Palak paneer is an Indian curry made with spinach and cheese, commonly served with flatbread. Paneer is a fresh, plain cheese made from milk and acid. Variations on the dish are popular in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and can include meat or other vegetables. Accompaniments include flatbreads or rice.
Palak paneer is an Indian curry made with spinach and cheese. The word “palak” means “spinach” and “paneer” is a type of Indian cheese. This dish is commonly served with an Indian flatbread called “roti”.
Palak paneer originated in the Punjabi region, although variations on this dish are popular in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Also known as saag paneer and saagwala, the dish can be made with vegetables other than spinach. The word “saag” means “greens” and mustard greens are the most common substitute for spinach.
Indian paneer is a fresh, plain cheese available in Indian markets, but often made in home kitchens. The ingredients needed to make paneer include only whole milk and an acid like lemon juice, vinegar or citric acid. The acid is added to the boiling milk a little at a time until the curds separate from the whey. The mixture is then cooled, strained through cheesecloth and pressed with a weight to remove excess moisture.
If paneer is not available, queso fresco or dry cottage cheese can be substituted. Paneer is typically unsalted, however, and these substitute cheeses may contain salt. For a vegetarian or vegan dish, extra firm tofu can be substituted.
In addition to spinach and cheese, a palak paneer recipe typically includes diced onions, chopped tomatoes, and whole or chopped green chillies. Ginger is often added as a flavoring agent. Curry spices can include cumin, coriander and turmeric. Some recipes call for spice blends known as Garam Masala and Chana Masala.
Some paneer saag recipes may also include meat that has been roasted in a tandoori oven. This variation is called saag gosht or palak gosht. Lamb is the most commonly used meat, although goat or tandoori chicken can also be used.
Popular accompaniments for Saag Paneer include flatbreads or rice. The most popular flatbreads are naan and makki ki roti. Naan is baked puffy wheat bread and makki ki roti is made from cornmeal. In West Bengal region and Bangladesh, Saag Paneer can also be served with Pulao rice.
One of the most common variants of Palak paneer is a dish called Saag Aloo or Palak Aloo. This version of palak bread is served with fried potatoes for dipping, and the paneer paneer curry dish can be topped with the Indian ghee known as ghee. Palak aloo can also be served with flatbread and rice.
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