Best 3 Spinach And Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer Recipes

Spinach and feta cooked like Saag Paneer is a delicious and unique vegetarian dish that combines the flavors of Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. This dish is brimming with vibrant green spinach, tangy feta cheese, flavorful spices, and creamy yogurt, creating a delightful balance of flavors and textures. It's a perfect meal for those looking for a healthy and satisfying vegetarian option that's easy to prepare and packed with nutrients.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

SPINACH AND FETA COOKED LIKE SAAG PANEER

Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer image

Here's a familiar Indian takeout staple--saag paneer--but with the ingenious substitution of large cubes of feta for paneer (a bit of inspiration from our 1998 family trip to Athens and near continuous consumption of Greek salads, which in Greece are just . . . salads). The first time I tasted it, it was like when I discovered you can do the 9 times table with your fingers in third grade, which is to say, I just about lost it. Not only is my mom's spinach gravy infinitely more complex than that of most versions of saag paneer (I have been known to steal sauce swipes out of the pan when my mom isn't looking), but I also love the way the feta gets all soft and pseudo-baked, soaking in all the spices and melting a little into the gravy. And then you hit the pan with the oiled-up cumin and red chile powder, which add a whole other level of richness. I would go as far as to say that I now want all future saag paneer I eat to be made with feta. And I bet you will, too.

Provided by Priya Krishna

Categories main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons ghee or olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
2 green cardamom pods, or 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (freshly ground is best)
1 small yellow onion, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 pound fresh baby spinach (10 to 12 cups)
1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice (from about a quarter of a lime), plus more if needed
1 small Indian green chile or serrano chile, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
6 ounces feta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (a little over 1/2 cup)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon asafetida (optional, but really great)
1/4 teaspoon red chile powder
Rice or roti, for serving

Steps:

In a large pan over medium heat, warm 1/4 cup of the ghee (or oil). Once the ghee has melted (or the oil begins to shimmer), add the coriander and cardamom and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, until the seeds start to brown. Add the onion and cook until it is translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the ginger and garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the spinach and cook until it is just wilted, 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and add the lime juice, green chile, and salt. Let cool for 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender and blend into a chunky paste. Return the spinach mixture to the same pan and set it over low heat. Stir in 1/2 cup water, then gently fold in the feta, being careful not to break up the cubes. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes more to soften the feta slightly and allow it to soak up some of the spinach sauce.
While the feta cooks, in a small pan or butter warmer over medium-high heat, warm the remaining 2 tablespoons ghee (or oil) for 1 minute. Add the cumin seeds. As soon as (emphasis on as soon as--you don't want your cumin to burn!) the cumin seeds start to sputter and brown, about 1 minute max, remove the pan from the heat. Immediately add the asafetida (if using) and red chile powder.
Pour all of the ghee (or oil) mixture into the spinach and feta once that is done cooking. Serve with rice or roti.

SPINACH AND FETA COOKED LIKE SAAG PANEER

Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer image

Here's a familiar Indian takeout staple-saag paneer-but with the ingenious substitution of large cubes of feta for paneer.

Provided by Priya Krishna

Categories cookbooks Coriander Cardamom Onion Ginger Garlic Spinach Lime Juice Chile Pepper Feta Cumin

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons ghee or olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
2 green cardamom pods, or ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom (freshly ground is best)
1 small yellow onion, diced into ½ -inch pieces
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 pound fresh baby spinach (10 to 12 cups)
½ tablespoon fresh lime juice (from about a quarter of a lime), plus more if needed
1 small Indian green chile or serrano chile, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
6 ounces feta cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes (a little over ½ cup)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
¼ teaspoon asafetida (optional, but really great)
¼ teaspoon red chile powder

Steps:

In a large pan over medium heat, warm ¼ cup of the ghee (or oil). Once the ghee has melted (or the oil begins to shimmer), add the coriander and cardamom and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, until the seeds start to brown. Add the onion and cook until it is translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the ginger and garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the spinach and cook until it is just wilted, 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and add the lime juice, green chile, and salt. Let cool for 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender and blend into a chunky paste. Return the spinach mixture to the same pan and set it over low heat. Stir in ½ cup water, then gently fold in the feta, being careful not to break up the cubes. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes more to soften the feta slightly and allow it to soak up some of the spinach sauce.
While the feta cooks, in a small pan or butter warmer over medium-high heat, warm the remaining 2 tablespoons ghee (or oil) for 1 minute. Add the cumin seeds. As soon as (emphasis on as soon as-you don't want your cumin to burn!) the cumin seeds start to sputter and brown, about 1 minute max, remove the pan from the heat. Immediately add the asafetida (if using) and red chile powder.
Pour all of the ghee (or oil) mixture into the spinach and feta once that is done cooking.
Serve with rice or roti.

SPINACH AND FETA PITA BAKE

Spinach and Feta Pita Bake image

This is great as a party appetizer or a full meal. Tasty, full of flavor and good for you. The crunchy crust is what I really like! You can play with the veggie toppings and cheeses for a great meal that is fast and delicious! Our favorite quick meal!

Provided by Heatherbee

Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek

Time 22m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 (6 ounce) tub sun-dried tomato pesto
6 (6 inch) whole wheat pita breads
2 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch spinach, rinsed and chopped
4 fresh mushrooms, sliced
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Spread tomato pesto onto one side of each pita bread and place them pesto-side up on a baking sheet. Top pitas with tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, feta cheese, and Parmesan cheese; drizzle with olive oil and season with pepper.
Bake in the preheated oven until pita breads are crisp, about 12 minutes. Cut pitas into quarters.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 349.9 calories, Carbohydrate 41.6 g, Cholesterol 12.6 mg, Fat 17.1 g, Fiber 6.9 g, Protein 11.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 587.1 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

Tips

For a creamier sauce, use full-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of low-fat or nonfat yogurt.
If you don't have garam masala on hand, you can make your own by combining 1 teaspoon each of ground cumin, coriander, and turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon each of ground ginger and black pepper.
If you want a spicier dish, add an extra 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
Serve Saag Paneer with basmati rice, naan bread, or roti for a complete meal.
You can also make Saag Paneer ahead of time. Simply store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Conclusion

Saag Paneer is a healthy and delicious dish that is easy to make at home. It is a great way to enjoy the flavors of Indian cuisine without having to go out to a restaurant. With its creamy sauce, tender spinach, and flavorful paneer cheese, Saag Paneer is sure to please everyone at your table. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give Saag Paneer a try. You won't be disappointed!