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British Indian Restaurant Recipe Requests => British Indian Restaurant Recipe Requests => Topic started by: phulatt on November 05, 2006, 09:29 AM

Title: Sag Paneer
Post by: phulatt on November 05, 2006, 09:29 AM
Has anyone got an authentic BIR Sag Paneer recipe.  We're having friends round next weekend and I'd love to be able to do my favourite side dish.

Cheers


Paul
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: mike travis on November 05, 2006, 09:55 AM
Hi  ;) I have a recipe for a Mantar Panir from an Indian cook book. Its a savoury dish with cream cheese. The book says its quite easy to make at home once you have prepared the cream cheese. Let me know if its what you are looking for and I will post the recipe for you..........regards....mike  ;D
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: Chilli Prawn on November 05, 2006, 10:19 AM
I have a Bir recipe, do you want wet or dry version (mine is dry). Do you need a recipe for Paneer as well?

CP
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: phulatt on November 05, 2006, 10:34 AM
Both if that's not too much trouble.  ;D

I've got the Paneer sorted thanks.


Paul
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: currygit on November 05, 2006, 11:12 AM
I hope this is thr irght place for this.  I have tried a Paneer making method from here and I used full cream milk (jersey) and put in the fresh lemon juice but all it has done is turned into buttermilk.  The curds and whey have not fully seperated.  I heated the milk until just on the boil, turned off the heat and added the lemon juice and stirred it occasiionaly.  It is nearly 24 hours old now and still the same.  Please help.

currygit

PS I even added some white vinegar later with no result.  I was using a nonstick pan.
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: Mark J on November 05, 2006, 05:55 PM
Ive only made paneer from scratch 3 times but it sounds to me like not enough lemon juice?
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: Ashes on November 05, 2006, 06:05 PM
According to Vedis book i have here; if your panir is too rubbery or breaks up too much then you have used too much lemon. I cant say i know much more than that, hope it helps.

Ashes :)
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: merrybaker on November 05, 2006, 11:32 PM
it sounds to me like not enough lemon juice?

I agree.  I use white vinegar (it's cheaper) rather than lemon juice, but the method is the same.  It will immediately separate into curds and whey.  If the whey is still white, you need more acid (juice/vinegar).  Add a little bit at a time until you have nice curds and the whey is almost clear, with a greenish cast to it.  It takes about 1/4 cup vinegar for 1 gallon whole milk. That's an American gallon (~3.78 liters or 16 cups), not an Imperial gallon (~4.54 liters). ???
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: currygit on November 08, 2006, 12:50 PM
it sounds to me like not enough lemon juice?

I agree.  I use white vinegar (it's cheaper) rather than lemon juice, but the method is the same.  It will immediately separate into curds and whey.  If the whey is still white, you need more acid (juice/vinegar).  Add a little bit at a time until you have nice curds and the whey is almost clear, with a greenish cast to it.  It takes about 1/4 cup vinegar for 1 gallon whole milk. That's an American gallon (~3.78 liters or 16 cups), not an Imperial gallon (~4.54 liters). ???

I now have a large pot of Clotted Cream ??? :(   i did it before I got your post Merry.  It will do for sammat else.  But now i see yoor reply there is couple more questions.

Do you keep the milk on simmer as you add the vinegar, or do you remove it from the heat immediately it starts to rise  I mean starts to boil?

I can only get full milk that has 98% fat removed, so I added cream to it.  What should I use as it is now quite difficult to get the old full cream milk these days?  I can get Jersey full cream milk from Tescos for a price.

I have a larder full of clotted cream and buttermilk now, so I am obviously missing something or doing something wrong.  Heeeeeelp

currygit

Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: merrybaker on November 08, 2006, 09:15 PM
I can only get full milk that has 98% fat removed, so I added cream to it. 
Hi, currygit.  98% fat-free milk (called 2% milk in the U.S.) will  work fine. No need to add cream!  Whole milk (about 4% fat) makes the most tender paneer, 2% is slightly less tender but still very good, but skim (fat-free) paneer can be a little rubbery.

The hardest part of the whole operation is bringing the milk to a boil without scorching the bottom.  Make sure you use a big pot, because boiling milk foams up like crazy!  Once the milk just starts to boil, turn it down to the lowest flame. If it starts to foam over the top, take it off the flame entirely.  It?ll still work.  Add the acid and stir very gently, so as not to break up the curds.  If you don?t get nice big curds and an almost-clear, greenish whey in about 10 seconds, or so, add a little more vinegar (or lemon juice) at a time until you do.  Then strain it through your cheesecloth, wrap the cloth around it, and weigh it down until firm.

Until you get the hang of it, try making a small amount at a time, say a quart of milk.  Let me know how it goes. 

Good luck!
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: currygit on November 09, 2006, 07:21 PM
Tanks Merry, I will try again this weekend

curryG
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: Ashes on November 09, 2006, 08:22 PM
Merry that looks like a top tip, thank you!

Btw what is a quart in eurospeak?

Regards Ashes
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: merrybaker on November 10, 2006, 06:41 PM
Btw what is a quart in eurospeak?
Oops, sorry!  A quart is one-fourth (quarter) of a gallon.  So that's 4 cups, or 2 pints (American pints, not British!), or 32 ounces. ???

Easiest answer: 1 quart = 0.94635 liters (which should take about 1 Tbl. vinegar)
Title: Re: Sag Paneer
Post by: Ashes on November 11, 2006, 12:17 PM
Ah, that would be 32 fluid ounces, yep I just found a jug in the cupboard and it had exactly what you stated; one pint-16oz- 2 cups, now i realise this is American standardization.

That will be useful for those American books i got at home.

But to make it easier, I guess you could say 1 litre (or just under) of milk to roughly 1 tablespoon of vinegar, thing is, i think Americans use different sizes for tablespoons ??? but the difference can?t be that great, after all its approximate measures and chef guesses :)

Thanks again!! 

Ashes :)