Recipe: Adam Liaw's Palak Paneer

Smooth cottage cheese (paneer) is combined with a spiced spinach gravy in this northern Indian staple.

200g paneer, cut into 4cm cubes

1 bunch spinach, washed and trimmed

2 tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)

100ml pouring cream (optional)

Pour boiling water over the paneer, stand for 10 minutes, then drain. Blend the onion, ginger, garlic and chilli to a smooth purée. Set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and blanch the spinach for a few seconds. Shock in iced water and drain well. Add the spinach to the blender, with the cashews and blend to a smooth purée.

Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the butter and oil. Add the cardamom, cassia and cloves and fry until fragrant. Add the onion mixture and fry for about 5 minutes until the oil starts to separate. Season with salt, then add the turmeric, about ¼ cup of water and cook for a further 3 minutes.

Add the fenugreek leaves and spinach puree and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Stir the cream (if using) and garam masala through the spinach gravy, add the paneer, and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving plate.

Make the tadka by heating a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and garlic and fry until the garlic is golden. Add the chilli powder and remove from the heat. Pour the tadka over the paneer to serve.

Asian Home Cooking (Hardie Grant Books) by Adam Liaw is out now.

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