This Indian-style spinach with fresh cheese is one of my favourite vegetable dishes.
Apparently, it is relatively easy to make paneer but we are lazy and buy it ready made (we like Nanak brand). In preparation for palak paneer, the cheese is sliced, fried in butter (it holds its shape). The middle eastern cheese, Halloumi, also holds its shape when fried.
Cube and set aside til ready to be dropped into the spinach just before serving. We generally fry all of the cheese and freeze extra cubes even though one is NOT supposed to freeze cheese (please don't tell the paneer police about our transgressions).
Two bunches of spinach will make just enough for 4 people. The spinach reduces dramatically when cooked.
Wash spinach leaves and tender stems, drain in a colander and sprinkle with salt. The salt releases the water from the spinach and "cooks" it in a relatively short time (about 30 minutes).
Squeeze, rinse and squeeze the spinach to take out as much water as possible. This is the same two bunches of spinach as before.
Cook spices and onions until the onions are caramelized. It's really good if the onions become dark golden brown.
Stir spinach into the onion mixture.
Put spinach into food processor. Add a good shot of butter and process til puréed.
Put the puréed spinach into a pan to heat through. Add cheese and keep warm (but not too hot) until it's time to serve.
Serve palak paneer with naan. Palak paneer is great with chole (chick peas) and red cabbage raita.
Garnish with coriander leaves (aka cilantro) if you have them. Palak paneer is also great with butter chicken. Palak paneer and naan are equally delicious with rogan josh and beets and turnip. Pickled onions and carrots are a great palate cleanser.
