Jo Cooks: Palak Paneer and Rice

As women go through different changes in life , married women worry more and more about cooking the right food for their small children or their aged in -laws. As you go through life, many new things increasingly take up your attention. Bear in mind that your family requires a lot of nutrition. Your food choices affect their health. With regular practise you can start to love your time spent in your kitchen, no matter what challenges and pressure you have at work. I urge you to take up simple recipes at first. While you put your heart in your cooking keep reinventing yourselves.

Now get ready for an amazing dish. When we siblings were in our teens, my brother Anirban used to tease me about not wanting to have my greens.......then it was the same with my children. But adding a bit of green in your everyday menu is a must.

Palak Paneer :

For the gravy we will need:

Paneer 200 grams

Spinach 1/2 kg

Ginger Paste 1 tsp

Garlic Paste 1 tsp

Onion,grated 2

Tomatoes,grated 3

Salt according to taste

Sugar according to taste

Coriander Powder 1 tsp

Cumin Powder 1 tsp

Red Chilly Powder 1/2 tsp

Black Pepper 1/4 tsp

Garam Masala Powder 1 tsp

Green Cardamom 2

Milk 2 tbsp

Lemon Juice 1 tsp

Water 1/4 cup

Oil 2 tbsp

For the tempering we will need :

Ghee 2 tsp

Cumin Seeds 1 pinch

Red Chilly Powder 1/4 tsp

Whole Red Chilly 2

For Preparing Palak Paneer :

Heat oil in a pan and then add green cardamom,garlic paste, ginger paste and saute to remove raw smell.

Add grated ginger, onion and cook till it turns golden brown.

Next add salt, sugar, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilly powder, black pepper powder, water and cook.

Mix grated tomatoes and cook till oil separates.

Add spinach paste. Put a lid, cover and cook for five minutes.

Add garam masala powder and paneer and milk.

Switch the gas flame off and add lemon juice.

To flavour the dish, heat ghee in a small pan, add cumin seeds whole, red chilly whole and let it crackle.

Once done, put this prepared mixture over the palak paneer and serve.

Rice:

Fluffy rice, some spices, a bit of herbs..........a damn great preparation this one.

Ingredients Required :

Oil 2 tbsp

Cumin Seeds 1/2 tsp

Mustard Seeds 1/2 tsp

Chana dal 2 tsp

Peanuts 3-4 tsp

Ginger Paste 1 tsp

Green Chilly,finely chopped 1-2 tsp according to taste

Curry Leaves 8-10

Turmeric Powder 1/2 tsp

Cumin Powder 1/2 tsp

Red Chilly Powder 1/2 tsp

Lemon Juice 2 tbsp

BoiledCooked Rice 1 big bowl

Salt according to taste

Dry Red Chilly,broken 3

Fresh Green Coriander 1 tbsp

How I Prepared :

We require cooked rice. Boil water and cook rice as you do .When ready, cool. Put in the fridge to chill. Chilled rice is fluffy and every strand is separate. Just what we want.
You may used left over rice as well.

Heat 2 tbsp oil and add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, cumin seeds 2tsp, chana dal, peanuts, 2-3 whole dry red chillies slit, ginger juilliens 1 tsp and curry leaves.Saute them well till the chana dal and peanuts get roasted. Chana dal is not soaked earlier but if you wish you go ahead and soak it.

Next add salt, turmeric powder, red chilly ,cumin powder and lemon juice.

Almost immedietly add the rice and mix well. Add green chilly and coriander leaves, finely chopped.
This rice is very light and goes well with palak paneer or simply with Raita ....