Palak 'paneer' ... the vegan version!

One of my favourite Indian dishes. Palak means spinach, while paneer is the Hindi word for fresh cheese. This recipe is not only delicious, but very simple to make. You can buy paneer ready-made at some South Asian grocery stores, though it is easy to make your own. Recipe here.

This week I tried something different. Rather than using paneer I used tofu! Simple and delicious.

2 bunches spinach, washed and chopped [silverbeet also seems to work OK]
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1 teaspoon cumin
salt, to taste
garam masala, to taste
red chilli powder, to taste
vegetable oil
375 grams firm tofu

Cook the spinach and onion till soft (use microwave or steamer). Cool slightly, then blend the spinach and onion till you have a gorgeous green sludge. Heat some oil in a pan, and fry the ginger and garlic for a minute. Add the other spices, then add the spinach mixture and cook for four to five minutes. Allow mixture to cool while frying tofu slices. Add the tofu and heat through. Serve hot with naan or roti, or as a side dish for curries.