Palak-Paneer (Spinach with Cottage Cheese)

Ingredients:

250 g Paneer (Cottage Cheese), cut into small cubes.
Spinach 1 Box (I prefer Organic Baby Spinach)
½ tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp turmeric powder (haldi) 
½ tsp red chilli powder

½ tsp coriander powder
¼ tsp garam masala 
2 tbsp oil 
salt to taste

Finely chop the following or make paste.

2 Small Onions
2 cloves garlic

(½") piece ginger

2 green chillies

Spinach purée:

Blanch the spinach with some salt and little water in a pan. Let it cool down and then blend it to smooth purée. Don’t throw away the excess water. Save it to use later for cooking.

Paneer Pieces:

Cut the Paneer (cottage cheese) into small pieces. Instead of deep frying paneer pieces, I bake them in Oven. Pre heat Oven to 300F, and bake paneer till all the pieces turn golden brown.

 Before                                                              After Baking       

Cooking Steps:

1. Heat the oil or butter in a pan. 
2. Add cumin seeds.
3. Add the chopped onions and some salt. Fry them till they turn translucent.
4. Add the garlic, ginger, green chillies paste and fry again for a little time.
5. Once this paste stops sticking to the pan, add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, Coriander Powder and fry for 1 min. approx.
6. Add the spinach purée and 1 cup of water and bring it to boil. Use the excess water from blanching spinach.
7. Add baked paneer pieces. And cook for 2-3 mins.Add garam masala.

               Serve hot with Chapatti or Jeera Rice. I like it with a hint of lemon juice.