Indian saag paneer is a famous vegetable curry which incorporates diced paneer cheese doused in a creamy mixture of fresh leafy greens, also known under the name saag. It is typically made with mustard, fenugreek, spinach, bathua, or collard greens, mashed and incorporated with tomatoes and a rich spice blend.
In India, the saag mixture is believed to have originated in the Punjabi region, and paneer version is just one of many varieties which incorporates this fragrant curry base. It can be enjoyed as a smaller side dish or a nutritious main meal that is usually accompanied by roti or naan.
Originating from India's Moghul cuisine, shahi paneer is a cheese curry that is prepared with paneer cheese, onions, cashews, and a rich, spicy tomato-cream sauce. The dish is typically accompanied by Indian breads such as naan, roti, or puri. Often referred to as the Royal paneer, traditionally, it is prepared during special occasions and festivities as a vegetarian main course.
Rich, hearty, and nutritious, shahi paneer is commonly garnished with coriander leaves.
MOST ICONIC Shahi paneer
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Palak paneer is a popular Indian vegetarian dish made with paneer cheese in a rich, thick sauce consisting of puréed spinach mixed with tomatoes, garam masala, garlic, and numerous spices. The key ingredients are even mentioned in the name of the dish, since palak means spinach in hindi, and paneer refers to the cheese.
Palak paneer has roots in the Punjabi region, but there are also other variations of the dish throughout India. It is a highly nutritious meal that can be consumed either for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, accompanied by rice or Indian flatbreads such as naan and roti.
MOST ICONIC Palak paneer
Mattar paneer is a popular vegetarian dish of North Indian origin, made with peas and paneer cheese in a garam masala-spiced tomato sauce. The rich, thick curry is a specialty of Punjab, but it is widely enjoyed throughout India. Traditionally, the dish is served either for lunch or dinner, accompanied by rice and Indian flatbreads such as naan, kulcha, roti, or paratha.
Variations abound, so corn, yogurt, or cream are often added as thickeners. Mattar paneer is commonly garnished with freshly chopped coriander and mint leaves on top, giving it a refreshing flavor.
MOST ICONIC Mattar paneer
Paneer makhani is a traditional curry originating from Punjab. The dish has a few versions, but it’s usually made with a combination of paneer cheese and a gravy consisting of ghee, tomatoes, cashews, cream, green chili peppers, garam masala spices, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, garlic, red chili powder, sugar, salt, turmeric, and fenugreek leaves.
The gravy is prepared first, and the paneer is added near the end of cooking. This mild and buttery dish dates back to the 1950s, and nowadays it’s typically served with butter garlic naan, paratha, or jeera rice on the side.
Paneer kulcha is a traditional dish that's especially popular in its flaky Amritsari-style version. The dish consists of leavened flatbread called kulcha that's stuffed with paneer cheese. Although there are many variations, the flatbread is usually stuffed with crumbled or grated paneer, chili peppers, coriander leaves, chaat masala, carom seeds, and salt.
The dough for the kulcha is made with flour, dahi, ghee, sugar, salt, water, and baking soda and powder. Paneer kulcha is often prepared during winter, and it's traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven. Serve the dish with chole, raita, yogurt, or chutneys on the side.
Achari paneer tikka is a traditional appetizer originating from India, and it's especially popular in Punjabi cuisine. The dish consists of paneer that's marinated in achari (pickling spices) masala, and it's then grilled, usually in a tandoor oven.
Although there are variations, the dish is usually made with paneer cubes, garam masala, dahi, ginger, and garlic. The marinade consists of cumin, fennel, ajwain (lovage), fenugreek, red chili powder, mustard seeds, hot chili peppers, oil, and lemon juice.
Paneer Amritsari is a traditional dish originating from the Punjab region. The dish is usually made with a combination of paneer cheese, ginger-garlic paste, oil, garam masala, and a variety of other Indian spices such as ajwain seeds, coriander, red chili powder, turmeric, sugar, and salt.
The cheese is cut into cubes and marinated in a mixture of ginger, garlic, turmeric, ajwain, garam masala, salt, and oil. The cubes are then fried or grilled until golden brown and crisp. The remaining ingredients are added in the end, and the combination is then mixed, garnished with coriander, and it’s ready to be served while still hot.
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