Instant Pot Palak Paneer|Easy Palak Paneer
Palak Paneer is a dish of North Indian origin consisting of palak (spinach) and paneer (cottage cheese) in a thick curry sauce based on pureed spinach and garam masala.
I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT
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Palak Paneer is a dish of North Indian origin consisting of palak (spinach) and paneer (cottage cheese) in a thick curry sauce based on pureed spinach and garam masala.
- measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml
- 250 grams OR 10 OZ spinach/Palak pureed with 1/2 cup of water in a blender
- 1 cup OR 100 grams paneer/Cottage Cheese cubed
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 large tomato finely chopped
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic, minced
- 2-3 green chili finely chopped
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp cumin/jeera seeds
- 2-3 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp cream OR cashew-nut paste optional
- Salt to taste
- water if required
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Prepare spinach puree by adding spinach into the blender with little water and keep aside.
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Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil in to the POT.
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Once POT is hot add cumin,ginger-garlic,green chili,onion and saute until onions turn light brown.
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Next add tomato and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tomatoes turn soft and mushy.Keep stirring else it may stick to the POT.
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Add the spinach puree into the tomato and onion paste and give a quick stir. Add little water if gravy is too thick.
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Then add garam masala powder,coriander powder,salt and mix well.
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Close the lid on the pot, and turn valve from VENTING to SEALING position.
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Press CANCEL button on Instant Pot.
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Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 2 minutes
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Do a QUICK RELEASE(QR)(Wait until silver button on lid drops).BE CAREFUL OF THE HOT STEAM.
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Then add cream and the paneer and mix well.No need to boil/saute again after adding paneer.
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Delicious palak paneer is ready. Serve it with your favorite Indian bread variety (roti / naan / kulcha / paratha) or even plain rice.
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Blanch spinach/palak for 3-4 minutes and put cooked spinach into cold water for 30 secs to retain green color.Prepare spinach puree by adding cooked spinach into the blender with very little water and keep aside.
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Once the oil is hot, add cumin/jeera,ginger-garlic,green chili and saute for 30 secs until raw smell of ginger garlic goes away.
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Then add onion and saute until onions turn light brown.
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Add the tomato and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
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Add the spinach puree into the tomato and onion paste and give a quick stir. Add little water if gravy is too thick.
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Then add garam masala powder,coriander powder,salt and mix well.Boil for 2-3 minutes.Note Just cover the pan with a lid to avoid spinach from splattering all over.Do not over cook.
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Add the cream to the spinach gravy and then add the paneer cubes. Mix well.
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Delicious palak paneer is ready. Serve it with your favorite Indian bread variety (roti / naan / kulcha / paratha) or even plain rice.
Recipe Video
1.Vegans can replace cottage cheese/paneer with Tofu.
2.If you dont have paneer or tofu you can also add cubed potatoes along with spinach puree and pressure cook for 2 minutes in INSTANT POT.
3.You can also skip tomato and instead can add 2 tablespoon of curd for sourness.
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