Tofu Palak ‘Paneer’ Recipe
Healthy choice
Mostly whole foods
Gluten-free option
Protein-packed
Refined sugar free
Nut-free option
Entertaining
Main meals
Turns out, you don’t need the paneer for palak paneer — it’s actually the creamy sauce that carries all that delicious flavour! Swapping the traditional paneer for chunks of wholesome tofu, you’ll be grateful to have this one in your repertoire.
You will need
Serves 4
Tofu Paneer
- 450g firm tofu, cut into 1.5cm cubes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon oil, of choice
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
Sauce
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil, of choice
- 3cm piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 200g baby spinach
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 cup vegetable stock or water
- 1/2 cup coconut cream, or dairy-free pouring cream
- Lemon juice, to taste
- Salt, to taste
To serve
- Basmati rice, roti or naan
- Extra dairy-free cream
- Fresh coriander leaves
Recipe: Rainbow Nourishments
Directions
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Step 1
Preheat your oven to 200°C (convection) or 180°C (fan-forced).
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Step 2
In a large bowl, add the tofu, lemon juice, oil, salt, garam masala and nutritional yeast. Toss until combined then spread on a lined baking tray.
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Step 3
Bake the tofu for 15 minutes (for soft tofu) or 25 minutes (for crispy tofu). Set aside.
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Step 4
In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the onion in the oil until it becomes slightly translucent. Add the ginger, garlic and spices and cook for a few minutes or until fragrant. Add the baby spinach and tomato and cook until the spinach is wilted. Let the mixture cool slightly then transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.
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Step 5
Return the spinach mixture to the pan. Add 1 cup of vegetable stock and cream and cook until the mixture is heated.
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Step 6
Add the tofu to the spinach sauce and simmer for 3 minutes. Season with lemon juice and salt, to taste.
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Step 7
Serve hot with basmati rice, roti or naan, extra cream and coriander, or as desired.
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Recipe: Rainbow Nourishments
