Delicious Saag Paneer: Spinach with Indian Cheese Easy Recipe
SERVES/YIELD: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- Kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 12 ounces paneer, (Indian cheese, either store-bought or made from my recipe, recipe follows), cut into 1-inch cubes, see Cook's Note*
- 1 (16-ounce package) frozen chopped spinach
- 1 medium white onion, finely chopped
- 1 (1-inch thumb) ginger, peeled and minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large green serrano chile, finely chopped (seeds removed if you don't like it spicy!)
- 1/2 teaspoon store-bought or homemade garam masala, recipe follows
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt, stirred until smooth
- Cheesecloth
- 8 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more as needed, see Cook's Note*
- 3 large cinnamon sticks (if you have the kind you get at Indian stores, it's about 3 tablespoons of cinnamon bark bits)
- 3 tablespoons whole cloves
- 1/4 cup green cardamom pods, shelled, husks discarded (about 2 tablespoons of seeds)
- 4 large black cardamom pods, shelled, husks discarded (about 1 tablespoon of seeds), optional