Palak Paneer Recipe: Based on NeemTime research
🍃 Ingredients (Home-Prepared Only)
250g fresh homemade paneer (prepared by curdling fresh cow milk with lemon juice)
300g fresh spinach leaves (home-grown or freshly harvested)
2 medium onions (finely chopped)
2 medium tomatoes (pureed)
2 green chilies (finely chopped)
1 tablespoon homemade ginger-garlic paste (made by crushing fresh ginger and garlic)
2 tablespoons homemade butter (churned from fresh cream)
1 tablespoon mustard oil (cold-pressed at home or homemade ghee)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder (home-dried and ground turmeric root)
1 teaspoon coriander powder (home-ground from dried coriander seeds)
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds (home-dried and ground)
Salt to taste (home-ground sea salt)
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (home-dried and ground from red chilies)
Homemade fresh cream (optional for garnish)
🥄 Detailed Preparation Guide (with Calories)
Step 1: Blanch the Spinach
Wash spinach thoroughly.
Boil water and add spinach for 2 minutes.
Remove immediately and place in cold water.
Puree the spinach to a smooth paste.
Calories:
Spinach (300g): ~70 kcal
Time: 10 minutes
Step 2: Prepare Paneer Cubes
Cut homemade paneer into cubes.
Lightly pan-fry in 1 tablespoon homemade butter until golden.
Calories:
Paneer (250g): ~650 kcal
Butter (1 tbsp): ~102 kcal
Total: ~752 kcal
Time: 8 minutes
Step 3: Make the Masala Base
In a pan, heat mustard oil or ghee.
Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
Add onions and sauté until golden brown.
Add ginger-garlic paste, green chilies, and sauté.
Add tomato puree, turmeric, coriander powder, red chili powder, and salt.
Cook until oil separates.
Calories:
Mustard oil (1 tbsp): ~120 kcal
Onion (2 medium): ~88 kcal
Tomato (2 medium): ~44 kcal
Ginger-garlic paste (1 tbsp): ~10 kcal
Spices: negligible
Total: ~262 kcal
Time: 15 minutes
Step 4: Combine Spinach and Paneer
Add the spinach puree to the masala.
Mix well and cook for 5–7 minutes.
Gently add the paneer cubes.
Simmer for another 5 minutes.
Calories:
Already included above (no additional)
Time: 10–12 minutes
Step 5: Garnish and Serve
Top with a spoon of homemade fresh cream (optional).
Serve hot with roti or rice.
Calories (Optional Cream Garnish):
Fresh cream (1 tbsp): ~52 kcal
Time: 2 minutes
⏱️ Total Preparation Time
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Blanching spinach | 10 minutes |
| Preparing paneer | 8 minutes |
| Making masala | 15 minutes |
| Cooking final dish | 10–12 minutes |
| Garnishing | 2 minutes |
| Total Time | ~45 minutes |
🔢 Total Calorie Count
| Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|
| Spinach (300g) | ~70 kcal |
| Paneer (250g) | ~650 kcal |
| Butter (1 tbsp) | ~102 kcal |
| Mustard oil (1 tbsp) | ~120 kcal |
| Onion (2 medium) | ~88 kcal |
| Tomato (2 medium) | ~44 kcal |
| Ginger-garlic paste | ~10 kcal |
| Fresh cream (optional) | ~52 kcal |
| Spices | negligible |
| Total (with cream) | ~1,136 kcal |
➡️ Divided among 4 persons:
Calories per person = ~284 kcal