Curried Spinach With Fresh Cheese (Saag Paneer)

Name: Curried Spinach With Fresh Cheese (Saag Paneer)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 8 cups whole milk; 1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. lemon juice; 5 teaspoons salt; 4 pounds spinach, well rinsed and thick stems removed; 8 cloves garlic; 2 onions, roughly chopped; 2 serrano chiles, seeded; 1 piece ginger (3 in.), peeled and roughly chopped; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; Seeds from 7 cardamom pods; 3 whole cloves; 2 bay leaves; 1 cinnamon stick; 2 tablespoons ground coriander; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon turmeric; 1 canned tomato, chopped; 1/4 cup whole-milk yogurt; 2 teaspoons garam masala

Servings: persons

8 cups whole milk
1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. lemon juice
5 teaspoons salt
4 pounds spinach, well rinsed and thick stems removed
8 cloves garlic
2 onions, roughly chopped
2 serrano chiles, seeded
1 piece ginger (3 in.), peeled and roughly chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Seeds from 7 cardamom pods
3 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 canned tomato, chopped
1/4 cup whole-milk yogurt
2 teaspoons garam masala

1
Line a colander with 2 layers of cheesecloth and set in the sink. Bring milk to boil in a large pot over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Let it boil 30 seconds (remove from heat if it starts to boil over) and stir in 1/4 cup lemon juice. Milk will curdle, separating into cheese curds and a clear yellow whey. Pour into cheesecloth-lined colander.
2
Rinse curds with cold water. Pull up edges of the cheesecloth, gently squeeze out as much water as possible, and form curds into a 6-in. disk. Put cheesecloth-wrapped disk on a large plate, top with a large cutting board, and weigh down with a heavy pot. Put in the refrigerator and let press at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
3
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside. To boiling water, add 3 tsp. salt and the spinach. Cook 1 minute, then drain and transfer spinach to ice water. Swirl around to cool spinach and drain again. Use your hands to squeeze water from spinach. Set aside.
4
In a blender, whirl garlic, onions, chiles, ginger, and 1/4 cup of water to make a paste. Set aside.
5
In a medium pot over medium-high heat, add oil, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves, and cinnamon. Cook until spices darken, about 2 minutes. Add reserved onion paste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and darkens, about 15 minutes. If the mixture starts to stick, add 1 tbsp. of water at a time, stirring, to help loosen it.
6
Stir in coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomato and yogurt. Cook until thickened slightly, about 3 minutes. Stir in spinach and remaining salt. Turn heat to low and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors are blended, about 30 minutes.
7
Cut paneer into 1/2-in. cubes and gently stir into spinach mixture. Cook until paneer is heated through, about 2 minutes. Add garam masala and remaining lemon juice. Adjust salt and lemon juice to taste. Serve hot, with flatbread or rice.
8
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

616

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Feel free to swap in similar ingredients you already have on hand and adjust seasoning to taste.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 19 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 8 cups whole milk, 1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. lemon juice, 5 teaspoons salt, 4 pounds spinach, well rinsed and thick stems removed, and more.

Yes, Curried Spinach With Fresh Cheese (Saag Paneer) falls under the Vegetarian category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!