Palak paneer
{{Short description|Indian vegetarian dish with cheese}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Palak paneer
| image = Palakpaneer Rayagada Odisha 0009.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Palak paneer, Indian cheese in a pureed spinach sauce
| alternate_name = Palak chhena
| country = India
| region = India
| creator =
| course = Main
| served = Hot
| main_ingredient = Spinach, paneer/chhena, onions
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
Palak paneer ({{IPA|hns|paːlək pəniːɾ|pron}}) or palak chhena{{Cite web |title=छेना कॉर्न पालक (Chena Corn Palak recipe in Hindi) रेसिपी बनाने की विधि in Hindi by Rimjhim Agarwal |url=https://cookpad.com/in-hi/recipes/7673255-%E0%A4%9B%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95-chena-corn-palak-recipe-in-hindi |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Cookpad |date=18 March 2019 |language=hi}} is an Indian dish{{Cite web |url=http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/palak-paneer-indian-fresh-spinach-with-paneer-cheese-25348 |title=PALAK PANEER (INDIAN FRESH SPINACH WITH PANEER CHEESE) |last=Pastime |first=Palatable}} consisting of chhena{{Cite book |last=Wennakoski-Bielicki |first=Lakshmi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fb1vDwAAQBAJ&dq=chhena+paneer&pg=PA42 |title=Pure Vegetarian: 108 Indian-Inspired Recipes to Nourish Body and Soul |date=2015-07-21 |publisher=Shambhala Publications |isbn=978-1-61180-144-6 |language=en}} or paneer in a thick paste made from puréed spinach, called palak in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and other Indian languages.{{Cite web|title=spinach - Meaning in Hindi - Shabdkosh|url=https://www.shabdkosh.com/dictionary/english-hindi/spinach/spinach-meaning-in-hindi|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.shabdkosh.com}}{{Cite web|title=spinach - Meaning in marathi - Shabdkosh|url=https://www.shabdkosh.com/dictionary/english-marathi/spinach/spinach-meaning-in-marathi|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.shabdkosh.com}}{{Cite web|title=spinach - Meaning in gujarati - Shabdkosh|url=https://www.shabdkosh.com/dictionary/english-gujarati/spinach/spinach-meaning-in-gujarati|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.shabdkosh.com}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.shabdkosh.com/|title=palak paneer recipe, how to make palak paneer {{!}} best palak paneer recipe|last=amit|first=dassana|date=2013-05-22|work=Veg Recipes of India|access-date=2018-11-02|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last=LeVaux|first=Ari|date=15 May 2020|title=Summer blend: Mix up some spinach, spices for palak paneer|work=The Palm Beach Post|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/lifestyle/20200515/summer-blend-mix-up-some-spinach-spices-for-palak-paneer}}{{Cite web|date=2013-05-22|title=Palak Paneer {{!}} Easy Palak Paneer Recipe » Dassana's Veg Recipes|url=https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/palak-paneer/|access-date=2020-10-13|website=Dassana's Veg Recipes|language=en-US}} Dhaba restaurants often specialize in palak chhena.
Preparation
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.{{Cite web |date=12 May 2023 |title=Easy, Creamy, Tasty Palak Paneer Recipe Hindi {{!}} पालक पनीर रेसिपी |url=https://www.hothindirecipe.in/2023/05/palak-paneer-recipe-hindi.html |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=hothindirecipe.in}}{{Cite web|title=Palak Paneer Recipe {{!}} How to Make Palak Paneer {{!}} Palak Paneer|url=https://food.ndtv.com/recipe-palak-paneer-98895|access-date=2020-10-13|website=NDTV Food}}{{cite book|last1=Pitre|first1=Urvashi|title=Indian Instant Pot® Cookbook: Traditional Indian Dishes Made Easy and Fast|date=September 19, 2017|publisher=Rockridge Press|isbn=978-1939754547|page=88}}
Serving
File:Cottage cheese in spinach gravy(palak paneer).jpg
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.{{Cite web|title='Palak Paneer Idli' is a North-South Fusion Dish that Twitter Doesn't Want to Have|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/palak-paneer-idli-is-a-north-south-fusion-dish-that-twitter-doesnt-want-to-have-2741407.html|access-date=2020-10-14|website=News18|date=29 July 2020 }}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-30|title=There's now a palak paneer idli that has sparked a debate on social media|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/palak-paneer-idli-reactions-6528972/|access-date=2020-10-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}
See also
{{portal-inline|Food}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Indian Dishes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palak paneer}}
Category:Uttar Pradeshi cuisine
Category:Maharashtrian cuisine
Category:Vegetarian dishes of India
{{India-cuisine-stub}}