Saag paneer is an absolute classic of an Indian dish, and this is my simple one pot version. No pre cooking of spinach, no pre browning of paneer. It’s seriously easy and seriously delicious too!
This is a simple version of the traditional saag paneer, and is absolutely perfect if you’re a starter cook. You get creamy, soft, mild paneer, fragrant garlic and ginger and a gentle whack of chilli.
This is perfect as a side dish (especially with my one pan roast chicken and rice), and will serve 4 that way. If you want it as a main (which would be a totally valid decision!) serve with rice, and maybe some naan breads and poppadoms. Also fantastic with some garlicky raita.
The Ingredients
- Vegetable oil – a traditional saag paneer would use ghee, and absolutely do use that if you can get it. However (unfortunately) the supermarkets near me do not tend to stock ghee. So, if you’re in a similar situation, you can use vegetable oil too.
- Turmeric – adds a blast of colour and flavour. I adore turmeric, and it has so many health benefits too.
- Garlic, ginger and chilli – these fresh spices give the saag paneer its wonderful fresh flavour. You can adjust the amount of chilli depending on how spicy you want it.
- Paneer – the star ingredient. Paneer is a mild cheese that keeps its shape when cooked (similar to halloumi – though not in taste).
- Spinach – I have used frozen spinach in this recipe for serious ease. You can just chuck it in the pan frozen and, when it’s thawed, the dish is ready.
- Garam Masala – a stalwart of a spice mix. This brings the beautiful depth of flavour you would expect from a saag paneer.
Cooking the Dish
Here are my tips for making this dish a success:
- You’ll want to use a decent non stick frying pan for this recipe. You want to avoid the paneer sticking and falling apart.
- Keep a good eye on the dish when you add the garlic and ginger – you don’t want it to burn. Turn the heat down if you need to.
- When you add the spinach and water to the pan, you can put a lid on to speed up the cooking process.
Easy One Pot Saag Paneer
A simple, no fuss saag paneer recipe all made in one pot.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 225 grams paneer
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 thumb sized piece of ginger
- 1 green chilli
- 250 grams frozen spinach
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
Instructions
- Start by putting the vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. When warm, add the turmeric.
- Cut the paneer into 1 inch pieces and add to the frying pan. Cook, stirring often, until golden brown on all sides.
- Add the minced ginger, garlic and chilli. Stir quickly, then add the spinach and 50ml cold water.
- Allow the spinach to cook through. When there are no more frozen chunks, stir in the garam masala and cook for another 2 minutes. Done!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
More delicious Indian style recipes:
- Paneer and Vegetable Wraps
- Vegetable Korma
- Black Lentil Dal
- Courgette and Coconut Dal
- Lamb and Spinach Curry
- Slow Cooked Beef Curry
- Chicken Balti
- One Pan Roast Chicken and Rice
- Curried Lentil Soup
- Chicken, Spinach and Paneer Naan Pizzas
- The Creamiest Butter Halloumi Curry
It was so simple to make and the flavors were incredible. The paneer was perfectly cooked and the spinach sauce was rich and creamy. Definitely a new favorite in my recipe collection!
I love saag paneer and often order it on the side at Indian restaurants. I’ve got fresh spinach growing in my garden right now, just need to run out and grab some paneer. Making this tomorrow, can’t wait!
You sold me on “one pot”. I love how easy this recipe is! Bookmarked to make this week, thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂
This is delicious! Absolutely cannot wait to make it again. The whole family enjoyed it.
I always wanted to know how to make saag paneer at home, this was delicious. Thank you!