I came up with this recipe because I was making a curry dish and wanted something else to go with it. Since I had a lot of cottage cheese and fresh kale on hand, I thought: Why not use those to make a faux saag paneer?
True saag paneer is generally prepared with spinach (at least in the US; in India they often use greens such as mustard, collards, or fenugreek) and paneer, a fresh Indian cheese similar to Mexican queso panela or halloumi. But this version turned out to be quite delicious, indeed. And it’s pretty simple to make, to boot, so go ahead and try it out. Along with curry and rice, and some naan to scoop it all up, it will make for quite the Indian feast!
[Note that I'm currently in France, 9 hours ahead of Pacific Time, so my response to comments may be spotty. But I'll do my best, biensûr!]
Faux Saag Paneer
(serves 4)
Ingredients
1 tablespoon neutral oil for frying the kale
4-6 cups chopped kale (tough stems removed)
½ teaspoon garam masala
½ teaspoon cumin powder
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon black pepper
salt, to taste (go easy on this, as the cottage cheese contains a lot of salt)
1 cup cottage cheese
Directions
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, then add half the kale. Fry the kale, stirring often, until it starts to wilt.
Add the rest of the kale and continue to stir fry, until it starts to brown and has become soft and wilted.
Add ½ cup of water and stir.
Add all the spices except the salt, and stir in.
Add the cottage cheese and mix in.
Taste, and add salt to taste, plus more spices if you like. (I added more garam masala at this point.)
Continue to cook, stirring occasionally. It will get watery as the cottage cheese releases its moisture, and then the liquid will start to cook away. Once the liquid has evaporated to your liking, the dish is done.
The faux saag paneer can sit on the stove for an hour or two and then be reheated right before service.
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Thank you for the Faux Saag Paneer recipe. Sounds both interesting and delicious. Add easy to make and it's bound to be a winner.
ReplyDelete2clowns at arkansas dot net
Yes to all of those things, Kay! Enjoy!
DeleteLong time, since I've had Indian Food. I think, my favorite is Paneer. Of some kind. I used to think it was made with Spinach. It was green. And it was always at tn Indian restaurant in Petaluma.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is usually made with spinach in the US. And it's one of my go-to orders at Indian restaurants, as well.
DeleteFun, both France and this recipe! Love Sag Paneer and I always have cottage cheese and some kind of greens in the fridge, so now I have a recipe for a handy side. Enjoy all those tasty pastries and delicious cafes! Thanks!!
Delete