Palak paneer facts for kids
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Palak paneer, Indian cheese in a pureed spinach sauce
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| Course | Main |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Indian Subcontinent |
| Region or state | North India |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Spinach, paneer, onions chopped |
Palak paneer is a popular and tasty Indian dish. It's made with a special kind of cheese called paneer (which is like a firm cottage cheese) mixed into a thick, creamy sauce. This sauce is made from puréed spinach, which is called 'palak' in many Indian languages.
Sometimes, you might hear "saag paneer" instead of "palak paneer," especially in restaurants in English-speaking countries. But they are a bit different! Palak paneer is only made with spinach. Saag paneer uses a mix of different green leafy vegetables, like mustard greens, along with spinach.
How Palak Paneer is Made
Making palak paneer starts with boiling and then blending fresh spinach until it's a smooth paste. This spinach paste is then mixed with cooked tomatoes and onions. Next, small cubes of paneer cheese, which are often grilled or fried slightly, are added to the creamy spinach sauce.
The dish gets its amazing flavor from many spices. Common spices used include ginger, garlic, garam masala (a mix of ground spices), turmeric, chili powder, and cumin. These spices are cooked with the onions and tomatoes to create a rich base for the spinach and cheese.
How to Enjoy Palak Paneer
Palak paneer is usually served hot as a main dish. It's often eaten with different kinds of Indian breads, like roti, naan, or paranthas. It also tastes great with boiled rice. For a more traditional meal, some people like to have sliced onions on the side.
In recent years, chefs have started to create new and exciting versions of palak paneer by mixing it with other foods. For example, in 2020, a food blogger in India made a unique palak paneer idli (a soft, fluffy rice cake). This new dish became a big topic of conversation online! Also in 2020, a pizza company in Vietnam created a special palak paneer-chapli kebab pizza. This creative pizza was made to celebrate the International Day of Peace, showing how different cultures can come together through food.
See also
In Spanish: Palak paneer para niños
