SAAG PANEER

SAAG PANEER image

Yield 8-10 people

Number Of Ingredients 27

Ingredients

For the Paneer
1 gallon whole milk
5 lemons, juiced
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon salt
extra vinegar, if necessary
For the Saag
2-3 pounds spinach
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 medium onion, diced small
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, chopped
1-2 green chilies
1-2 roma tomato
1 tablespoon coriander, ground
1 tablespoon cumin, ground
1 teaspoon tumeric
1 teaspoon garam masala, ground
1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves (meth)
1 recipe of paneer
whipping cream, optional
Special Equipment
Blender
Wooden cutting boards
Cheesecloth
"C" clamps

Steps:

For the Paneer Pour milk, salt and ground cumin into the pot. Bring milk to a simmer. Keep it there for about 5 minutes. Remove simmered milk from the heat, and start to slowly stir in the lemon juice, about a tablespoonful at a time. The milk will begin to curdle. This is "curds and whey". If it doesn't curdle, add a tiny bit of vinegar. Keep stirring until curds are thick, and whey is only slightly cloudy. Put some ice into the pot to cool down the curds and whey to a manageable temperature. Line a colander with a double layer of cheesecloth then strain off the whey, keeping the curds. Wrap them up, and squeeze the cloth to get the whey out. Open up the cloth and look at the curds. Taste, and if it needs a bit more salt, add some. Fold curds up in the cloth, in a square-ish block. Put the block on one cutting board, place the other cutting board on top, then balance the big pot full of cold water on top or use "c" clamps to keep them squeezed together. After you have pressed out the whey. Remove paneer from the cheesecloth and cut into large, bite-sized cubes. For the Saag Start a pot of boiling water to cook your spinach. Drop spinach into boiling water and cook for 1-2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove spinach from water and transfer directly to a blender. Pour out as much liquid as you can before blending it to a puree. Preheat a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add the oil and whole cumin seeds and cook for 30 seconds or until aromatic. Add the garlic, ginger and onions and sauté for 5-10 minutes. Add the chilies and tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Now add the ground spices and cook for 5 more minutes. Pour your blended spinach mixture into the sautéing mixture and stir until everything becomes homogenous. Cook this until the oil separates from the Saag. It should look like little droplet on top. Now add your homemade paneer cheese and cook until warmed through. Add heavy cream if desired. Season with salt. Serve with warm Naan bread!