Vegan Saag Paneer Recipe

Experience the rich, creamy delight of Saag Paneer, completely veganized! This vibrant Indian dish features golden-fried tofu cubes in a luscious, spicy spinach gravy. A quick and easy recipe perfect for weeknight dinners, impressing guests, or satisfying your craving for authentic Indian flavors.

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Calories 138.1 kcal
Protein 17g
Rating 3.0 (2 Reviews)
Vegan Saag Paneer 17

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Vegan Saag Paneer

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this Vegan Saag Paneer? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make Vegan Saag Paneer

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
  2. Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 tablespoon coriander powder, and 2 cloves minced garlic. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add 14 ounces (400g) of drained and pressed extra-firm tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes.
  4. Sauté the tofu until golden brown on all sides (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from the pan and set aside.
  5. In a small spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind 4 cloves, 2 green cardamom pods (lightly crushed), and 1 teaspoon fennel seeds into a fine powder.
  6. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the same pan. Add the ground spice mixture and 1 cup chopped leeks. Sauté until lightly browned (about 3-4 minutes).
  7. Add 10 ounces (280g) of chopped kale and sauté until wilted (about 3-4 minutes).
  8. Season with 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste). Transfer the kale mixture to a food processor along with 1 (14.5 ounce) can of diced tomatoes, undrained, and 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. Blend until smooth.
  9. Return the blended spinach mixture to the pan. Add the golden-fried tofu.
  10. Simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly. Garnish with fresh cilantro (optional) and serve hot with rice or naan bread.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

13 g

Sugar

13g

Fat

4g

Carbs

5g