saag paneer (spinach & cheese)

If I give you guys this recipe you probably won't think I'm cool anymore, since now I won't have a monopoly on the Indian night dinners.  Shoot.  Here you go anyways...

Ingredients:

1 pkg frozen chopped spinach (or 1 lb-ish fresh, chopped)

2 small-medium onions, chopped largely

2 cloves garlic, diced largely

1 inch ginger, peeled and chopped

1-2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped

1/2 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2-1 tsp salt

1/8-1/4 tsp ground cayenne

1/4 cup half and half (if vegan, replace with something soy-yogurty? or leave out)

1 lb-ish paneer (or other firm, non-melting cheese, or chickpeas/potatoes if vegan)

Directions:

First cut the paneer into 1 inch cubes, dust with flour and pan fry in veggie oil til light brown.  Drain on paper towel and set aside. (If you do potatoes or meat instead, add some garlic powder and/or ginger powder while you saute it)

 

Saute onions, garlic, ginger, jalapenos in veggie oil until brown; add thawed spinach and saute until mixed well and hot all the way through (or wilted if fresh spinach). Let cool; dump it all in a food processor and chop it up until it looks like chunky slime.

Put the slime back in the pan with a little bit of oil, heat it up, add the spices and saute for 5 minutes.  Then add the half and half, heat a little more until all blended and it looks neon green, then add paneer and mix up until hot and delicious!  Eat it up with basmati rice (2 cups water per cup rice, cooks in about 20 mins).