A vegan Palak Paneer or Saag Paneer recipe that’s as good as anything you’d get at an Indian restaurant, perhaps even better. The spinach is creamy and spiced perfectly. Cubes of superfirm tofu make a healthier and delicious option for the vegan cheese, paneer, that’s typically used in this north Indian recipe. Eat with a naan or roti for the perfect Indian meal. A vegan, gluten-free recipe.
I first posted my vegan Palak Paneer with Tofu recipe for you back in 2008 — 10 years ago — when there were just a handful of vegan blogs and perhaps no other blog that posted Indian vegan recipes. The reason I rushed to veganize this perpetual Indian restaurant favorite is that it was one Indian dish I often ordered when I ate out before I became vegan and I certainly didn’t want to live without it.
Much has changed in the blogging world since, and you can probably find at least a couple dozen versions of vegan Palak Paneer or Saag Paneer (“saag” being the Hindi word for any leafy vegetable, “palak” is specifically spinach) recipes online. The way I make this recipe myself has changed somewhat over the years, so I wanted to update it for you.
Palak Paneer is by no means a difficult dish to veganize because it is almost vegan — other than the paneer, that is. In the past, I’d use firm tofu, pressed and then baked, in lieu of the paneer. But now I use superfirm tofu, which works even better as a paneer substitute. Tofu also comes minus the saturated fats and calories of paneer, so it is a better-for-you substitute.
My recipe is also as close as possible to an authentic, traditional Palak Paneer — other than the tofu and cashew cream to make it vegan. The ingredient list may seem a little long but it is not intimidating, and ingredients like the dry fenugreek leaves, although not an ingredient you’ll find in every pantry, add the flavor that you so love when you eat this dish at a restaurant. So it’s worth taking the trouble to find and use them.
The tofu “paneer” does a great job of absorbing the marinade and the flavors of the spinach. While some people fry the paneer before adding it to the spinach, and some don’t, I like to bake or, sometimes, shallow-fry the tofu. I think it improves the flavor even more, and it takes very little time and effort, so why not?
I used to marinate the tofu, as some of you who tried my earlier recipe would remember, but I don’t do that anymore. I think the tofu is just as flavorful without that additional step, and why create more work? Paneer is also not typically marinated before use in this recipe, so this brings us closer to the original.
Making this vegan Palak Paneer is extraordinarily easy– there really is no way you can mess it up, even if you haven’t cooked Indian food before.
Here are some tips to ensure your vegan Palak Paneer turns out just as perfect as can be. And how you can make it even faster:
-Make sure you saute the onions to the point where they turn golden. You want the onions to melt into the sauce when your dish is done, and leaving them half-cooked at the outset will not give you that silken, rich gravy.
-You don’t need to use fresh spinach for this recipe, because frozen works just as well. In fact, I prefer it because I can more easily find frozen organic spinach at the supermarket, than fresh organic spinach.
-You can use extra firm tofu if you can’t find superfirm tofu. Make sure you press as much liquid as you can out of it and then bake.
-You will find recipes out there for vegan Palak Paneer with a shorter ingredient list, but if you want a recipe that tastes authentic, take the trouble to find the ingredients and use them. Compromising on the ingredients might give you a decent Palak Paneer, but it won’t be amazing, and why would you settle for something decent when you can have something amazing?
-Whatever you do, don’t use coconut milk to substitute for the cashew cream in your Palak Paneer. Coconut is not an ingredient commonly used in North Indian kitchens, and coconut adds a strong flavor, even a small amount of it, which detracts completely from the recipe. If you want to go nut-free, leave out the cashew cream. Your dish will still taste great.
-If you don’t eat soy for any reason, leave out the tofu cubes and just make the spinach gravy. It tastes great on its own.
-Finally, serve this Palak Paneer with a tandoori roti or naan. Or, if you want to go gluten-free, serve it with some brown rice for a perfect, delicious meal.
Now go, make it. My Creamy Vegan Palak Paneer is vibrant, delectable, low in fat, and would stand up quite easily to its non-vegan counterpart on any restaurant menu. And what’s more, this dish really is good for you.
- 1 16-oz block of superfirm tofu, cut into six pieces
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 5 cloves
- 1-inch piece cinnamon
- 5 green cardamom pods
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 2 medium tomatoes, finely diced
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp cayenne (adjust up or down based on your taste)
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves). Optional, but I strongly recommend it.
