Priya Krishna's Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer

Priya Krishna's Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer

Priya's update (mom-approved, of course) to the Indian staple saag paneer replaces paneer with cubed feta. As Priya says, "I love the way the feta gets all soft and pseudo-baked, soaking in all the spices and melting a little into the gravy." Our microwave-friendly adaption is aromatic, melty, and lusciously rich, just as Priya intended. This recipe was adapted from Priya's cookbook, Indian-ish: Recipes and Antics from a Modern American Family.

All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwaves and home kitchens to make sure they work — and work well.

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Select your microwave wattage in the dropdown. The cook times in this recipe will automatically change accordingly.

To find your microwave’s wattage, look at the front panel, the side of the door, in the back, in the user manual, or Google the model number. If both an input and output wattage are listed, use the output.

Wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is. The higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook. The lower the wattage, the longer the cook time.

When in doubt, start with less time — you can always add more.

1000w

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Product Size

  • Small Dish
  • Medium Shallow
  • Large Shallow
  • Medium Deep
  • Large Deep

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

9 min

Free Time

to look through old family photos

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons ghee or olive oil (divided)
  • ½ tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 1 green cardamom pod, or ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ small yellow onion, cut into ½ inch pieces (60g)
  • ½ tablespoon roughly chopped fresh ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 8 oz fresh baby spinach (5-6 cups)
  • ¼ tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • ½ small Indian green chili or serrano chili, roughly chopped
  • ½ teaspoon (kosher) salt
  • cup (25ml) water
  • ¼ cup (3oz) feta cheese cut into ½ inch cubes
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • teaspoon red chili powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida (optional)

Preparation

  1. Add 2 tbsp of ghee or oil into the Anyday and melt uncovered in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until fully melted.
  2. Add the coriander seeds, cardamom pods, onion, garlic, ginger and green chile into the Anyday, then stir to combine and cover with the lid (knob lifted). Cook in the microwave for 2 minutes or until the onion begins to soften. 
  3. Add as much spinach into the Anyday as you can fit (really pack it in since it will cook down!). Cover and cook for 1 minute. Pack more spinach in, and cook again for 1 minute. Repeat adding and cooking until all spinach is partially cooked and wilted.
  4. Stir in the lime juice and salt, then using an immersion blender or blender, puree the mixture to form a paste. Stir in the water and gently fold in the feta cheese, making sure not to break up the cubes. Cover and cook for 3 minutes or until the feta has slightly softened and has absorbed some of the spinach sauce. Set aside while you make the spiced oil.
  5. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons of ghee and cumin seeds into a small microwave-safe dish, and cook for 1 minute or until the seeds begin to sputter and brown. Stir in the chili powder and asafetida (if using). Pour the aromatic ghee over the mixture of spinach and feta and enjoy.