Homemade Fresh Palak Paneer Capsicum

Contrasting textures and flavours are brought together in this delicious homemade palak paneer capsicum curry. The flavours of sautéed onion, ginger and garlic, methi (fenugreek) and jeera (cumin), meld with the richness of the tomato to form an aromatic gravy. The softness of the spinach puree contrasted with the crunch of the capsicum and the pieces of ginger and tomato are a culinary delight!

A family favourite, this homemade healthy palak paneer capsicum, a flavourful and nutritious curry, appears on my dining table at least once a week. I source fresh, zero pesticide Spinach, supplied by First Agro Farms at Bangalore, and am comfortable that I am using safe healthy ingredients.  Spinach has broad leaves and has very little grit or sand. One has to still wash the spinach well and make sure there is no grit clinging to it, before making palak paneer or any other dish!

The homemade palak paneer capsicum is easy to make and needs only a few ingredients. i have given the instructions step by step in  stages so it may look like a lot of work, but actually its easy and quick. Traditionally capsicum is not used, however I add it to give texture to the dish. I also add tomato puree and yogurt.

Spinach leaves are low in fat and cholesterol. They are a rich source of  protein, fibre, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, iron, zinc, niacin, calcium,  magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese.

Making Homemade Palak Paneer Capsicum

While making the palak paneer, blanch the spinach and immediately plunge the drained leaves into a tub of ice water, to help retain the rich green colour.

Use fresh paneer to get the best taste.

Blanching and coarsely grinding the spinach, and then cooking it in very little oil, as in this recipe for palak paneer helps retain its nutritious properties.

You might like to try other recipes on this blog:

Mutter ka Nimona - UP Style

Lemon Basil Hummus with Mint

Rajma Masala Curry

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Homemade Palak Paneer Capsicum - Pureed Spinach with Cottage cheese and Green bell pepper

Sujata Shukla

Easy Homemade Palak Paneer Capsicum Curry. Delicious cubes of cottage cheese cooked in soft spinach and onion tomato gravy. Fresh, Green, Nutritious

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Servings 2 cups

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 cups spinach
• 10 ice cubes
• 1 bulb scallion Spring onions- bulb & leaves
• ½ teaspoon Fenugreek seeds methi
• ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds jeera
• 1 red chilli fresh -red or green
• 1 cup onion minced
• 1 cm ginger piece
• 3 cloves garlic
• ½ cup capsicum diced
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 cup tomato diced
• 2 tbsps tomato puree
• 1 tablespoon yogurt plain
• 100 gms cottage cheese Paneer
• to taste salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (or any vegetable oil)

Instructions

 

To prepare the ingredients:

• Remove tough stalks from the spinach and retain the tender ones. Chop the spinach, tender stalks and all, into small pieces and wash well till all the grit is removed. Chop the leaves and bulb of the scallion, after washing away any mud or grit.
• Mince the onion and ginger. Dice the capsicum and half the tomato into cubes of about 1 cm each, and the other half tomato into larger pieces. Crush the garlic.

To blanch and prepare the spinach:

• Bring a pan of water to a rolling boil and put the chopped spinach in. Cover the pan and turn the flame off, leaving the spinach to blanch for 3 minutes. Drain the spinach and quickly put it into a basin of water to which you have added the ice cubes. Drain after one minute. Set it aside for the water to drain well.This procedure helps the spinach retain its bright green colour. Gently squeeze out excess water from the spinach.
• Add the spinach and scallion leaves to the food processor and coarsely pulse without making it a smooth puree.

To Make the Palak Paneer curry:

• Heat a pan and add oil. When the oil is hot, lower the flame and add the fenugreek (methi) seeds. After letting them sputter (about 5 secs) when they begin to discolour, add the cumin (jeera) seeds. Sauté for 5secs.
• Add the chilli ( I like to use fresh red chilli instead of green to give a contrasting colour to the spinach and the capsicum). When the chilli has scalded, add the onion and the slices of scallion bulb and sauté till the onions become translucent.
• Add ginger pieces, sauté for 5 secs, add the crushed garlic. Sauté for 20 seconds stirring so the garlic does not brown. Add and sauté the capsicum for 20 seconds.
• Add the turmeric powder, sauté for 5 seconds. Add the small cubes of tomato, reserving the larger pieces for the next step.
• Add the spinach scallion mixture and stir. Add 2 tbsps of water, stir. Add the larger pieces of tomato, and sauté the curry for 5-7 minutes on a medium flame, stirring frequently till the spinach is cooked.
• Add tomato puree, mix it into the curry and sauté for 1 minute. Add salt and then add yogurt, whisking it into the curry till it is well blended.
• Dice the paneer and add to the curry. Stir so that the spinach and gravy cover the paneer, and sauté on low flame for 2 minutes.
• Remove from the flame and transfer into a serving dish so that the curry does not continue to cook in the heat of the pan. Serve with hot phulkas or naan or with rice and dal. I confess, I like palak paneer with hot rice, ghee and my tomato rasam!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!