Authentic Saag Paneer

Ingredients

• Salt (1 teaspoon, or to taste)
• Vegetable Oil (2 tablespoons)
• Cumin seeds (1 teaspoon)
• Turmeric powder (1/2 teaspoon)
• Garam masala (1/2 teaspoon)
• Green chili (1, finely chopped)
• Ginger (1 tablespoon, finely grated)
• Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
• Tomato (1 large, chopped)
• Onion (1 large, finely chopped)
• Spinach (500 grams, washed and chopped)
• Paneer cheese (200 grams, cut into cubes)

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the paneer cubes and fry until they are golden brown on all sides. Once done, remove the paneer from the pan and set aside.
2. In the same pan, add the remaining tablespoon of oil and the cumin seeds. Once the seeds start to sizzle and give off their aroma, add the finely chopped onion. Cook until the onion becomes translucent and starts to turn golden brown.
3. Stir in the minced garlic, grated ginger, and finely chopped green chili into the pan. Sauté these ingredients for about a minute until they release their fragrances.
4. Next, add the chopped tomato to the pan along with the garam masala, turmeric, and salt. Cook this mixture until the tomatoes are soft and fully cooked down.
5. Add the chopped spinach to the pan, stirring well to mix it with the other ingredients. Continue to cook until the spinach wilts down. Take the pan off the heat and blend the mixture until it becomes a smooth sauce using a hand blender.
6. Return the pan to the heat and add the fried paneer cubes. Stir well to make sure the paneer is fully coated with the spinach mixture. Let everything cook together for another 5 minutes.
7. Serve the Saag Paneer hot, accompanied by rice or naan to soak up the delicious sauce. Enjoy!