Best 2 Palak Paneer Veganized Recipes

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Palak paneer is a classic North Indian dish made with spinach, paneer (an Indian cheese), and a variety of spices. It's a delicious and hearty dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. For those who are vegan, there are many ways to veganize this dish by replacing the paneer with a plant-based protein such as tofu, tempeh, or even chickpeas. This article will provide you with some of the best veganized palak paneer recipes that are sure to satisfy your cravings for this delicious dish.

Let's cook with our recipes!

EASY PALAK PANEER



Easy Palak Paneer image

A delicious Indian dish, good on its own or served with rice or naan bread. Substitute tofu for paneer to make it vegan.

Provided by Melanie Lacaille

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Indian

Time 59m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 onion, diced
6 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
3 tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root
2 cups cubed paneer

Steps:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, red pepper flakes, curry powder, cumin, and salt; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Mix water, spinach, tomatoes, and ginger into the onion mixture; simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
  • Transfer spinach mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir paneer until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir pureed spinach mixture into skillet with paneer. Cook until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 194.7 calories, Carbohydrate 16.3 g, Cholesterol 11.3 mg, Fat 9.4 g, Fiber 5.7 g, Protein 14.6 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 772.6 mg, Sugar 4.6 g

PALAK PANEER - VEGANIZED!



Palak Paneer - Veganized! image

This is the result of combining the best of two great recipes for Palak Paneer (Spinach with Paneer). I wanted to "veganize" a tried and trusted recipe from Madhur Jaffrey's World of the East Vegetarian Cooking....and then I came across a really good looking vegan version on a blog: http://earthvegan.blogspot.com/2008/01/. I felt like the latter version could be improved by using some of the techniques and spices from the other. I have to say, the end result was amazing! Making this dish is simple but there are lots of steps, and lots of dishes to wash up. Hope that doesn't scare you off! You could take care of quite a bit of it the day before. I think at the end of the day the effort is worth it and I hope you will too.

Provided by magpie diner

Categories     Low Cholesterol

Time 1h

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 21

350 g firm tofu (one package, firm or extra...)
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1 tablespoon lemon juice (sub lime if need be)
1 teaspoon canola oil (any light oil or coconut oil)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon garam masala
sea salt, to taste
1/4-1/2 teaspoon chili powder (note there is some chili powder again in the spinach, so all depending, you might want to omit it he) (optional)
2 tablespoons canola oil (subs ok)
2 bunches fresh spinach (I use a 284 gram pre-washed "tub" of baby spinach)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1/2 medium onion
2 fresh garlic cloves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chili powder (or sub 1 fresh green chili)
2 fresh tomatoes, diced
sea salt, to taste
1 tablespoon arrowroot (or sub corn starch)
1/4 cup plain soymilk (or sub almond or rice milk, etc)

Steps:

  • Prepare the tofu beforehand by pressing out some of the moisture. The easiest way to do this is to place the block of tofu in a colander, placing a plate on top and then weighing it down with a tin of soup or a heavy skillet. It takes about 1/2 an hour, but you could leave this for however long you need to in the fridge.
  • Cut the pressed tofu into one inch cubes.
  • Combine the next 7 ingredients, (grated ginger, lemon juice, oil, turmeric, garam masala, sea salt and chili powder if using). Toss in the tofu and leave to marinate for about 30 minutes, or longer if need be. Try to turn a couple of times so that the marinade gets evenly distributed.
  • Final step with the tofu is to saute it in about 1 tbsp of the oil. Try to get each side lightly golden. You can use more oil if you want to -- I'm just trying to keep the calories as low as possible. Set aside once done.
  • Next step - the spinach. In a dutch oven or large saute pan, heat up about an inch of water. While that's boiling, chop the spinach roughly and then add to the boiling water, steaming until tender (a matter of a few minutes). Once done, turn off the heat and then drain out about 1/4 cup of the liquid into a measuring cup. Once you've taken that 1/4 cup out, there shouldn't be a whole lot left. Set the 1/4 cup of spinach water aside and then puree what's left in the pot together with the steamed spinach. I like to just use an immersion blender right there in the pot -- or you could move to a blender or something similar. Set the spinach aside (I move mine to a bowl and clean out the same pot).
  • Next step -- putting it together. Using a mini-blender or food processor, combine the onion, ginger, garlic, fresh chili if using, and the 1/4 cup of spinach water - puree into a smooth paste.
  • Heat the remaining tbsp of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add in the paste (watch out, it will splatter) and fry it for about 30 seconds. Then add your other spices and diced tomatoes. Lower the heat and let that cook gently for about 5 minutes, watching it doesn't burn.
  • Add in your pureed spinach and season to taste with salt.
  • Next combine the arrowroot powder with the soy milk in a small dish. Once you've removed the lumps, gently stir it in and let the sauce thicken up for a few more minutes. Lastly, add in the tofu and let it warm through, about 10 more minutes.
  • Done! Serve with rice or naan etc -- garnish with fresh cilantro if you like, or some more diced fresh tomato.

Tips:

  • Use fresh spinach: Fresh spinach has a more vibrant flavor and color than frozen spinach. If you're using frozen spinach, be sure to thaw it and squeeze out any excess water before using it.
  • Don't overcook the spinach: Overcooked spinach will become mushy and lose its flavor. Cook it just until it is wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Use a good quality paneer: Paneer is a type of Indian cheese that is made from cow's milk. It has a firm texture and a mild flavor. You can find paneer at most Indian grocery stores.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices: Palak paneer is a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. Try adding different spices, such as cumin, coriander, and garam masala, to create a unique flavor profile.
  • Serve palak paneer with rice or naan: Palak paneer is traditionally served with rice or naan. Rice is a good option for soaking up the flavorful sauce, while naan is a good option for dipping into the sauce.

Conclusion:

Palak paneer is a delicious and nutritious dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. So next time you're looking for a new vegetarian dish to try, give palak paneer a try!

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