PALAK PANEER
Palak Paneer is one of my favorite dishes to make, eat, and share. It’s tridoshic, meaning it balances Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, making it a wonderful choice for Pitta season.
If you’re not familiar, Palak Paneer is a spinach and cheese curry that’s incredibly delicious. It offers a hearty serving of leafy greens and is rich in iron, magnesium, and vitamin C. Spinach has a cooling nature, which helps prevent inflammation and acidity, balancing the heat of Pitta. Soft, light cheeses like paneer are considered sattvic, or balancing, in Ayurveda.
I love serving it with garlic naan and Aloo Gobi, but basmati rice is also a delightful option!
Ingredients
Palak Paneer (serves about 4 people)
8 oz. paneer, cut into small cubes
ghee or combo of butter and olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
1 jalapeño, minced
small fresh ginger root, minced
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 C water
1 green pepper, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 Anaheim pepper, sliced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
pinch hing
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. Himalayan pink salt + a pinch for the paneer
1/4 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 bunch cilantro
6-8 cups fresh, washed spinach leaves
2 cups other leafy greens, such as kale, beet greens, chard, etc.
Instructions
1. Melt 2-3 TB ghee or oil into a deep pan on med-low. Add the cubed paneer and cook until golden, flipping as needed.
2. Remove paneer and place on a plate with a paper towel. Sprinkle with some salt.
3. Add a little more ghee or oil if needed and stir in the spices until the mustard seeds pop. Add the sliced onion, sliced green and red peppers, and Anaheim pepper and sauté.
4. While the onion and peppers are cooking, place the minced jalapeño, garlic and ginger in a blender with the 1/4 C water and blend.
5. Pour the mixture from blender into the pan with the onions and peppers and cook until soft.
6. Working in batches, add the cilantro, spinach and other optional greens to the pan, mixing with tongs. Allow each batch to cook down until you have room in the pan to add more. Continue until all the greens are cooked.
7. Place the green mixture from the pan into the blender and blend until smooth. Pour back into the pan and add the paneer.
8. Enjoy!!!
