Palak Paneer

Palak(Spinach) Paneer(Indian Cheese) is a famous North Indian dish that is very delectable, smooth textured dry curry dish. Calorie for calorie, this leafy green spinach has a delicate texture and jade green color that provides more nutrients than any other food. It is available almost year around, and that is the best part. As a south-west Indian ( I refer myself like that:) ) while growing up, palak paneer used to be a very special kind of dish, we ate mostly only when we went to the restaurants.

After I got interested in cooking, I used to have a mind block with respect to this dish as I thought it is a laborious dish to make because I had to make paneer from the scratch, cleaning spinach was a task in itself as we used to get mud rooted leaves and all... But now spinach is available in a clean and ready to use form, paneer is readily available too. Life is getting simpler, faster, quicker :) and palak paneer has become a staple food(dish) in my house.

I simply love spinach. There are days where I just saute it plain with garlic, salt and pepper and devour, and I am not even kidding. Various dishes can be dished out using this superstar green leafy vegetable, such as Spinach chicken, Spinach juice, Spinach pesto, salad, Spinach puffs, Spinach roti, poori etc etc.

After I have started my blog, I have made it several times and now finally got a chance to photograph it and pen it down here.


Let us take a look at this recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb spinach leaves (palak) frozen (or fresh leaves chopped roughly around 4-5 cups)
• 2 cups paneer cut in squares
• 1 onion big finely chopped
• 5-6 garlic pods roughly chopped
• 2-inch ginger roughly chopped
• 2-3 green chillies chopped
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/4 tsp black pepper powder
• salt as per taste
• 3-4 tbsp oil

Preparation:

• If using frozen palak, thaw it in a microwave or in warm water.
• In a pan, heat 1 tbsp oil and add green chillies, ginger, garlic and saute for a few seconds. Add palak leaves and mix everything. Cover and cook on med flame till the leaves wilt. 
• In a processor/blender make a coarse paste of this mixture and keep aside.
• In the same pan, add rest of the oil and add chopped onions, saute till translucent and add garam masala. 
• To this add the palak/spinach paste and cook for around 8-10 minutes, stirring in between. Add salt as per your taste. 
• Sprinkle salt and pepper lightly over paneer and you can shallow fry paneer separately on a grill(tava) or just gently add paneer pieces to the palak gravy.  Mix everything with a light hand. Simmer for another couple of minutes.
• Serve hot with rotis or with plain rice.  You can add a little bit of butter or drizzle heavy cream too while serving. 

njoY!! happY cooking!!

you may also enjoy leafy vegetables like methichi bhaji(fenugreek leaves vegetable) or mooli leaves (radish) pachadi

Health Benefits: Spinach has a high content of vitamin K and is useful for protein modification and plays an important role in protecting bones from osteoporosis. Spinach is also high in fiber, which helps break down food and keeps your digestive system moving.One cup of spinach is all you need to get a full day’s requirement of vitamin A. That’s good news for your tired eyes. Very rich in iron content, that’s why vegetarians and anemics are encouraged to eat lots of spinach for healthy blood and proper red blood cell production.If you are prone to asthma attacks or have difficulty breathing, include spinach in your diet. The beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium and magnesium in spinach all have anti-asthmatic properties.

Zucchini Paneer Flapjacks

These flapjacks have the potential to become yours and your kids favorite breakfast or teatime snack. Very easy to make, these delicious flapjacks can be sitting on your table to be devoured in no time. Made with zucchini and paneer as main ingredients, it tastes delicious.  I came across this recipe in a magazine while I was at a salon. Cudn't resist making a note of it in my mind and made it that week itself. Give it a try and I know you will not regret it.

Let's go check the recipe:

ZUCCHINI-PANEER FLAPJACKS

Ingredients:

• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup grated paneer (indian cheese)
• 1 tsp all purpose flour(maida)
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• salt as per taste
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• handful chopped cilantro
• 1 green chilli chopped (optional)
• oil to shallow fry

Preparation:

• Squeeze out all the water from the grated zucchini. 
• Mix paneer and zucchini together.
• Add all purpose flour, egg, salt, pepper, cilantro, green chilli and mix everything together. Make a semi solid batter.
• Heat a big Tava/Griddle and drop this mixture in small circles (like omelette) and fry on both sides evenly applying little oil on a medium flame. 
• Your flapjacks are ready to be devoured :)

NjoY!!!

Nutrition Facts: 
Zucchini is a popular squash in America. It looks like cucumbers. A low calorie vitamin and mineral source which plays a good role in anti-aging(skin), a good fibre helping in constipation. Paneer is Indian cheese rich in protein and calcium.

Carrot Kofta Balls

Carrot is one vegetable which has to be in your diet almost everyday, doesn't hurt even if you include it in each one meal. This recipe comes with a fun story.  There was an online cooking competition with two groups and I was given a recipe by a team member to do carrot kofta balls and guess what, this recipe won 1 round for our team and I was thrilled to no end :) Preps are very easy and this dish will be enjoyed by all. In fact, it will make a very good healthy snack for kids.

Let's take a look at the Carrot Kofta Balls recipe:

 Ingredients:

• 3 cups carrots shredded 
• 1/2 cup besan (chickpea or garbanzo flour) 
• 1/4 tsp ajwain seeds (carom seeds) or cumin seeds 
• 1-2 green chilli finely chopped 
• 1/2 cup grated paneer 
• 1 tbsp lemon juice 
• oil for deep frying koftas 
• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro or parsley for garnish 
• 1 tsp sesame seeds (add roasted sesame seeds to the batter itself) 
• salt to taste

Preparation:

• Squeeze the water out of shredded carrots and add chilli, ajwain seeds, sesame seeds, paneer, salt. 
• Add besan spoon by spoon and start kneading the mixture to make a soft dough. 
• Moisten hands with little oil. Take a small portion of dough at a time and using your palms, form into a round shaped ball. Repeat the process until all the dough is used up. Set aside on a platter. 
• Now heat oil in small pan or wok, on med flame, deep fry the koftas until they are golden brown on all sides. 
• Remove fried koftas from oil using slotted spoon. Drain and set aside. 
• Serve with hot cilantro or mint chutney or with ketchup. 

njoY!! happY cookinG!!

Health Benefits: Carrots rank high in the list of antioxidant vegetables because of its beta-carotene content. It has cardiovascular benefits, anti-cancer benefits and everyone know about how it helps in having a good vision. Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. The high level of beta-carotene in carrots acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. It help slows down the aging of cells. Vitamin A and antioxidants protect the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste. So YAY to carrots!!
info source from: care2.com