Instant Pot Easy Palak Paneer – Quick Restaurant Style Recipe

This Easy Palak Paneer is a Quick Restaurant Style Recipe, made with much less effort. It is delicious, creamy, and rich bursting with flavors. Palak Paneer is best enjoyed with hot Naan.

Quick Restaurant Style Easy Palak Paneer Recipe

I am sure that everyone out there who likes Indian Food, is familiar with Palak Paneer. It is also known as Saag Paneer. This is a very popular dish offered at Indian Restaurants and is loved by many. Palak Paneer is a rich and creamy curry from North Indian cuisine.

Palak = Spinach and Paneer = Indian Cottage Cheese. Therefore Palak Paneer = Spinach Cottage Cheese Curry

If you are a fan of this curry, then you must try this recipe at home. It is the Easy Palak Paneer Recipe that is not only a Quick Palak Paneer but also Restaurant Style Saag Paneer. You will be amazed at the secret ingredient used in this recipe. I promise that the secret ingredient will place this recipe a notch higher.

Honestly, I make Palak Paneer with many variations and different cooking methods. I have made it in an open pan, closed pan, pressure cooker and Instant Pot. Check out my different variations here, and here.

Check this post out for Authentic Restaurant Style Palak Paneer from my archives.

How to make Palak Paneer at Home?

I come across this question a lot by many folks who like to eat this at the Indian restaurants and then want to duplicate it at home. I have to tell you that it is the easiest curry recipe that you can make at home easily. All you need is –

• Palak or Spinach – washed and cleaned
• Paneer or Indian Cottage Cheese – Home Made Paneer or Store Bought
• Fresh Produce like Tomatoes and Ginger
• Heavy Cream or My Secret Ingredient for More Flavor
• Simple Indian Spices like Turmeric, Garam Masala, Red Chili powder and Salt
• Cooking Oil

That’s it. Yes, only a handful of ingredients and done.

Palak Paneer is a Perfect Weeknight Dinner Dish. Why?

Here are my top reasons why this is a perfect mid-week or a busy night indulgence.

• The recipe uses very few ingredients and can be prepped in advance.
• You can make a big batch and store in the refrigerator for a week. Use it as a side or main to make different meals. I make paranthas/flatbreads using leftover Palak Paneer. It can be paired with rice, naan, pita, parantha or eat it as is in a bowl.
• This recipe doesn’t need a lot of cooking and comes together in no time.
• Since Spinach or Palak is the main ingredient of the recipe, it is a good source of nutrients as well. A great combination of Healthy and Delicious.

Options to Substitute Paneer in Palak Paneer

In case you do not get Paneer easily or can not make it at home, then here are the other options to substitute paneer in this recipe. It won’t be Palak Paneer anymore but hey that lingering taste of creamy Spinach Curry is the ultimate goal to aim for.

Here is what you can use instead of Paneer in the Recipe –

• Boiled or Canned Chickpeas. It will be called Saag Chana or Chana Palak.
• Extra Firm Tofu cubed as is or slightly baked or air fried or deep fried Tofu. It will be Palak Tofu then.
• Boiled and Peeled Potatoe, like this Saag Aloo from my blog.
• Thawed frozen corn or bay corns. This will be known as Makai Saag.
• Mixed vegetables. I use frozen anytime. Mixed Vegetable Saag will be the name.
• Make koftas or use Market bought Veggie Meatballs. It will be Saag Kofta or Palak Kofta.

Instant Pot Easy Palak Paneer Recipe. Why?

Though it is an easy recipe and can be easily cooked in an open pan, I still prefer making it in my 6 quarts Instant Pot. Here is why –

• Making curry is a somewhat messy business. It splatters all over. Cooking Curry in Instant Pot makes it a MESS-FREE cooking. Less Cleaning.
• Instant Pot lets me cook and work at the same time. It is practically HANDS-FREE Cooking. I can put everything in the pot. Set the timer and work around on my blog and home. I get much more done in the same amount of time.
• It gives me the advantage of being able to cook in advance and still run errands. I can manage the kids after school activities and fresh dinner at the same time.
• It is ONE POT cooking. No extra pots and dishes to wash.

PRO TIPS on RETAINING THE COLOR OF SPINACH or PALAK

Here are 2 things that I do to retain the color of the Spinach or Palak.

• Add something acidic while cooking it. Tomato is my best friend to retain the color.
• DO NOT OVERCOOK spinach.

Here are some other VEGETARIAN INSTANT POT RECIPES from simplyvegetarian777 –

Saag Aloo,

Red Kidney Beans Curry (Punjabi Rajma),

Mexican Pinto Beans,

Punjabi Kadhi, Red Thai Curry,

Dhaba Dal, and many more.

Some Home Made Naan Recipes to go with Palak Paneer –

Mint & Garlic Butter Naan, Whole Wheat Naan, No Yeast Griddle Naan, and more.

You will need following kitchen gadgets to make this recipe in Instant Pot.

You can order from amazon.com. Your purchase helps us earn a small commission to keep the blog running.

6 Quart Instant Pot

Instant Pot Glass Lid

Hand Held Blender or Blender of your Choice

GIVE A SHOUT OUT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA –  FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, AND TWITTER, IF YOU TRY IT.

Here is how to make Instant Pot Palak Paneer Recipe that is Quick and Easy.

If you try it, then do share your feedback under comments and please rate the recipe card too. Will appreciate it.

In my kitchen, you will always EAT HAPPY & STAY HAPPY!

Sonal