Name: Instant Pot Palak Paneer Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Oil; 1 cup Red onion (chopped); 1 inch Ginger (chopped); 3 cloves Garlic (chopped); 2 Green chili (or Serrano chilies, chopped); ½ cup Tomato (chopped); ¼ cup Cashew nuts; Salt (to taste); ½ + 1 cup Water; 1 lb Spinach (Palak); 1 teaspoon Garam masala; 2 teaspoons Kasoori methi (Dried fenugreek leaves) (crushed between palm before adding); ¼ cup Heavy whipping cream; 14 oz Paneer (cut into cubes)

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Perfect Instant pot Palak paneer! This copycat restaurant style recipe is a must try recipe! You get an incredibly delicious taste with creamy, smooth, rich texture. The paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cubes are added into spinach curry. Because this Punjabi palak paneer is made in instant pot, it is super easy and quick to make.

The BEST Instant Pot Palak Paneer Recipe Ever!

Palak paneer is actually one of my favorite foods and I make it all the time. The traditional method is a little time-consuming. So nowadays (with one-year-old walking around) in my busy life I chose to make it quickly using instant pot.

This instant pot palak paneer recipe is super easy. It’s a total breeze, so this will become your new favorite too.

This gets ready in 15-20 minutes and makes a quick weeknight meal. If I don’t have much time then I serve with rice. And if I have some more time to cook then I make paratha to go with it.

What is the difference between palak paneer and saag paneer?

Traditionally both are different.

Palak paneer = it has gravy made from spinach only which is creamy and rich.

Saag paneer = it has gravy made from a combination of two or more greens like spinach, mustard leaves, fenugreek leaves, radish leaves, bathua.

But here in the USA in many Indian restaurants, saag paneer is considered the same as palak paneer. But actually, they are not exactly the same.

Ingredients for Instant pot palak paneer:

Paneer (fresh homemade or frozen store bought – widely available in Indian grocery stores or at many Costco locations)
Spinach (fresh or frozen)
Onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, green chilies
Cashew nuts
Heavy whipping cream
Spices (garam masala, kasoori methi)
Salt

How to make Instant Pot Palak paneer (Step by Step Photos):

1). Turn on the sauté mode of IP. Add oil and once it gets hot add onions. Cook till onion starts to soften and becomes light pink or translucent in color.

2) Add ginger, garlic and green chilies. Mix and cook for a couple of minutes or till the raw smell of ginger garlic go away.

saute onion, ginger, garlic, green chilies in instant pot for palak paneer

3) Now add tomatoes and cashews.

4) Cook for 2 minutes or till tomato gets soften.

cook tomatoes and cashews for instant pot palak paneer recipe

5) Add ½ cup of water and salt, mix.

6) Also, add spinach.

7) Cover with the lid and cancel the sauté mode, keep valve to sealing position. Cook on manual (high pressure) for 0 minutes. Then do QPR, once pin drops open the lid.

8) Now add remaining 1 cup of water and using a hand blender, make a smooth puree. Or you can use a regular blender.

spinach mixture is cooked and pureed using hand blender for palak paneer

9) Turn the sauté mode back ON. Add garam masala, kasoori methi, and heavy whipping cream.

10) Mix well.

spices and cream are added and mix for instant pot palak paneer recipe

11) Add paneer cubes.

12) Stir gently and simmer for 2 minutes.

paneer is added and mix, instant pot palak paneer is ready to serve

Remove it to a serving bowl. Garnish with more drizzle of cream and serve.

Serving suggestion: Serve with garlic naan or jeera rice.

Can I make this palak paneer on stove top?

Here’s the traditional authentic method for palak paneer recipe.

Can I use frozen spinach?

Yes, you can use 10 oz packet of frozen spinach. Cooking time will be manual (high pressure) for 1 minute

Can I freeze this palak paneer for later?

Yes, this freezes really well and reheats really well.
I sometimes make a double batch and freeze the gravy only (without the addition of paneer). I freeze in small batches. So for quick dinner, I reheat the gravy, add paneer and it is ready.

Can I make vegan palak panner?

Yes, substitute the paneer with extra-firm tofu. Skip the heavy whipping cream, NO need to add any vegan cream or coconut cream. The name of the dish will be palak tofu.