- 16 oz frozen spinach, thawed and pureed (use two large bunches of fresh spinach if that's what you have. Blanche the spinach for a couple of minutes in boiling water and then puree)
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp cashew cream, optional but nice. (Make this by blending 1 tbsp raw cashews with 2-3 tbsp of water)
Spray a skillet with cooking spray. Place the slices of tofu on the skillet in a single layer and cook both sides until lightly golden. When cool, cut into a 1/2-inch dice. Set aside
Heat the oil. Add the cloves, cardamom and cinnamon and, when they start to color, add the cumin seeds. As they start to darken, add the onions and the garlic. Saute for a few minutes until the onions become golden-brown.
Add the ginger-garlic paste, saute for a couple of minutes, then add the tomatoes. Add the turmeric, cayenne, cumin and coriander powders and mix well. Cover and let the tomatoes cook until they are very soft and pulpy.
Add the kasoori methi, if using, and mix well. Add the spinach puree, mix, and let the sauce come to a boil. Lower the heat and continue cooking the spinach for 10 minutes. Add some vegetable stock or water if it looks too thick, but don't add too much liquid at this point-- you want the spinach to cook thoroughly and lose any raw flavor.
Add the garam masala, cubes of tofu and salt. Mix well and let it all simmer another two minutes.
Turn off the heat and add the cashew paste, if using. The cashew paste adds a rich, luxurious finish, but if you want a nut-free recipe, it's completely optional.
Serve hot or warm with naan or roti.
hi vaishali…iam a great fan of tofu..my suggestion is to roast the tofu in a pan without oil.
This looks so good! I’ve got to try it sometime 🙂
This looks great! Can’t wait to try it.
I’ve tried several vegan versions of palak paneer, as it’s one of my favorite dishes. This looks like another one I need to try really soon!! The lemon rice looks like a wonderful accompaniment as well! I’ve been browsing through some of your recipes and my tummy is growling. I’m married to an Indian and he always appreciates when I cook him Indian food, so I’m copying down several of your recipes to try!
Hi Vaishali 🙂
I just want to say that, this past weekend, I tried this creamy palak paneer and I loved it! It was so delicious! The only issue about the spinach is that it shrinks a lot :(, but they’re sooo good!
Thanks for sharing!
Susana.
Hi Vaishali!
Today was the first time that I ever cooked with Tofu. I made the “tofu paneer” according to this recipe and stirred it with penne and vegetables in marinara sauce.
I need some suggestions/advice on cooking with Tofu Vaishali and I really hope u can help me. Altho the marinade tasted great by itself, I felt the tofu did not absorb any flavors.. instead the light crunch on the outside was nice but one bite into it and it tasted as bland as ever. Am I doing something wrong or does tofu not absorb spices at all? Maybe then using it in Quiches, scrambled tofu and sauces is a better option?
I don’t wanna give up yet. Help! 🙂
I have not tried this specific recipe though the ones I have tried are fairly similar. This time I tried boiling the tofu cubes in a vegetable broth along with the recommended spices to flavor it. Start the broth boiling & continue until the liquid is gone(watch carefully at the end). I like it this way without frying it, but if you want the crunch factor, you could then fry it.
Made both the palak paneer and lemon rice last nice. Both were great, better than many Indian restaurants on Devon Street in Chicago. Thanks so much. Can’t wait to try some more of your recipes.
Made both the palak paneer and lemon rice last night. Both came out great. Better than most restaurants on Devon Street in Chicago. Thanks so much. I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes you have posted.
This looks really good, and I’m anxious to try it as I’ve had great luck with all of your other recipes! Just one question: When you say to use 2 “bunches” of spinach, approximately how much spinach is that? (The “bunches” I see in the stores all seem different sizes, and sometimes I used bagged spinach.) Also, can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh and, if so, how much should I use? Thanks so much!
Anonymous, Around 1.5 pounds of spinach should work with this recipe.
Thank you very much for your recipe. I tried it last night and it was delicious.
it is so difficult for people with soya allergy to go vegan..any suggestions on that
Sudha, vegans don’t need to depend on soy nearly as much as it’s often assumed. An Indian diet of grains like rice and wheat, and legumes like beans and lentils, along with nuts, is more than enough to meet daily protein requirements for most people. I eat tofu perhaps less than once every two months, and I do it only because it’s another option out there. If you use soymilk in cereals and tea and coffee, almond milk is a great, soy-free substitute.
