Healthy Kashmiri-style Palak Paneer recipe

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🥬 Healthy Kashmiri Palak Paneer (Serves 2–3)

⭐ What makes it Kashmiri & healthy?

• No onions or garlic (traditional Kashmiri Pandit style)
• Uses fennel (saunf) and dry ginger (sonth)
• Minimal oil
• No cream or butter
• Gentle heat from Kashmiri red chilli

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🧾 Ingredients

• Spinach (palak) – 250–300 g
• Paneer – 150 g (preferably low-fat, cubed)
• Mustard oil – 1 to 1½ tsp
• Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
• Fennel powder (saunf) – 1 tsp
• Dry ginger powder (sonth) – ½ tsp
• Kashmiri red chilli powder – ½ to 1 tsp (for color, mild heat)
• Asafoetida (hing) – a pinch
• Curd (low-fat, whisked) – 2 tbsp (optional but traditional)
• Salt – to taste
• Water – as needed

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👩‍🍳 Method

1. Prepare the palak
   • Wash spinach well.
   • Blanch in boiling water for 1–2 minutes, then transfer to cold water.
   • Grind into a smooth paste without adding water. Set aside.
2. Lightly cook paneer (optional but healthier)
   • Heat a non-stick pan and dry roast paneer cubes for 1–2 minutes, or soak in warm water for softness.
3. Make the base
   • Heat mustard oil until just smoky, then lower heat.
   • Add cumin seeds and hing.
   • Add fennel powder, dry ginger powder, and Kashmiri chilli powder (mix quickly so it doesn’t burn).
4. Add curd (optional)
   • On very low heat, add whisked curd slowly, stirring continuously to avoid splitting.
5. Add palak paste
   • Add spinach puree and salt.
   • Simmer for 5–7 minutes on low heat until well cooked and aromatic.
6. Add paneer
   • Add paneer cubes and a little water if needed.
   • Simmer for another 3–4 minutes.
7. Finish
   • Adjust seasoning.
   • No cream or garam masala needed—let the flavors stay subtle.

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🥗 Nutrition Tips

• Use tofu instead of paneer for a vegan or lower-fat version
• Mustard oil helps absorption of iron from spinach
• Avoid overcooking to preserve nutrients

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🍽️ Serve with

• Steamed rice
• Kashmiri-style mujaddar dal
• Phulka or jowar roti

If you’d like, I can also share:

• A vegan version
• Weight-loss macro breakdown
• Or a restaurant-style vs traditional comparison

Just tell me 😊