Saag Paneer

I am of the understanding that an authentic "Saag Paneer" dish is made with tender Mustard greens and Indian cottage cheese called "Paneer" cooked with just the right amount of spices. Since I don't find the mustard greens in the stores anywhere near my place, I always make do with Spinach. And trust me, Spinach is an excellent alternative. A mixture of mustard greens and spinach maybe used as well.
This is one of the very few dishes from the Indian cuisine that is totally irresistible and would even please a "picky eater" who doesn't care for an Indian fare.

Ingredients:

• 1-1.5 lb Spinach Leaves (~9-10 Cups)
• 14 Oz Paneer Block, cut into cubes (I use the brand "Nanak" from Indian Stores)
• 1 Tsp Cumin seeds
• 2 Tbsp Store-bought or Home-made Ghee/Clarified Butter
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Cup Thick Yogurt

For Grinding:

• 1 Large Yellow Onion, roughly chopped
• 2 Medium Tomatoes. roughly chopped
• 4 Cloves Garlic, peeled
• 1" Ginger, peeled and chopped
• 3-4 Dry Red Chile
• 1 Tsp Fennel Seeds
• 1/2 Cup Cilantro, finely chopped

Procedure:

• Start off by washing the Spinach in several changes of cold water and drain it completely in a colander.Roughly chop the spinach and set aside.

• Add a tbsp of Olive Oil to a wide non-stick pan and lightly brown the Paneer cubes.

• Drain them on paper towels. Set aside.

• Add a tbsp of ghee to the same pan and fry all the ingredients except Cilantro under "For Grinding"

• Switch off the stove and add Cilantro.

• Cool and grind to a coarse mixture. Set aside.
• In the same pan, add the remaining tbsp of Oil and Ghee. When warmed, add the cumin seeds and fry for a few seconds.
• Add the chopped spinach to the pan. Toss about the pan and cook just until it wilts.

• Quickly add the ground mixture plus salt for taste,give a stir and add the browned Paneer cubes.

• Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes and add a cup of thick yogurt.

• Stir gently and switch off the stove a couple of minutes later. Move it to the serving bowl and serve it with a steaming plate of rice or roti.

Makes ~4-5 Servings.

Enjoy!