What is causing my Palak Paneer to taste a bit bitter? Here are the ingredients I used:?!
1 large onion, pureed and cooked
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tomato, pureed
3 tablespoons fat free plain yogurt
1 tbsp ground coriander seed
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup light cream
...now instead of the paneer cheese, I used 7.5 oz of fat free ricotta cheese, added right into the recipe, and cooked it all together.
2 questions, what would you modify on my blend of spices in the recipe above to make it taste more authentic, and.. do you think the fat free ricotta cheese substitution is changing the overall flavor of the dish to a bit bitter, or could it be something else... I have no Indian background but it is my favorite cuisine and I have much respect for the Indian culture and ethnicity. I'd love to learn more about this dish. Thanks!
Answers: 10oz frozen spinach, pureed and cooked.
1 large onion, pureed and cooked
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tomato, pureed
3 tablespoons fat free plain yogurt
1 tbsp ground coriander seed
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup light cream
...now instead of the paneer cheese, I used 7.5 oz of fat free ricotta cheese, added right into the recipe, and cooked it all together.
2 questions, what would you modify on my blend of spices in the recipe above to make it taste more authentic, and.. do you think the fat free ricotta cheese substitution is changing the overall flavor of the dish to a bit bitter, or could it be something else... I have no Indian background but it is my favorite cuisine and I have much respect for the Indian culture and ethnicity. I'd love to learn more about this dish. Thanks!
do not add curd. and skip the ricota cheese too. I hope you are sauteing the onions till they turn golden brown? raw onions in the curry could make it taste bitter. hope this helps. happy cooking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Saj9TS-wV...
very good video and a lot of recipes for this dish and info on the history
My guess is that pureeing the onion could cause the bitterness. Chop the onion and sautee it in a bit of oil. It completely changes the character of the onion, making it sweet and mild. Cooking pureed onion might cause bitterness.
Also, that much ground ginger might taste a bit bitter. Use fresh ginger root if you can, or use just a pinch of ground.