Palak paneer is a popular dish of North India made using blanched spinach and soft cottage cheese. Most of my Indian friends have known and mostly eaten palak paneer that is bright green in color, and without any doubt it tastes fantastic. I don’t know how popular is this version of palak paneer with lentils among Indian households but for sure it tastes amazing!. I was introduced to this method of making saag paneer by one of my Punjabi friends, and this recipe has been a family recipe for generations in her house. She learnt this recipe from her grandmother and I was lucky enough to have adapted it from her. Since then I have never cooked Palak Paneer without Moong Dal, I love this version so much, that today it has become a favorite in my family too. Even DH who is not too fond of cottage cheese, has started loving it because of the beautiful texture, flavor and aroma of this dish.
The yellow moong dal gives a unique consistency and flavor to this dish. Blanched spinach leaves are cooked along with the lentils and tomato puree; and later soft paneer cubes are added to the medium spicy smooth gravy to form a beautiful aromatic dish full of flavors. Most commonly Palak Paneer is enjoyed with rotis or Naan in North India, however I personally prefer to enjoy it with some Pulao or Jeera rice.
I would like my Indian friends to comment on how popular this version is among Indian households and if at all they have ever come across this method of doing it with lentils. I have been a big fan of palak paneer since the time I adopted this version. I hope you all will like it too!!
Ingredients:
Spinach leaves – 1 bunch washed thoroughly
Yellow Moong Dal – 1 fist full
Cottage Cheese / Paneer cubes – 1 cup
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Hing / Asafoetida – 1/2 tsp
Onions – 2 finely chopped
Garlic – 2 -3 cloves
Ginger – 1 small piece
Green chillies – 2-3
Tomatoes – 2
Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
Red Chilli Powder – 1 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Garam masala powder – 1 tsp
Amchoor powder / Mango powder – 1/2 tsp
Milk – 1 Tbsp
Salt – as per taste
Method:
Boil the yellow moong dal in a pressure cooker until just done. Use very little water, just enough to cover and cook the lentils.
P.S. The amount of lentils used should be less than that of the spinach (Ideally the ratio should be 1:2 for lentils to spinach). We are using moong dal just to impart texture and flavor to the gravy. So do not use too much else the lentils will overpower the dish.
Blanch the spinach with very little water.
Blend the spinach and cooked lentils together. Pulse a few times. In this recipe, the spinach leaves are supposed to hold shape rather than getting completely mashed up.
Heat some oil in a pan.
Add cumin seeds and asafoetida. Let the cumin seeds splutter.
Then add the chopped onions and fry them until golden brown.
Grind the ginger, garlic and green chillies into a fine paste.
Add this paste to the pan.
Cook it until the raw smell of ginger and garlic is gone.
Puree the tomatoes in a blender and add it into the pan.
Add the dry spices – turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder.
Give everything a good mix. Stir and cook until the tomatoes are cooked and oil starts oozing out from the sides.
Now add the spinach lentil puree and mix well.
Add salt and Amchoor (Mango)powder. Mix well.
Let this come to a boil.
Then add in the paneer cubes. (P.S. If you are using frozen store-bought paneer, soak them in warm water for at least 30 mins before using them in the sauce)
You could fry the paneer before hand; but personally I don’t usually prefer to fry them.
Mix well. Cover and cook for 5 -10 mins.
In the end add some grated / crushed paneer to the gravy. Add 1 tbsp of milk. Mix and switch off the flame.
Dish it out and serve hot.
Enjoy Palak Paneer with Moong Dal along with some rotis, naan or even Jeera Rice.
Thank you for taking the time to photo the process as well as explaining the preparation. This must take an inordinate amount of time and effort. We readers greatly appreciate it.
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Thank you so much Doctor…Indian cooking can be sometimes a little difficult to understand for people who are not used to it in general. That’s why I always try to give a pictorial description which makes it easier for readers to understand the process and techniques! Thanks again 🙂
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Looks lovely
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Hey thanks so much Lynn!!
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I have never seen a palak paneer that is not green. There was a flood in my mouth when i saw this. Paneer is the love of my life.
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I know!! Palak paneer is always green!!! But this is not :D….still it tastes amazing! Thanks a lot! Appreciate it 🙂
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You’re welcome Ma’am. 😊
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This protein-packed dish has to be attempted pronto! Looks too good to defer cooking and eating it.
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Very true it’s packed with proteins and good nutrition. Thanks a lot! I hope you will like it as much as we do😃
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I will let you know as soon as I get cracking on this over the weekend. It sounds like a winning combo of two of my much loved dishes so am looking forward to trying this out using your super clearly spelt out recipe. Thanks a ton babe.
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Thank you for trying! 😃 Do let me know how it turns out😃
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This is a real good dish for paneer lovers…going to try making this myself…yum!
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Thanks Ruchi! Hope you like it😃
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Looking absolutely delicious ! Will cook it soon! For now you enjoy your dinner!😀
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Thanks Payel! You are an absolute swetheart with a great sense of humor😂! Have a great day 😃 ❤
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Looks soo yummy!! Palak Paneer love it😊
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Thanks a lot Sumith😃
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There’s a lot of emphasis on eating less meat and more veggies and legumes nowadays. Adding dal to palak paneer sounds like a great idea. I’m not a huge fan of dal, but I think mixing it with palak paneer would solve my problem. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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True Rini. A lot of people don’t like dal but it is really important to consume lentils as they are packed with healthy proteins. I am glad mixing it with spinach will solve your problem 😃 thanks for reading😃
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Such a unique combination! I’m going to give this a try:) thanks for sharing!
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Thanks Divya. Do try it! It is indeed unique and tastes amazing. I am sure you will love it:)😃
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I have never heard of cottage cheese (paneer) cubes, so interesting! This looks very delicious and healthy, too!
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Thanks a lot! Cottage cheese is mainly consumed in Asian and Mediterranean cooking. It is basically the cheese we get after curdling milk using vinegar or lime juice. Paneer is a very popular soft cheese that is widely used in Indian vegetarian cooking. Do try it. I am sure you will love it! 😃
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Hi, I have never tried palak panner with mung daal, but this surely looks good and healthy. This saves time to cook sabji and daal separately. Super like for that reason. Would surely love to try it out. Thanks for sharing 😀
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Thank you so much! I had rightly guessed that most people would not have had this version of palak paneer but the awesomeness I witnessed after my friend’s grandmother cooked it for us, I literally never had to look back! It is so good!! Thanks for your feedback. Do try and I hope it turns out well 🙂
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Great twist to palak paneer; I will try this for sure:)
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Thanks Rashmi 🙂
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This is delicious! In fact, a ticket to happiness. 🙂
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Thanks so much! You are true 🙂
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My mouth is watering! Yummy!
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Thanks a lot Vivek! ❤
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i like it……….
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Thanks so much 🙂
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hello
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I want to eat at your house! All your food looks divine~
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Hah! You are most welcome Cindy. Any time😀 Thank you 😊
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I will make this tonight. Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
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Thanks for visiting!
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