Palak paneer (pronounced [paːlək pəniːɾ]) or palak chhena[1] is an Indian dish[2] consisting of chhena[3] or paneer in a thick paste made from puréed spinach, called palak in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and other Indian languages.[4][5][6]

Palak paneer
Palak paneer, Indian cheese in a pureed spinach sauce
Alternative namesPalak chhena
CourseMain
Place of originIndia
Region or stateIndia
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsSpinach, paneer/chhena, onions

The terms palak chhena and saag chhena are sometimes used interchangeably in restaurants in the Anglosphere. However, saag chhena is different from traditional palak chhena in that it contains other green leafy vegetables, such as mustard greens, whereas palak paneer only contains spinach.[7][8][9] Dhaba restaurants often specialize in palak chhena.

Preparation

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Palak paneer is prepared by first boiling and pureeing spinach. The puree is then mixed with sautéed tomatoes and onions. Grilled cubes of paneer are then added to the puree. Palak paneer is typically spiced with ginger, garlic, tomatoes, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder and cumin.[10][9][11][12]

Serving

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Palak paneer served with rice

Palak paneer is served hot with a side dish such as roti, naan, parathas, makki ki roti, or boiled rice. It can also be served with onions on the side for a more traditional approach.

In recent years, there have been fusion variations of palak paneer. In July 2020, a Bangalore-based food blogger posted her variation of palak paneer idli. The dish sparked conversation on Twitter and Instagram about the unusual combination of these two North and South Indian dishes.[13][14]

See also

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  Food portal

References

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  1. ^ "छेना कॉर्न पालक (Chena Corn Palak recipe in Hindi) रेसिपी बनाने की विधि in Hindi by Rimjhim Agarwal". Cookpad (in Hindi). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. ^ Pastime, Palatable. "PALAK PANEER (INDIAN FRESH SPINACH WITH PANEER CHEESE)".
  3. ^ Wennakoski-Bielicki, Lakshmi (21 July 2015). Pure Vegetarian: 108 Indian-Inspired Recipes to Nourish Body and Soul. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 978-1-61180-144-6.
  4. ^ "spinach - Meaning in hindi - Shabdkosh". www.shabdkosh.com. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. ^ "spinach - Meaning in marathi - Shabdkosh". www.shabdkosh.com. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  6. ^ "spinach - Meaning in gujarati - Shabdkosh". www.shabdkosh.com. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  7. ^ amit, dassana (22 May 2013). "palak paneer recipe, how to make palak paneer | best palak paneer recipe". Veg Recipes of India. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  8. ^ LeVaux, Ari (15 May 2020). "Summer blend: Mix up some spinach, spices for palak paneer". The Palm Beach Post.
  9. ^ a b "Palak Paneer | Easy Palak Paneer Recipe » Dassana's Veg Recipes". Dassana's Veg Recipes. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Easy, Creamy, Tasty Palak Paneer Recipe Hindi | पालक पनीर रेसिपी". hothindirecipe.in. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Palak Paneer Recipe | How to Make Palak Paneer | Palak Paneer". NDTV Food. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  12. ^ Pitre, Urvashi (19 September 2017). Indian Instant Pot® Cookbook: Traditional Indian Dishes Made Easy and Fast. Rockridge Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-1939754547.
  13. ^ "'Palak Paneer Idli' is a North-South Fusion Dish that Twitter Doesn't Want to Have". News18. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  14. ^ "There's now a palak paneer idli that has sparked a debate on social media". The Indian Express. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.