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Palak Paneer / Spinach Paneer (Instant Pot & Stove Top)

Indian restaurant style Palak Paneer recipe made easily at home from scratch. Recipe below has step wise pics, tips for both Stove Top and Instant Pot methods.

Recipe Cooked, Photographed and Written by Praveena

PrepTime:5 mins   CookTime:15 mins   Cuisine:Indian


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easy palak paneer recipe. stove top and instant pot methods. instant pot palak paneer curry. saag paneer in instant pot. spinach & indian cottage cheese. spinach paneer recipe.

Palak Paneer / Spinach Paneer, is a mildly spiced Indian curry where Paneer (Indian cheese cubes) is cooked in Creamy Spinach (Palak) Gravy having Indian Masala flavours. Its one of the must have’s curry dishes in an Indian Restaurant Menu.

I always liked this recipe ONLY  when the curry has retained that bright green colour. Not everyone & not all Indian restaurants can make this curry, with that right texture and colour.

Most of the times, it might turn to dark green, which doesn’t make the dish appealing to look at.

I feel so very satisfied, that my recipe gives me the apt green colour to the dish with the proper tips & times that I follow. Hope you would try.

Table of Contents:

Click to Expand / Collapse
  1. Possible Alterations for the recipe, ‘Palak Paneer / Indian Paneer in Spinach Gravy’:
  2. How to retain the bright green colour of Palak Paneer Curry:
  3. Other recipes from my blog:
  4. Step wise pics Procedure for ‘Palak Paneer / Paneer in Spinach gravy (Stove Top, Instant Pot)’:
  5. Prep Work:
  6. Stove Top Method Palak Paneer:
  7. Instant Pot Method Palak Paneer:
  8. Tips & Storage:
  9. Result:
  10. Ingredients, Accessories on ‘AMAZON’ to SHOP:
  11. Recipe Card & Print:

easy palak paneer recipe. stove top and instant pot methods. instant pot palak paneer curry. saag paneer in instant pot. spinach & indian cottage cheese. spinach paneer recipe.

Possible Alterations for the recipe, ‘Palak Paneer / Indian Paneer in Spinach Gravy’:

Ingredients to skip: Both Dhaniya Powder/Ground Coriander and Jeera Powder/Ground Cumin, can be skipped. Anyhow, these are already part of the garam masala powder, which we add.

Vegan Options: The vegan alternative to Paneer is extra firm Tofu. And for fresh cream, milk, butter also you need to use plant based variety easily available in stores.

Stove Top Pressure Cooker Method: Just follow the same method as the Instant Pot recipe, but cook only for 2 whistles.

Using canned / tinned tomatoes: I wouldn’t suggest this, as the preservatives in the can, makes the curry to turn dark in colour because of oxidation. Otherwise, its fine to use.

Using frozen spinach: Yes, you can use frozen palak / spinach.

How to retain the bright green colour of Palak Paneer Curry:

Stove Top Method: After blanching the spinach, immediately dip the spinach in cold water, this will avoid from the spinach to oxidise and change colour.

Adding milk while making the spinach puree, helps to maintain the bright green colour to the curry even after days of storage in fridge. This really works.

Instant Pot Method: After quick release, immediately add the milk to blend. And do not put on sauté for more than 2 mins.

By doing this the curry had that bright green colour just as in the pictures.

easy palak paneer recipe. stove top and instant pot methods. instant pot palak paneer curry. saag paneer in instant pot. spinach & indian cottage cheese. spinach paneer recipe.

Other recipes from my blog:

Before starting to cook, don’t forget to see the Tips mentioned at the end.

Curry recipes collection⇒  Curry / Koora / Stir Fry

Instant Pot recipes collection⇒   Electric Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Recipes

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easy palak paneer recipe. stove top and instant pot methods. instant pot palak paneer curry. saag paneer in instant pot. spinach & indian cottage cheese. spinach paneer recipe.

