Homemade Palak Paneer Loaded French Fries

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Palak Paneer Loaded French Fries | Make this lightly spiced Indian style spinach gravy from scratch with spinach and chunks of paneer cheese. Spread the creamy, savory, slightly spice sauce and cheese on top of crisp baked French fries for an Indian inspired Poutine.

Palak Paneer Loaded French Fries | PiperCooks

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Ingredients
What is Paneer?
Substitutions
How to Make Palak Paneer Loaded French Fries
Tips for making
What to serve with Palak Paneer Fries
Storage
FAQs
Recipe

How about some epic loaded French fries today? These Palak Paneer Loaded French Fries are packed with flavor.

Palak Paneer is an Indian dish made with paneer and a thick spinach sauce and this is my version of the dish.

I'm talking a lightly spiced, blended spinach sauce with chunks of Paneer cheese, all loaded up on top of some crispy oven-baked fries and topped with a drizzle of yogurt and some freshly torn cilantro leaves. Doesn't that sound fantastic?

If you love loaded fries as much as me – and I looooove them, you need to try these. Also, my, Loaded Greek Fries, Loaded Chili Fries, or my Parmesan Garlic Fries.

These loaded fries are:

Vegetarian
Full of spinach (Iron, vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C)
Would be great with homemade french fries too
A fun and different take on Indian food

For more information on the health benefits of spinach, check this BBC Good Food article.

Ingredients

See the recipe card for exact amounts.

onion: I use a white onion, which is milder and slightly sweeter than yellow onions.
hot peppers: I use a Habanero which is quite spicy. You can try a jalapeno pepper, red pepper flakes, or omit this to omit the spiciness.
garlic and ginger: garlic and ginger and very common in Indian cooking and start off a lot of recipes. They are great base flavor to this sauce.
spices: cumin seeds have an earthy flavor, coriander is mild and pairs well with cumin. Garam masala is a mix of spices including cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and more.
spinach: I use frozen spinach which is not typical in Palak Paneer recipes that I've researched. Usually fresh spinach is blanched before using.
coconut milk: I use coconut milk for creaminess became I love it's flavor in Indian curry recipes.
paneer: I usually use a large block of paneer from my local supermarket but you can use homemade if have it also, I've done this too.
fries: use your favorite fries whether they are homemade fries or frozen fries.
garnish: I think the yogurt and the cilantro are so worth the addition. The cilantro adds freshness and the yogurt is cooling.

What is Paneer?

Paneer is a fresh, non-melting cheese that's widely used in Indian cooking. It has a crumbly yet creamy texture, somewhat similar to tofu, making it a versatile ingredient. Paneer has a mild, slightly tangy flavor, and it readily absorbs the flavors of the spices and seasonings it's cooked with.

The texture and flavor of paneer make it perfect for dishes with sauce, or for grilling.

If you like the idea of paneer covered in sauce, try this Paneer Tikka Masala recipe with grilled paneer cubes in a rich tomato sauce.

Substitutions

hot pepper: try a jalapeno or red pepper flakes instead.
spinach: I like using frozen spinach because it's easier and it's cheaper where I live.
coconut milk: adds creaminess. If you don't like the flavor of coconut milk, you can use heavy cream.

How to Make Palak Paneer Loaded French Fries

Prep Tips

Bake your fries according to the package instructions.
Cube the paneer and get all of your spices ready to go, and the coconut milk opened up. All of this prep will make the cooking go smooth – I do this with pretty much every recipe I make.

While the fries are baking, get the spinach out of the freezer and let it sit in a bowl to start thawing.

Dice the onion, chop the hot pepper (carefully, and with gloves) and mince the garlic and ginger. Roughly chop the tomato.

How to Make Palak Paneer

Heat a pan over medium heat.
Add the onion and the hot pepper, if using, and cook for about 7-8 minutes, or until softened. If using a habanero, be careful about breathing it in, they are spicy! It does mellow out in the finished dish.
Add the ginger, garlic, tomato and cumin seeds. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes, until the tomato has softened and is well blended with the onion.
Add the spinach, toss a lid on and let it cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, or until the spinach has thawed fully and then cooked and heated through. Add the coconut milk and ground spices.
At this point, stick an immersion blender in and blitz it up. I like that it's less cleanup than a food processor or blender, but you could use either of those.
Set the pan over medium heat again and add the paneer. Let it cook for a few minutes or until heated through.
To serve, plate the french fries and then ladle the spinach gravy over top, making sure to add paneer cubes to each plate. Drizzle with some plain yogurt and scatter over some fresh torn cilantro leaves.

Tips for making

fries: you can use homemade or frozen fries, just make sure to bake them crispy because the sauce will soften them.
serve immediately: once you add the sauce to the fries serve right away because the fries will start to soften.
spiciness: you can control the spice for this recipe. Habaneros are spicy and that's what I use. A jalapeno or red pepper flakes would have a medium spice. You can also omit the spice if you want to.
make-ahead: the sauce is great for making ahead and lasts in the fridge for days while the flavors mingle together and get better and better.

What to serve with Palak Paneer Fries

When I'm not having this spinach sauce over fries I like to have it over Instant Pot brown rice, or sometimes cauliflower rice.

Try this braided puff pastry samosa on the side.

Storage

You can make the sauce ahead and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days and then reheat it when you make fresh French fries.

Leftovers store in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop in a small pot or sauce pan.

FAQs

Do I have to make it spicy?

No. I like spicy food, and I grow habanero peppers, so that's what I use. I have made this with jalapenos before though and red pepper flakes would probably also work. If you are really averse to spice, simply leave it out.

Can I use store-bought paneer?

Yes, that's what I used for these photos, although when I make this dish for company I do make the paneer as well. To make paneer, you simply scald milk and then add lemon juice to separate the curd from the whey. Wrap the curd in cheesecloth and let it drain and turn solid. Cut into cubes and use them in this recipe.

Do I have to serve it on fries?

No, you could serve it more traditionally with basmati rice or naan bread, or both. If you're watching carbs, try it with my Indian Spice Cauliflower Rice.

Can I use frozen spinach?

Yes, that's what I use because I like to have frozen spinach on hand at all times. I add the spinach in frozen and then put a lid on to let it thaw and then heat through.

Can I use cream instead of coconut milk?

Yes, you'll probably need less than a cup though. Start off with a little bit, tasting and adding more as needed.