Sudha, I am a vegan with a soy allergy! it can be difficult if you’re going out to eat because of the stereotype that vegans substitute what we are “missing” with soy, but if you are cooking at home it is really quite easy! Earth balance has a soy-free butter and the allergy section of the supermarket has frozen pre-made foods (if you dont like to cook) that are dairy, egg and soy free! You can even find some chocolate without soy… but don’t forget that cocoa butter is NOT dairy and in my opinion means its a tastier chocolate bar! 🙂
Instead of using tofu, I just omit it. Daiya cheese is also soy-free and veganaise has such trace amounts of soy that it doesn’t affect me. According to veganaise’s website it don’t affect most people with soy allergies but it depends on how severe your allergy is. I make my own almond milk, but if im baking I’ll use coconut milk or store-bought almond milk because of the consistency. Hmm… what other tips can I give a soy-free vegan? I don’t advertise that I’m soy-free on my blog (though maybe I should start…) but I do post some recipes on there too. http://www.vegandevotee.com. Good luck, my soy-free friend!
Hi! I just found your blog and love it! Tried out these two recipes tonight and they are both delicious!
The dals in the lemon rice are still really crunchy however. Is this the correct texture or should I have fried them longer before adding the lemon juice and rice?
Thank you so much!
Hi! I just found your blog and absolutely love it! Tonight I made the Palak Paneer and the Lemon rice. They are both delicious. But the dals in the rice are still very crunchy. Is this the correct texture or should I have fried them longer before adding the rice?
Thank you for so many great recipes!
I found a great way to marinate the tofu…put the sauce into a ziplock bag with the cubed tofu and shake around…kind of a ‘shake and bake’ thought! Worked wonderfully…haven’t gotten any further on the recipe but the tofu smells great marinatiing!!
Vaishali, can I substitute almond milk with regular milk(whole milks or 2 %)
Anon, yes, but water would be even more perfect.
Barb, how wonderful! So happy you liked the recipe and thanks for letting me know.
I scored some fresh picked spinach at a roadside stand yesterday, and when I got home, my neighbor handed me two tomatoes from her garden. What perfect timing to make your recipe! It turned out FABULOUS! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Hi Vaishali
I opened this page (bookmarked on my computer) because the spinach in my garden is ready to harvest and this has become my favourite dish in the world. I thought that before cooking it for the umpteenth time I should take the time to say thank you for such a great recipe and amazing blog!
Thank you 🙂
From Rhiannon in Australia <3
Hi Rhiannon, what a lovely message! You made my day. So happy you like this recipe. I wish I could make it with just-harvested spinach, it must be delicious. Unfortunately my thumb’s just not green enough– I never have luck with growingleafies.
thanks Vaishali for this blog. is there any other alternative soy free vegan paneer recepie that I can try making at home . I know we can make paneer by adding a pinch of citric acid to the boiling milk and then setting it after draining out water .Do you know if a similar thing would work for almond + cashew milk ?
thanks
Ash
Hi Ash, it would curdle but you won’t get great flavors. I would just sub with potatoes.
Hi, I am planning to make this for friends because it looks so lovely – do you need to soak the dal at all before using? Thanks, Abbey
Hi Abbey, no, you don’t. You want them to just roast so they’re crunchy with the rice.
Thanks! It was very well enjoyed. I have been very apprehensive of cooking indian food, your recipes have all been easy to follow and a big success so far, thank you!
Abbey, that’s lovely to hear. Thanks for your kind words, and for letting me know.
Hi Vaishali, I have tried your recipes and they are great! Have been wanting to making a good tofu palak and I am going to make this tonight. I only have frozen spinach. Is it ok to use it? If so, how much?
Thanks for posting such wonderful recipes for Vegans like me & making them simple enough to follow. Indian recipes are so hard but you make them seem easy. :-))
Hi JN, frozen is perfectly fine. Thaw before adding. Thanks for your kind words! 🙂
Hi, I’m new to cooking Indian food and have a few questions. Do you take the piece of cinnamon ,cloves and cardamom pods out or do you eat them? and can you use powdered fenugreek spice instead of the leaves? The dish tasted great but just wanted to check about the spices. Thanks for all you do!
Hi Donna, you take them out either before serving or, as is typically done in Indian homes, separate them out and remove them on your plate while eating. Some people like to eat the spices because of the additional health benefit they provide — and the flavor. Fenugreek leaves and seeds have very different flavors, and the seeds will add a far more intense bitterness. But at a pinch you could use about 1/4 tsp of powdered fenugreek to replace the leaves.