Ingredients:

  • Palak / Spinach – 250 gm (Indian / Baby Spinach)
  • Salt – as per taste
  • Hot Boiling Water – as required (stove top method)
  • Normal Water – as required 
  • Mint Leaves – a handful
  • Coriander Leaves / Cilantro – a handful
  • Green Chillies – 6 
  • Milk – 1 cup
  • Butter – 1 tablespoon (heaped)
  • Fresh Cream – [½ cup + 1 tablespoon]
  • Paneer Cubes – 2 cups (heaped)
  • Sugar – 2 teaspoons
  • Kasuri Methi – 1 teaspoon (optional) (for garnish)

To Sauté:

  • Cooking Oil – 6 tablespoons
  • Onions – 1 cup (finely chopped)
  • Ginger Garlic – 2 teaspoons (paste / chopped)
  • Tomatoes – ½ cup (finely chopped)
  • Turmeric Powder – ½ teaspoon
  • Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder  – 1 teaspoon
  • Garam Masala Powder – 1 tablespoon
  • Ground Cumin / Jeera Powder – 1 teaspoon
  • Ground Coriander / Dhaniya Powder – 1 teaspoon

Special Ingredients:

  • Fresh Cream
  • Mint Leaves
easy palak paneer recipe. stove top and instant pot methods. instant pot palak paneer curry. saag paneer in instant pot. spinach & indian cottage cheese. spinach paneer recipe.

Step wise pics Procedure for ‘Palak Paneer / Paneer in Spinach gravy (Stove Top, Instant Pot)’:

Prep Work:

Gather all the ingredients at one place in the kitchen. Finely chop the onions and tomatoes. Cut the green chillies.

Stove Top Method Palak Paneer:

to blanch the paneer while making palak paneer recipe on stove top
Blanch the fresh spinach by soaking in hot boiling water for 3-4 mins. Take the spinach out into a separate bowl. Immediately pour cold water onto the spinach, until it sinks.
making spinach gravy for making palak paneer curry
Take the spinach leaves into the food processor/blender. Add all these too>> slit green chillies, salt, mint leaves, coriander/cilantro leaves and milk. Blend everything into fine puree.
Put a wide frying pan on stove top under high flame. Add oil and heat. Now, add chopped onions, ginger, garlic. Fry until onions become translucent.
Immediately add all these>> salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, dhaniya/coriander powder, jeera/cumin powder, chopped tomatoes. Fry until the tomatoes soften & oil is released.
Later, add all these>> spinach puree mix, sugar and fresh cream. Mix everything and let the content thicken, takes 5 mins.
before switching the flame off
At last, add all the paneer cubes and butter. Gently mix up everything. Let it cook for 2 more mins, it forms bubbles. Switch the flame off. Transfer into serving dish. Garnish with Kasuri methi and fresh cream (1 tablespoon). Done!!

Instant Pot Method Palak Paneer:

Switch the gadget ON, set the mode to SAUTE, time to 7 MINS. add oil and chopped onions. When the onions shrink, add all these>> salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, slit green chillies, chopped tomatoes, chopped ginger-garlic, garam masala powder, dhaniya/coriander powder, jeera/cumin powder.
Stir Fry everything, until the oil separates.
Press CANCEL. Add all these>> spinach leaves, mint leaves, coriander/cilantro leaves. Add ½ cup of water. Deglaze the bottom. Close the lid. Set mode to PRESSURE COOK, pressure level to HIGH, time to ZERO MINS, valve to SEALING.
When the IP beeps, release the pressure immediately (Quick Pressure Release). Open the lid, add milk, lemon juice. Blend everything into fine puree, using a hand blender.
Set to SAUTE mode for 2 mins, add the fresh cream, butter and paneer cubes. Gently mix everything. Let it thicken a bit.
Soon, transfer the curry into a serving dish. Garnish with Kasuri methi and fresh cream (1 tablespoon). Done!

Tips & Storage:

  • Adjust the salt & spice as per your taste.
  • To defrost the frozen paneer, put the whole paneer slab in the microwave. Then it can be cut easily into cubes.
  • For better taste, when you finish making the curry, leave it for 10 mins, so that the paneer can absorb the gravy well.
  • Storage: Make the curry until the last step, do not add the paneer cubes, store this spinach gravy in an air tight container in fridge. Stays good up to 15 days.
  • Even if you add the paneer cubes, the curry stays good up to 7 days when put in fridge. 
  • Just reheat before serving.

