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 chopped spinach.
Then add 1 green chili (chopped), 1 teaspoon chopped garlic and 1 teaspoon chopped ginger.
Grind to a smooth puree. Do not add any water while grinding.
Heat a pan. Keep flame to a low and add ½ cup besan (gram flour).
Stirring often roast besan till it changes color and becomes aromatic.
No need to roast too much. The besan just need to be aromatic and the color should change.
Add the palak puree to the roasted besan. mix very well.
Add ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and salt as per taste.
Mix again and switch off flame. Let the spinach mixture come to a room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate it for 30 to 40 minutes.
making paneer stuffing
Grate 100 grams paneer in a plate or bowl.
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. mix well.
Now take some portion of the paneer in your palms and make small balls of the same. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Later remove the spinach mixture from the fridge.
From the spinach mixture, make the same number of balls as that of the paneer. Flatten them and keep aside.
Take each spinach mixture and flatten it more.
Place the paneer ball in the center. bring the edges on top.
Join the edges and roll gently to a smooth kofta. make all paneer palak koftas this way.
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. You can also use corn flour instead of rice flour. Cover and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
frying palak kofta
Heat oil for deep frying in kadai or pan. Add oil as required. Let the oil become medium hot. Gently place the paneer palak kofta in the medium hot oil.
Add number of koftas depending on the size of kadai. Oil should not be cold or else koftas can break.
Turn over each kofta gently when the base is light golden and crisp.
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.
Remove fried palak kofta with a slotted spoon. This way fry remaining batches of palak kofta.
Place on kitchen paper towels. These palak paneer koftas taste good and you can even have them as a snack.
making palak kofta gravy
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).
Fry till the spices splutter and become aromatic.
Then add ¾ cup chopped onion. mix well and sauté onions till they become translucent.
Then add 1 teaspoon chopped ginger and 1 teaspoon chopped garlic.
Mix and continue to sauté till the onions become light golden.
Add 1.5 cups chopped tomatoes. mix and sauté for 1 minutes.
Then add 12 large cashews (whole or roughly chopped), ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder. mix very well.
Add 1 cup water. mix and simmer on medium-low flame till the tomatoes soften.
The tomatoes have to be softened completely. Then switch off flame and let this mixture cool down.
Add the onion-tomato mixture in a grinder jar. Remove tej patta before grinding.
Blend to a smooth consistency. Do not add water while grinding.
Remove in a pan. add about ¼ cup water or as required.
Season with ½ teaspoon sugar and salt as per taste. You can also add 1 tablespoon butter at this step.
Mix very well and on a low flame heat through the onion-tomato gravy. Let it come to a boil.
Then crush ½ teaspoon kasuri methi and add in the gravy. Mix and switch off flame.
serving palak kofta
Pour the hot gravy in a serving bowl.
Slice each kofta in two halves.
Gently place the paneer palak kofta halves in the gravy.
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.