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Easy 5 ingredients or less indian dinner alert! Creamy, rich, simple, no tomatoes, no onions and a weeknight meal saver.
5-ingredient palak paneer
If you are looking for a quick, comforting, and restaurant-style Indian dinner, this easy 5-ingredient palak paneer recipe is exactly what you need. Made with spinach, paneer, green chili, garlic, and cream, this creamy spinach paneer curry comes together in just 20 minutes and tastes absolutely delicious.
This simple palak paneer recipe is beginner-friendly, perfect for busy weeknights, and made with minimal ingredients without compromising flavor. Serve it with naan, roti, or jeera rice for a wholesome vegetarian Indian meal.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Only 5 main ingredients
- Ready in just 20 minutes
- Beginner-friendly Indian curry recipe
- Creamy and comforting
- Perfect for weeknight dinners
- Restaurant-style flavor at home
- Naturally vegetarian and protein-rich
Watch us making🎥
Expert Tips For The Best Palak Paneer
- Do not overcook spinach or the curry may turn dull in color.
- Soak paneer cubes in warm water to soften them.
- Use fresh spinach for the best flavor.
- Frozen spinach also works well for convenience.
- Blend the spinach smoothly for a creamy restaurant-style texture.
Variations
Vegan Palak Paneer
Replace paneer with tofu and use coconut milk instead of cream.
No Cream Version
Use milk or yogurt for a lighter curry.
Instant Pot Palak Paneer
Sauté the chilies and garlic in sauté mode, then add the spinach and cook briefly before blending.
Storage Tips
Store leftover palak paneer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave before serving.
FAQs
Yes, frozen spinach works perfectly in this recipe and saves prep time. In fact, I used frozen spinach here.
Avoid overcooking the spinach and transfer it to cold water immediately after cooking.
Yes, you can use milk or yogurt instead of cream. You can completely avoid it, too.
Palak paneer tastes creamy, mildly spiced, rich, and comforting.
Yes, palak paneer is rich in protein, calcium, and iron.
Recipe
Easy 5 ingredients palak paneer recipe(20 minutes)
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Spinach
- Bring water to a boil and add spinach leaves. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted. Drain and transfer to cold water to retain the bright green color.5 cup Spinach
- Blend the spinach into a smooth puree.
Step 2: Sauté Garlic
- Heat oil in a pan. Add garlic and saute. Sauté until soft and lightly golden. Also, add green chilies if you like.2 tablespoon Oil, 1 tablepsoon Garlic paste, 1 tablespoon Green chilies
Step 3: Prepare the Curry
- Add the spinach puree to the pan and salt. Mix well and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt and if you like a pinch of garam masala.Salt, a pinch Garam masala powder
Step 4: Add Paneer
- Step 4: Add Paneer1 cup Paneer
Step: Add cream and finish
- Stir in cream or milk and cook for another minute. Serve hot with naan, roti, or jeera rice.1 cup Cream
Notes
- I always freeze my spinach. I wash them, chop, and freeze. I am using frozen spinach here. It always works for me:)
- I am also using green chilies here to make it spicy. However the ingredient is optional so if you are trying indian recipes for the first time, avoid it 🙂
- Check FAQs and other sections for more details.
The paneer I can buy at my dukkan isn’t all that good (to me) so I make my own either with goat or cow milk. And, I also skip the garlic. That said, I want to try your recipe Priya — it is a bit different from mine.
Thank you david 🙂 Cow's milk would be better for Paneer. Skipping garlic is also a great idea.