> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thefoodiekitchen.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Palak Paneer in Ghee — Indian Spinach and Fresh Cheese - URL: https://thefoodiekitchen.net/palak-paneer-ghee/ - Published: 2026-12-31T10:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-15T04:22:25.000Z - Description: Palak paneer is India's beloved spinach and fresh cheese curry — blanched spinach pureed into a vivid green sauce with ghee-fried spices and cubes of homemade paneer. One of Indian cooking's great dishes. - Author: Savannah Ryan - Tags: Indian Recipes, MAHA Recipes Palak paneer is one of India's most universally loved dishes — vibrant green from blanched and pureed spinach, enriched by a ghee-fried spice base, and studded with cubes of fresh paneer. It is simultaneously light and rich, the spinach providing iron and freshness, the ghee and paneer providing fat and body. The dish belongs to the Punjabi tradition and is now a staple of Indian restaurants worldwide, though the restaurant version — heavy with cream and often made from frozen spinach — rarely matches a properly made home version. ## Homemade Paneer Paneer is one of the simplest cheeses to make — whole milk curdled with lemon juice or vinegar, drained through a cloth, and pressed into a firm block. Fresh paneer has a clean, milky flavour that store-bought paneer rarely matches. It takes 30 minutes and requires only milk, an acid, and a strainer. For palak paneer, the paneer cubes are ideally fried in ghee until golden before being added to the spinach — this creates a crispy exterior that remains intact even after 10 minutes in the sauce. ## Serves 4 · Prep 20 min · Cook 30 min Serves 4 Prep 20 min Cook 30 min ### Ingredients - 400g fresh paneer, cubed (or homemade from 2 litres whole milk) - 500g fresh spinach - 3 tbsp ghee, divided - 1 onion, finely diced - 4 garlic cloves, minced - 2cm fresh ginger, grated - 2 green chillies - 1 tsp cumin seeds - 1 tsp coriander powder - 1/2 tsp turmeric - 1/2 tsp garam masala - 4 tbsp cream or full-fat yoghurt - Salt ### Method 1. Blanch spinach in boiling water 2 minutes. Drain, cool in cold water. Squeeze dry. Blend smooth with green chillies. 2. Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pan. Fry paneer cubes until golden on all sides. Remove and set aside. 3. In the same pan, heat remaining ghee. Add cumin seeds — they should sizzle immediately. 4. Add onion. Cook 8 minutes until golden. 5. Add garlic and ginger. Cook 2 minutes. 6. Add coriander, turmeric. Cook 1 minute. 7. Add spinach puree. Cook 5 minutes. 8. Add paneer and cream. Simmer 5 minutes. 9. Finish with garam masala. Season and serve with roti or rice. ## The Ghee Tadka The ghee tadka — spices bloomed in hot clarified butter — is the flavour foundation of palak paneer. Cumin seeds crackle and release their aromatic oils the moment they hit the hot ghee. This takes 30 seconds and cannot be replicated by adding cumin powder to the dish later. The bloomed spices flavour the fat, which then carries that flavour through every component of the dish. Frequently Asked Questions Can I use frozen spinach? Yes — thaw completely and squeeze out all liquid before blending. Fresh spinach produces a more vibrant colour and flavour but frozen is a practical substitute. How do I make paneer at home? Bring 2 litres whole milk to a boil. Add 4 tbsp lemon juice. Stir as the curds form. Drain through a muslin-lined strainer. Press under a weight for 30 minutes. Cut into cubes. What does garam masala add at the end? Garam masala added at the end of cooking (not during) contributes warm, fragrant notes that high heat would destroy. Add it off the heat for maximum aroma. Shop This Recipe Fourth and Heart Ghee Grass-fed ghee for the tadka that opens palak paneer. [Get on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B48Y2D7?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Savannah Ryan · Amazon Savor India 20 authentic ghee-based Indian recipes — palak paneer, dal tadka, butter chicken, biryani and more. [Get on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSM61XQX?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Shop on The Foodie Kitchen - [Seed oil free pantry guide — every fat, every brand](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/seed-oil-free-pantry-staples-amazon/) - [All 25 seed oil free cookbooks by Savannah Ryan](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/cookbooks/) Related Recipes - [Indian Dal in Ghee](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/indian-dal-ghee/) - [Delhi Butter Chicken](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/delhi-butter-chicken/) - [Chana Masala in Ghee](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/chana-masala-ghee/) - [Aloo Gobi in Ghee](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/aloo-gobi-ghee/) --- Follow Savannah: [@theefoodiekitchen](https://www.instagram.com/theefoodiekitchen/?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572217094296) · [All Links](https://linktr.ee/theefoodiekitchen?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net)