Paneer Mushroom Florentine

Florentine refers to a recipe that is prepared in the style of the Italian region of Florence. When we add Paneer to this delicious dish, it gets an Indian touch. This dish features green spinach in most cases, used as one of the layers and finally topped with cheese. Spinach can be grinded before use, or use it as chopped or as such.

Ingredients for Paneer Mushroom Florentine:

For first layer:

1. Palak – 1 bundle

2. Butter – 2 small spoons

3. Garlic – 2 cloves, chopped fine

4. Salt and pepper powder – As required

For second layer:

1. Butter – 1 big spoon

2. Garlic – 6 cloves, chopped fine

3. Onions  – 1, chopped fine

4. Red chillies crushed – 1 small spoon

    Mushroom chopped – 200 gm

5. Cauliflower – 100gm, taken as florets

    Paneer – 200 gm, cut into square pieces

6. Parsley – ½ small spoon

    Salt and pepper powder – As required

For third layer:

1. Oil – 1 big spoon

2. Garlic – 1 small spoon, chopped fine

3. Onions -1 big, chopped fine

4. Red chilli powder – 1 small spoon

5. Tomato – 3, grinded and filtered

    Sugar – ½ small spoon

    Salt – ½ small spoon

    Parsley – ½ small spoon

Ingredients for white sauce:

1. Butter – 1.5 big spoons

2. Maida – 1.5 big spoons

3. Milk – 2 cups

4. Salt – As required

    White pepper powder – ½ small spoon

Ingredients to set Paneer Mushroom Florentine:

1. Butter – 1 big spoon

2. Cheese – 2 cubes, grated

How to prepare Paneer Mushroom Florentine?

Layer 1:

1. Clean palak and immerse in boiling water for 1 minute.

2. Then dip and wash in cold water, drain of excess water.

3. Heat oil and sauté garlic for 1 minute.

4. Add the spinach to it and cook till water content is fully absorbed.

5. Add salt and pepper and take off from flame.

Layer 2:

1. Heat butter and sauté garlic.

2. Add onions and sauté again.

3. When it turns soft, add ingredients no: 4 and cook well.

4. When water content is fully absorbed, add and sauté cauliflower and paneer.

5. Add ingredients no: 6 when it is done, mix well and take off the flame.

Layer 3:

1. Heat oil and saute garlic.

2. Add onions and sauté again.

3. When it turns soft, add chilli powder and sauté again.

4. When a pleasant aroma comes out, add ingredients no: 5.

5. Cook till water content is fully absorbed.

Preparation of white sauce:

1. Heat ghee and add maida.

2. Fry it till bubbles appear on its surface.

3. Add milk, stir continuously and cook till contents thicken.

4. Add salt and pepper and take off the flame.

How to set Paneer Mushroom Florentine?

1. Pre-heat oven in 180 degrees.

2. Apply ghee to a pie dish and spread Palak mixture as first layer.

3. Spread mushroom mixture as layer 2.

4. Spread tomato mixture as layer 3.

5. Pour white sauce on its top and spread grated cheese.

6. Bake this pie for 35 minutes.

Courtesy: Vanitha Magazine 2013 October 1-14

Also read a few more paneer and khova dessert recipes. Here is the page link. Click on the images in the gallery to read.