Indian food is delicious, and curries are the ultimate comfort food, but sometimes they aren’t the healthiest. This keto-friendly instant pot palak paneer is an exception. It’s easy to make, packed with flavors and spices, and contains all the benefits of spinach.
The star of the show is the paneer cheese. It’s super high in protein and full of calcium, iron, and fat, meaning you’ll feel fuller for longer. Because of this, paneer cheese is a popular protein substitute in curries for vegetarians. The vibrant green color comes from the spinach. This leafy green veggie is loaded with vitamins and full of fiber to help keep your digestion optimum. Fresh spinach is recommended; however, frozen spinach is a secondary option if you don’t have any fresh ones on hand.
The intense and delicious taste comes from the inclusion of many spices and herbs, like cumin seeds, garam masala, coriander powder, garlic, and paprika, which give that traditional Indian curry flavor. Add a generous helping of fresh ginger and a serrano pepper for a kick and mouth-watering spice. If you are not good with spicy food, you can reduce the amount based on your preferences.
This palak paneer pairs perfectly with the light and flavorful cumin cauliflower rice as a white rice substitute. Cauliflower has a subtle flavor, and it absorbs all the rich spices from the curry.
Yields 6 servings of Keto Instant Pot Palak Paneer
The Preparation
Palak Paneer:
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
- 1 medium serrano pepper
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced
- 3 1/2 ounce fresh tomatoes
- 16 ounce spinach
- 1/4 cup water
- 16 ounce paneer packet
Cauliflower Rice:
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 480 gram cauliflower, riced
The Execution
1. Measure out and prepare all the ingredients. Set the Instant Pot to sautee, dice the tomatoes and serrano pepper.
2. Put the butter in the Instant Pot along with the spices: cumin seeds, garam masala, ground coriander, paprika, and sea salt to taste.
3. Add the serrano pepper, chopped onion, minced garlic, ginger, and diced tomatoes to the Instant Pot.
4. Add the spinach and water. Turn the sautee function off, put the lid on, and set to manual, high pressure for 1 minute. Use quick release.
5. Using an immersion blender, blend this to a paste.
6. Add the paneer and set the Instant Pot to warm.
7. Rice the cauliflower by putting the cauliflower florets into a food processor.
8. In a frying pan over medium heat, add the butter, cumin seeds, and garam masala.
9. Add the riced cauliflower and stir to combine well.
10. Put the seasoned cauliflower rice and palak paneer into bowls.
11. Plate and serve them together. Enjoy!
This makes a total of 6 servings of Keto Instant Pot Palak Paneer. Each serving comes out to be 415 calories, 33.4g fat, 7.6g net carbs, and 20.8g protein.
| NUTRITION | CALORIES | FAT | CARBS | FIBER | NET CARBS | PROTEIN |
| 4.00 tablespoon butter | 407 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 |
| 1.00 teaspoon cumin seeds | 8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| 2.00 teaspoon garam masala | 16 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.5 |
| 1.00 teaspoon ground coriander | 5 | 0.3 | 1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 1.00 teaspoon paprika | 6 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 1.00 teaspoon sea salt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.00 medium serrano pepper | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| 0.50 medium onion | 19 | 0.1 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 0.6 |
| 4.00 teaspoon fresh garlic | 17 | 0.1 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 3.5 | 0.7 |
| 3.50 ounce fresh tomatoes | 18 | 0.2 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.9 |
| 16.00 ounce spinach | 104 | 1.2 | 17 | 10.9 | 6.1 | 13.5 |
| 0.25 cup water | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16.00 ounce paneer packet | 1456 | 113.4 | 16.2 | 0 | 16.2 | 97.2 |
| 3.00 tablespoon butter | 305 | 34.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 |
| 1.00 teaspoon cumin seeds | 8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| 1.00 teaspoon garam masala | 8 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 1 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| 480.00 gram cauliflower | 110 | 2.4 | 19.7 | 11 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Totals | 2489 | 200.2 | 74.9 | 29.5 | 45.4 | 124.6 |
| Per Serving (/6) | 415 | 33.4 | 12.5 | 4.9 | 7.6 | 20.8 |
Keto Instant Pot Palak Paneer
Ingredients
Palak Paneer:
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- 1 medium serrano pepper
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 4 teaspoon fresh garlic minced
- 3 ½ ounce fresh tomatoes
- 16 ounce spinach
- ¼ cup water
- 16 ounce paneer packet
Cauliflower Rice:
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 480 gram cauliflower riced
Instructions
- Measure out and prepare all the ingredients. Se the Instant Pot to sautee and dice the tomatoes.
- Put the butter in the Instant Pot along with the spices: cumin seeds, garam masala, ground coriander, paprika, and sea salt to taste.
- Add the serrano pepper, chopped onion, minced garlic, ginger, and diced tomatoes to the Instant Pot.
- Add the spinach and water. Turn the sautee function off, put the lid on, and set to manual, high pressure for 1 minute. Use quick release.
- Using an immersion blender, blend this to a paste.
- Add the paneer and set the Instant Pot to warm.
- Rice the cauliflower by putting the cauliflower florets into a food processor.
- In a frying pan over medium heat, add the butter, cumin seeds, and garam masala.
- Add the riced cauliflower and stir to combine well.
- Put the seasoned cauliflower rice and palak paneer into bowls.
- Plate and serve them together. Enjoy!