Result:

  • The spice level of this curry is mild. Even kids can happily savour this dish.
  • Tangy taste from the spinach gravy and the succulent paneer pieces in every bite.
  • Best thing is its just the gravy and the soft paneer pieces, no hassle sabzi to eat. 
  • The taste is simply exemplary. On the whole the curry has turned out to be, WOW!! 🙂 

Ingredients, Accessories on ‘AMAZON’ to SHOP:

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Recipe Card & Print:

Palak Paneer / Spinach Paneer Curry (Instant Pot and Stove Top)

VegCookBook by Praveena
Indian restaurant style Palak Paneer recipe made easily at home from scratch. Recipe below has step wise pics, tips for both Stove Top and Instant Pot methods.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Accompaniment, curry, Side Dish
Cuisine Indian, North Indian
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Food processor / Blender / Mixie.
  • Frying pan (for stove-top method)
  • Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker (for IP method)

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups Palak / Spinach (250 gms) (Indian / Baby Spinach) (heaped cups)
  • as per taste Salt
  • as required Hot Boiling Water to blanch (for stove top method)
  • as required Normal Water (for cooking)
  • 1 handful Mint Leaves
  • 1 handful Coriander Leaves / Cilantro
  • 6 count Green Chillies
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 1 tablespoon Butter (heaped)
  • ½ cup Fresh Cream [+1 tablespoon]
  • 2 teaspoons Sugar
  • 2 cups Paneer Cubes (heaped)
  • 1 teaspoon Kasuri Methi (optional) (for garnish)

To Saute:

  • 6 tablespoons Cooking Oil
  • 1 cup Onions (finely chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons Ginger Garlic (paste / chopped)
  • ½ cup Tomatoes (finely chopped)
  • ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Garam Masala Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin / Jeera Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Coriander / Dhaniya Powder

Instructions
 

Prep Work:

  • Gather all the ingredients at one place in the kitchen.

Stove Top Method Palak Paneer Curry:

  • Blanch the fresh spinach by soaking in hot boiling water for 3-4 mins.
    Take the spinach out into a separate bowl.
    Immediately pour cold water onto the spinach, until it sinks well.
  • Take the spinach leaves into the food processor/blender.
    Add all these too>> slit green chillies, salt, mint leaves, coriander/cilantro leaves and milk.
    Blend everything into fine puree.
  • Put a wide frying pan on stove top under high flame.
    Add oil and heat. Now, add chopped onions, ginger, garlic.
    Fry until onions become translucent.
  • Immediately add all these>> salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, dhaniya/coriander powder, jeera/cumin powder, chopped tomatoes.
  • Later, add all these>> spinach puree mix, sugar and fresh cream.
    Mix everything and let the content thicken, takes 5 mins.
  • At last, add all the paneer cubes and butter. Gently mix up everything.
    Let it cook for 2 more mins, until it forms bubbles.
    Garnish with Kasuri methi and fresh cream (1 tablespoon). Switch the flame off. Done!!

Instant Pot Method Palak Paneer Curry:

  • Switch the gadget ON, set the mode to SAUTE, time to 7 MINS.
    Add oil and chopped onions. Fry the onions.
  • When the onions shrink,
    Add all these>> salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, slit green chillies, chopped tomatoes, chopped ginger-garlic, garam masala powder, dhaniya/coriander powder, jeera/cumin powder.
  • Stir Fry everything, until the oil separates. Press CANCEL.
  • Add all these>> spinach leaves, mint leaves, coriander/cilantro leaves.
    Add ½ cup of water. Deglaze the bottom. Close the lid.
    Set mode to PRESSURE COOK, pressure level to HIGH, time to ZERO MINS, valve to SEALING.
  • When the IP beeps, release the pressure immediately (Quick Pressure Release).
    Open the lid, add milk, lemon juice.
    Blend everything into fine puree, using a hand blender.
  • Set to SAUTE mode for 2 mins, add the fresh cream, butter and paneer cubes.
    Gently mix everything. Let it thicken a bit.
  • Soon, transfer the curry into a serving dish.
    Garnish with Kasuri methi and fresh cream (1 tablespoon). Done!

Notes

Please see the MAIN POST for recipe with step wise PICS & TIPS!
Keyword homemade palak paneer recipe, how to make bright green colour palak paneer, instant pot palak paneer recipe, restaurant style palak paneer recipe, spinach & paneer curry recipe

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