palak kofta

Palak kofta recipe with step by step pics. This Paneer palak kofta curry has crispy soft paneer stuffed koftas dunked in a creamy onion-tomato gravy.

This palak kofta recipe has many textures and flavors. The umami flavor of spinach, the softness of paneer in the koftas blend very well with the lightly sweet and tangy tomato onion gravy.

This recipe of paneer palak koftas is also known as sham savera and is a signature recipe of celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor. I first came across sham savera recipe in my teens. Later in my home science classes we had made it as a team for a luncheon menu for a college guest.

I make a truly homestyle version of the same cutting down on butter and cream. So this sham savera recipe has less oil and made without butter and cream. So its not like the sham savera served in restaurants. I have had the restaurant versions too and I always find the gravy too oily.

The recipe is roughly adapted from sanjeev’s kapoors sham savera recipe. To see the new version of the recipe you can check this – Foodfood channel youtube video and to see the older version which aired many years ago on khana khazana zee tv show you can check this Zee tv youtube video.

Koftas are vegetable dumplings that can be had with a side dip or chutney. Koftas can also be dunked in various types of gravies. So far I have shared many kofta recipes likes:

1. Malai kofta (restaurant-style recipe)
2. Lauki kofta (homestyle Punjabi recipe)
3. Cabbage kofta (simple homestyle recipe)
4. Veg kofta (restaurant-style recipe)
5. Aloo kofta (easy restaurant-style recipe)

Making any kofta based gravy dish takes time. when short of time I make the gravy a day before and fry koftas the next day. I also knead the dough for rotis or naan a day before. So the next day I just need to make the koftas and fry them along with making rotis.

For this paneer palak kofta also you can either make the gravy or the koftas a day before. If making the kofta, then the mixture or the kofta balls can be refrigerated.

Even though this recipe of palak kofta is homestyle without addition of cream or butter, still it is heavy. One to two koftas are enough for a person with a medium appetite. These koftas are large and not small. These koftas can also be air fried instead of deep fried.

Palak kofta gravy is best made on a special occasion or for a weekend meal. Palak kofta is best served with chapatis, phulkas, naan or tandoori roti. You can also serve with jeera rice or garam masala rice or peas pulao.

How to make palak kofta

A) making an outer covering for kofta

1. Using a colander rinse 200 grams spinach leaves very well in water. Roughly chop and add the chopped spinach in the grinder jar. You will need about 4.5 to 5 cups of chopped spinach.

2. Then add 1 green chili (chopped), 1 teaspoon chopped garlic and 1 teaspoon chopped ginger.

3. Grind to a smooth puree. Do not add any water while grinding.

4. Heat a pan. Keep flame to a low and add ½ cup besan (gram flour).

5. Stirring often roast besan till it changes color and becomes aromatic.

6. No need to roast too much. The besan just needs to be aromatic and the color should change.

7. Add the palak puree to the roasted besan.

8. Mix very well. If the mixture looks loose and not thick, then you can add some more roasted besan.

9. Add ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and salt as per taste.

10. Mix again and switch off the flame. Let the spinach mixture come to room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate it for 30 to 40 minutes.

Making paneer stuffing for palak kofta

11. Meanwhile you can start with the paneer stuffing. Grate 100 grams paneer in a plate or bowl or about ½ cup grated paneer.

12. Add 1.5 tablespoon rice flour (or corn flour), ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder, 1 pinch grated nutmeg  and 7 to 8 saffron strands (optional). I have used rice flour.

13. Mix well.

14. Now take some portion of the paneer in your palms and make small balls of the same. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

15. Later remove the spinach mixture from the fridge.

16. From the spinach mixture, make the same number of balls as that of the paneer. Flatten them and keep aside.

17. Take each spinach mixture and flatten it more.

18. Place the paneer ball in the center.

19. Bring the edges on top.

20. Join the edges and roll gently to a smooth kofta.

21. Make all paneer palak koftas this way.

22. Sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons rice flour in a plate or board. Coat each kofta evenly with the rice flour and dust off the excess flour. You can also use corn flour instead of rice flour. cover and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.

Frying palak kofta

23. Heat oil for deep frying in kadai or pan. Add oil as required. Let the oil become medium hot. gently place the kofta in the medium hot oil.

24. Add number of koftas depending on the size of kadai. Oil should not be cold or else koftas can break.

25. I used less oil for frying and thus the koftas were like getting shallow fried. So with a spoon, I was removing the hot oil from the kadai and adding on the koftas so that the top gets cooked.

26. Turn over each kofta gently when the base is light golden and crisp.

27. Turn over again and continue to fry till the outer crust looks crisp and golden. You can turn over a couple of times, but do it gently as the koftas can break. Overall fry koftas for 4 to 5 minutes on medium flame. 

28. Remove fried palak kofta with a slotted spoon. This way fry remaining batches of palak kofta.

29. Place on kitchen paper towels. These paneer palak koftas taste good and you can even have them as a snack.

Making gravy for palak kofta

30. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan or kadai. Add 1 tej patta, 1 inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1 black cardamom and ¼ teaspoon caraway seeds (shahi jeera).

31. Fry till the spices splutter and become aromatic.

32. Add ¾ cup chopped onions.

33. Mix well and sauté onions till they become translucent.

34. Then add 1 teaspoon chopped ginger and 1 teaspoon chopped garlic.

35. Mix and continue to sauté till the onions become light golden.

36. Add 1.5 cups of chopped tomatoes.

37. Mix and sauté for 1 minute.

38. Then add 12 large cashews (whole or roughly chopped), ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder.

39. Mix very well.

40. Add 1 cup of water.

41. Mix and simmer on medium-low flame till the tomatoes soften.

42. the tomatoes have to be softened completely. Then switch off the flame and let this mixture cool down.

43. Add the onion-tomato mixture in a grinder jar. Remove tej patta before grinding. 

44. Blend to a smooth consistency. do not add water while grinding.

45. Remove in a pan.

46. Add about ¼ cup water or as required. For a medium consistency gravy, you can add more water.

47. Season with ½ teaspoon sugar and salt as per taste. You can also add 1 tablespoon butter at this step.

48. Mix very well and on a low flame heat through the onion-tomato gravy. Let it come to a boil. Stir at intervals.

49. Then crush ½ teaspoon kasuri methi and add in the gravy. Mix and switch off flame.

Serving palak kofta

50. Pour the hot gravy in a serving bowl.

51. Slice each kofta in two halves.

52. Gently place the palak paneer kofta halves in the gravy.

53. While serving palak kofta place some ginger julienne and green chili strips. You can also drizzle some cream if you want. Some coriander leaves can also be added for garnishing.

Few more Spinach recipes on blog which you may like are:

1. Palak paneer
2. Palak corn
3. Aloo palak
4. Palak saag

If you made this recipe, please be sure to rate it in the recipe card below. If you'd like more delicious Indian vegetarian recipes delivered straight to your inbox, Sign Up for my email newsletter. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest or Twitter for more vegetarian inspiration.