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Priya Krishna's Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer

Delicious saag feta made in the glass Anyday dish, featuring creamy spinach cooked with spices and topped with crumbled feta cheese. This quick and easy microwave recipe by Priya Krishna delivers a flavorful and nutritious Indian-inspired dish, perfect for a satisfying meal.
Priya Krishna's Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer
PT5M PT4M

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

4 mins

Free Time

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Priya's update (mom-approved, of course) to the Indian staple saag paneer replaces paneer with cubed feta. As Priya says, "I love the way the feta gets all soft and pseudo-baked, soaking in all the spices and melting a little into the gravy." Our microwave-friendly adaption is aromatic, melty, and lusciously rich, just as Priya intended. This recipe was adapted from Priya's cookbook, Indian-ish: Recipes and Antics from a Modern American Family.

All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwave and home kitchens to make sure they work— and work well. Unless specified otherwise, all recipes should be cooked at full power.

Vegetables, Cheese, Gluten-free, Vegetarian, feta, Indian, keto, Priya Krishna, Deep Dish, Spinach Vegetables

What You’ll Need

What You’ll Need

The Medium Deep Dish

The best dish for 1-2 portions of grains, veggies, mac and cheese, ramen, and more.

The Anyhand Mitts

Handle hot Anyday dishes with care with these microwave mitts that double as trivets!
Try Anyday

Select your serving size and microwave wattage in the dropdown. The recipe will change accordingly.

3-4
✕

Select your microwave wattage in the dropdown. The cook times in this recipe will automatically change accordingly.

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To find your microwave’s wattage, look at the front panel, the side of the door, in the back, in the user manual, or Google the model number. If both an input and output wattage are listed, use the output.

Wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is. The higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook. The lower the wattage, the longer the cook time.

When in doubt, start with less time — you can always add more.

700w

Recommended 

Dish

The Medium Deep Dish

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons ghee or olive oil (divided)
  • ½ tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 1 green cardamom pod, or ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ small yellow onion, cut into ½ inch pieces (60g)
  • ½ tablespoon roughly chopped fresh ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 8 oz fresh baby spinach (5-6 cups)
  • ¼ tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • ½ small Indian green chili or serrano chili, roughly chopped
  • ½ teaspoon (kosher) salt
  • ⅛ cup (25ml) water
  • ¼ cup (3oz) feta cheese cut into ½ inch cubes
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon red chili powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida (optional)

Preparation

  1. Add 2 tbsp (¼ cup for large portion) of ghee or oil into the Anyday and melt uncovered in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until fully melted.
  2. Add the coriander seeds, cardamom pods, onion, garlic, ginger, and green chile into the Anyday, then stir to combine and cover with the lid (knob lifted).
  3. Cook in the microwave for  2-3 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften.
  4. Add as much spinach as you can fit (really pack it in since it will cook down!). Cover and cook for 1 minute. Pack more spinach in, and cook again for 1 minute. Repeat adding and cooking until all spinach is partially cooked and wilted.
  5. Stir in the lime juice and salt, then using an immersion blender or blender, puree the mixture to form a paste.
  6. Stir in the water and gently fold in the feta cheese, making sure not to break up the cubes. Cover and cook for  2-3 minutes, or until the feta has slightly softened and has absorbed some of the spinach sauce. Set aside while you make the spiced oil.
  7. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons of ghee and cumin seeds into a small microwave-safe dish, and cook for 1 minute or until the seeds begin to sputter and brown. Stir in the chili powder and asafetida (if using).
  8. Pour the aromatic ghee over the mixture of spinach and feta and enjoy.

Serving suggestions & tips

  • When shopping for feta, look for Greek feta in brine. This adaptation was inspired by a Krishna family trip to Greece!

Recipe notes

  • Find out more about Priya at priyakrishna.me
  • Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.