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4.6 from 15 votes

Jain Palak Paneer

A very easy and tasty recipe of Jain Palak Paneer that is made without onions, garlic, ginger and cream. This smooth, creamy and flavorful spinach gravy or sauce is made with of course fresh spinach, cashews, asafoetida, spices and ghee.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 247 kcal
Course: Main Course

Ingredients

For spinach puree
  • 4 cups spinach - tightly packed leaves,185 grams (palak)
  • 3.5 cups hot water - for blanching spinach
  • 1 green chili - chopped
  • 10 to 12 cashews
  • ¼ cup hot water - for soaking cashews
Other ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
  • 1 inch cinnamon
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 green cardamoms
  • 1 to 2 ingle strands of mace
  • 1 dry red chili - seeds removed
  • 1 generous pinch asafoetida (hing)
  • ¼ teaspoon dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon sugar or add as required
  • ½ to ⅔ cup water or add as required
  • salt as required
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon lemon juice - optional
  • 200 grams paneer - chopped in cubes
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala

Instructions

Blanching and making spinach puree
    Cup of Yum
  1. First soak cashews in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. After the soaking time is complete, drain the water and set soaked cashews aside.
  2. Meanwhile rinse 4 cups tightly packed spinach very well and then drain the excess water.Only take the leaves and tender stems. Do not use the stems if they are stringy or woody.
  3. In a pan heat 3.5 cups water till it starts boiling. Turn off the heat and then add the spinach leaves. Let the spinach leaves blanch in the hot water for 2 minutes.
  4. Then with the help of tongs remove the leaves and place them in a blender or grinder. You can even strain the blanched leaves in a colander/strainer and then add them to the blender or mixer-grinder.
  5. Next add chopped green chilies and the soaked cashews in the grinder or blender.
  6. Grind to a smooth and fine puree without adding any water. There should be no bits of cashews in the puree. Set aside. 
Making Jain Palak Paneer
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons ghee or oil in a pan. Keep the heat to a low when adding spices, so that they do not get burnt.
  2. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle. 
  3. Then add tej patta, cinnamon, cloves, green cardamoms, single strands of mace, dry red chili and a generous pinch of asafoetida.
  4. Stir and mix well but take care that these spices do not burn. Either keep the heat to low or turn off the heat.
  5. Then add crushed dry fenugreek leaves or kasuri methi. Mix well.
  6. Next add turmeric powder and red chili powder. Mix well.
  7. Now add the prepared spinach and cashew puree mixture. Stir and mix very well.
  8. Season with salt as per taste. Also add ¼ to ½ teaspoon sugar.
  9. Add ½ to ⅔ cup water or add as required. Mix again very well.
  10. On a low to medium heat simmer the gravy for 6 to 7 minutes. Stir at intervals. 
  11. Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon lemon juice. ½ teaspoon lemon juice makes the spinach sauce or gravy slightly sour and the tang is felt. Mix well.So you can add according to your taste preferences.
  12. Then add paneer cubes and garam masala powder. if you want you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons cream at this step.
  13. Stir to combine and turn off the heat.
  14. Serve Jain Palak Paneer hot or warm with steamed rice, peas pulao, jeera rice or with chapatis, phulka or naan.

Notes

  • Adding lemon juice is optional.
  • You could opt to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cream if you prefer.
  • Ensure that the paneer is fresh and preferably homemade. 
  • While frying the spices, make sure that the heat is kept to a low or turned off, so that the spices do not burn.

Nutrition Information

Calories 247kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 20g (31%) Saturated Fat 11g (55%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 49mg (16%) Sodium 104mg (4%) Potassium 319mg (9%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 4680IU (94%) Vitamin C 30.5mg (34%) Calcium 296mg (30%) Iron 1.9mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 247

% Daily Value*

Calories 247kcal 12%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 20g 31%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 49mg 16%
Sodium 104mg 4%
Potassium 319mg 7%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 4680IU 94%
Vitamin C 30.5mg 34%
Calcium 296mg 30%
Iron 1.9mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.