If you haven’t cooked Indian food before, this is an easy recipe to introduce you to the cuisine that uses a myriad mix of flavors, spices and ingredients for every dish.  Indian cooking is not something you “whip up.”  Plan 30-45 minutes of preparation time for any Indian recipe.

Saag Paneer, a Punjabi-style spinach and cheese dish: http://www.indobase.com/recipes/details/saag-paneer.php

Ingredients for your shopping list:

• 1 lb. chopped frozen spinach, thawed
• 1 Large onion
• 1 oz. Fresh ginger, about 1-inch piece
• 1 Cup plain yogurt
• 6 Cloves garlic
• 4 oz. Buttermilk, about 1/4 cup
• 2 tsp Garam masala (find in spice/baking or ethnic aisle)
• 2 teaspoons Red chili powder (Indian-style, not US-style, find in ethnic aisle)
• Salt to taste, about 1 teaspoon
• 1 Cup half-and-half (dairy liquid: half milk, half cream)
• 6 oz. Cheese (paneer block)

Summary:

Chop onion, garlic and ginger in food processor, keep processing until you have a paste.  Mix paste with everything else except the half-and-half and the cheese. Simmer on medium 25 minutes.  Mash with potato masher or process in blender or food processor to make creamy mash.  Return to heat and add in half and half.  Simmer on medium 15 minutes.  Add in cheese, cut into small squares.  Simmer 5 minutes and serve.