Palak paneer( cottage cheese in spinach gravy)

Palak Paneer is a specialty of north India but now it is quite famous in south India too especially vegetarians love this dish.I prefer home made paneer for my dish as it is very creamy and soft.

Palak paneer ,rice,curd ,dal and roti

Ingredients:-
Spinach(palak)-2 bunch
Full cream milk-1ltr(for paneer)
             or
Paneer-250g(cubed)

Palak Paneer

Cream-1/2 cup
Curd-1tbsp
Tomato-1chopped
Onion-2(chopped finely)
Cloves-5-6
Cinnamon-2 (inch pieces)
Cardamom-2
Green chilly-3-4
Ginger-1small piece
Garlic-8-9 cloves
Cumin-1tsp
Chilly powder-1tsp
Sugar-1/2tsp(optional)
Kasoori Methi(dried methi leaves)-1heaped spoon(optional)
Ghee or Oil-1tbsp(for cooking)


Method for making paneer:-

• Heat  milk on a high flame and when it comes to boil add lemon juice or vinegar to curdle.Once the milk curdles discard the water and  collect the cheese and transfer into a muslin cloth and tie it and keep under a weight for an hour .Let all the water to drain.
• After an hour you will get nice soft paneer .now keep this in the refrigerator for about 30 mins-1hour.
• After an hour take it out and cut into cubes and keep aside.

Method:-

• Separate the leaves of spinach from its stem.Now wash it properly and finely chop.
• Heat a pan add 2tsp of oil or ghee in that add cloves, cinnamon,cardamom,ginger,garlic,tomato,  1 choppped onion,Green chilly and little salt(as spinach too contain little salt).Saute till moisture evaporates.
• Now add chopped spinach leaves and fry till its half cooked or changes its color(dark green).
• Let it cool now trasfer this to a blender and make a fine paste.
• Before taking out add 3/4 of the cream and add to the paste and blend it well just for a second.
• Now heat a sauce pan add remaing ghee or oil,add cumin seeds .Let it crackle now add the chilly powder and 1onion chopped and saute till it turns to light pink followed by curd.Fry for few mins till oil comes to top.
• Now add the ground spinach paste and the kasoori methi if you are using
• Bring to boil at this stage add cottage cheese(paneer) pieces and boil again.check for salt and add sugar if you are using.Switch of the gas.
• Before serving add fresh remaining cream and serve with roti.