorite punjabi cuisine. I like when it's generally spicy and use a lot of butter and ghee.
Indfused says
I like this wholesome recipe for saag paneer Jagruti. Sadly too many restaurants here serve it so loaded with heavy cream. I am inspired to make your recipe soon.
Vanitha Bhat says
Yummy!! Look so healthy and inviting! My son loves palak paneer, albeit the one with gravy. This would be perfect in his lunch box!