Palak Paneer recipe by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Like most of us, my mom taught me cooking. And then started chef Sanjeev Kapoor's Khana Khazana show on television. So if there were things we never cooked at home, Sanjeev Kapoor taught us those.

Palak Paneer (Cottage Cheese in Spinach gravy) is one of those easy recipes we have mastered thanks only to India's top chef! The key in preparing this and any other recipe is blanching palak (known as spinach in English). I have tried many variations in cooking Palak Paneer - some with adding grated ginger, some with adding tamarind pulp. However, for the authentic Palak Paneer recipe (text) by Sanjeev Kapoor, you may head here directly.

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How to blanch Palak / Spinach in 7 steps

To make the most of the goodness of palak (spinach in English), blanching it properly is most important. This not only imparts a good green color to any palak dish but also improves the flavor and the aroma. Here are the 7 steps that go behind blanching palak / spinach perfectly:

1 - Separate the palak leaves from the stem
2 - Wash them them properly
3 - Add some salt to water and bring it to boil.
4 - Blanch the palak leaves in this water for a couple of minutes
5 - Drain the hot water from the leaves
6 - Dip them in cold / ice water for some time
7 - Squeeze out all the excess water

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Punjabi Kurma and Palak Dal or Spinach Curry Recipe

PUNJABI KURMA
Punjabi Kurma Ingredients:
Stemmed peas
Chopped – Capsicum, Carrots, Potatoes, Cauliflower, Onions
Fried fox nut (makhana)
Cashew and melon seeds paste, onion paste, tomato puree
Grated coconut
Kitchen king masala, khada garam masala
Red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder
Cumin seeds
Black masala (Goda masala)
Green chilies
Ginger paste
Coriander leaves
Salt as per taste

Punjabi Kurma Preparation:
Heat oil in a pan and separately deep fry pieces of capsicum, carrot, potato and cauliflower.
Heat oil in another pan and add khada garam masala, finely diced onion, magaj and cashew paste, grated coconut (khobra), onion paste and tomato puree to it and saute. Add ginger paste, chilies, turmeric, chili powder, kitchen king masala, coriander powder, cumin seeds and salt. Saute a bit more.
Add deep fried vegetables, stemmed peas and fried makhana to it. Let it simmer for a while and then serve hot.

PALAK DAL
Palak Dal Ingredients:
Spinach (diced)
Yellow lentils (Tur Daal)
Green chilies (chopped)
Mustard seeds
Jaggery
Garlic
Onion and tomatoes (finely chopped)
Red chili powder, Turmeric powder
Curry leaves
Kokam
Salt as per taste

Palak Dal Preparation:
Cook yellow lentils and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, garlic, finely cut onion, pieces of green chilies and curry leaves to it. Suate till brown and add finely chopped tomato pieces, finely diced spinach, cooked yellow lentils, turmeric, red chili powder and water. Let it simmer for a while and then add salt, jaggery and kokam to it. Palak Dal is ready to be served.

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