INDIAN STYLE SPINACH WITH FRESH CHEESE (SAAG PANEER) - COOK'S IL

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Indian Style Spinach With Fresh Cheese (Saag Paneer) - Cook's Il image

This classic dish combines pureed spinach with freshly made cheese in a mildly-spiced creamy sauce. This version includes a little bit of mustard greens for bite. Adapted from Cook's Illustrated Sep/Oct 2012. Note: if you place the colander over a bowl, the whey from the cheese makes very tasty bread. Also note that the serving size reported is incorrect - you are going to lose nearly 3 quarts of whey in the cheese making, so the actual serving size is more like 350gm or 12 oz.

Provided by DrGaellon

Categories     Spinach

Time 1h45m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 22

3 quarts whole milk
3 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon table salt
1 (10 ounce) bag curly spinach, rinsed
1/4 lb mustard greens, stemmed and rinsed
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 onion, chopped fine
salt, to taste
ground black pepper, to taste
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 jalapeno chile, stemmed seeds removed and rinsed
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained and chopped coarse
1/2 cup roasted cashews, chopped coarse (unsalted)
1 cup water
1 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Steps:

  • Line a colander with a triple layer of cheesecloth and set in sink. Bring milk to boil in large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Whisk in buttermilk and salt and remove from heat. Let stand 1 minute. Pour through cheesecloth let drain 15 minutes.
  • Pull together edges of cheesecloth to form pouch. Twist pouch, extracting as much liquid as possible. Place pouch between two plates and set a heavy pot on the top plate. Let stand at room temperature 45 minutes, or until cheese is firm and set. Drain whey as often as necessary. (Cheese can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated up to 3 days at this point.) Unwrap and dice cheese into 1/2" pieces.
  • Place spinach in large bowl and microwave on high until wilted, about 3 minutes. Let cool until it can be handled.
  • Chop enough spinach to make 1/2 cup and set aside. Place remaining spinach in blender container.
  • Wilt mustard greens in same bowl in microwave, about 4 minutes. Let it cool until it can be handled.
  • Chop enough mustard greens to make 1/2 cup and set aside with chopped spinach. Add remaining mustard greens to blender container.
  • Meanwhile, melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds, coriander, paprika, cardamom, and cinnamon, and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onion and 3/4 tsp salt; cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, and jalapeno, and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until pan is dry and tomatoes are beginning to brown, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer half the mixture to the blender.
  • Add half the cashews and all the water to the blender. Process on high until smooth, about 1 minute. Add puree to skillet and return to medium-high heat. Add reserved greens and buttermilk and bring to simmer. Reduce to low, cover, and cook until flavors blend, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Gently fold in cheese cubes and cook until hot, 1-2 minutes. Serve sprinkled with remaining cashews and cilantro.

Rasil Sahil
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This was my first time making saag paneer, and I was really happy with the results. The dish was flavorful and easy to make. I will definitely be making this again.


E Matthews
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This was a great recipe. The saag paneer was delicious and easy to make. I will definitely be making this again.


Sabawoon Khan
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This saag paneer was so delicious and easy to make. I loved the addition of the tomatoes and peas, which added a bit of sweetness and texture to the dish. I will definitely be making this again.


Main Abdullah Abdul islam
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I made this saag paneer for a party, and it was a huge hit. Everyone loved it. The spinach was cooked perfectly, and the paneer was so creamy and flavorful. I loved the addition of the tomatoes and peas, which added a bit of sweetness and texture to


Behzad ali Ali
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This was the best saag paneer I've ever had. The spinach was so fresh and flavorful, and the paneer was cooked perfectly. I loved the addition of the tomatoes and peas, which added a bit of sweetness and texture to the dish. I would definitely make t


Muhammad Banks
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I was really impressed with this saag paneer. It was so easy to make, and the results were amazing. The spinach was cooked perfectly, and the paneer was so creamy and flavorful. I loved the addition of the tomatoes and peas, which added a bit of swee


manel dina
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This saag paneer was delicious! The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the spinach was cooked perfectly. I loved the addition of the tomatoes and peas, which added a bit of sweetness and texture to the dish. I would definitely make this again.


Syed Muneeb Khan
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I'm not a big fan of spinach, but I really enjoyed this dish. The spinach was cooked perfectly, and the paneer was so creamy and flavorful. I loved the addition of the tomatoes and peas, which added a bit of sweetness and texture to the dish. I would


Muliisa Henry
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This was my first time making saag paneer, and I was really impressed with how easy it was to make. The recipe was clear and concise, and I was able to follow it easily. The dish turned out great, and my family loved it. I will definitely be making t


Suleman Qureshi
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I've made this saag paneer recipe several times now, and it's always a winner. It's so easy to make, and the results are always delicious. The spinach is always tender and flavorful, and the paneer is always perfectly cooked. I love serving this dish


Bigshek koroma
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This saag paneer was a hit! The spinach was fresh and flavorful, and the paneer was cooked perfectly. I loved the addition of the tomatoes and peas, which added a bit of sweetness and texture to the dish. Overall, this was a delicious and satisfying