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This Marry Me Paneer is my take on the viral Marry Me Chicken, made with creamy coconut and whole milk, soft paneer, rich sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and a blend of Indian and Italian spices. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner that will impress without the stress!
The Inspiration behind Marry Me Paneer
My Marry Me Paneer is inspired by the viral Marry Me Chicken trend that took off on TikTok back in 2023. I may be a little late to the trend, but I’ve been wanting to create a vegetarian version of this recipe for a while now.
There are countless variations of the original Marry Me Chicken, with people transforming it into Marry Me Pasta, Marry Me Salmon, and more. The classic version typically includes olive oil, butter, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and sometimes spinach.
My version swaps the chicken for paneer. I also skipped the cheese and heavy cream, opting instead for a mix of coconut milk and whole milk. To give it a unique twist, I added both Italian and Indian spices. And since I’m a veggie lover, of course, I had to include some spinach too.
If you love paneer as much as I do, be sure to check out my Kadai Paneer, Paneer Tikka Rice Bowl, and Matar Paneer – they’re all delicious vegetarian dishes packed with flavor.
I hope you guys try my version because it’s so good!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Paneer – I used Gopi paneer for this recipe, which is my favorite with just 2 ingredients. Cube the paneer into small cubes so there’s paneer in every bite. You should have a total of 60 cubes. Once cubed, transfer the paneer to a bowl and pour boiling water over it. Let it sit for 20 minutes so the paneer softens.
- Coconut Milk & Whole Milk – Use a good brand of coconut milk, one that is thick and creamy. Add the coconut milk and whole milk together. The dairy milk will balance the recipe and add a little sweetness. To Substitute: You can skip both milks and use 1 cup of heavy cream instead.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes – I used sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil. You can easily find a jar at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.
*See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.*
How to Make Marry Me Paneer
Step 1. Heat up an enameled braiser with oil, then add garlic and green chilies. Cook for a minute.
Step 2. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste. Saute for a minute.
Step 3. Add vegetable broth and stir for 2 minutes until heated through.
Step 4. Add coconut milk and whole milk. Stir and cook for 3 minutes until hot.
Step 5. Add spices – Kashmiri chili powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, oregano, and salt. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
Step 6. Add fresh spinach and cook for a minute or two until it wilts.
Step 7. Add drained cubed paneer that’s been sitting in boiling water which helps soften it. Stir and cook for 2 minutes.
Step 8. Add the garam masala and dry kasoori methi. Cook for another 2 minutes.
Step 9. Turn off the stove and garnish with lots of fresh cilantro – this adds a lot of flavor.
Step 10. Stir and enjoy with hot turmeric rice.
Recipe Tips
- Coconut Milk – The brand of coconut milk matters in this recipe. Use a brand that is thick and creamy.
- Whole Milk – Don’t skip the whole milk, it helps balance the flavor and adds sweetness to this recipe.
- Paneer – Don’t overcook the paneer – cook it for 3-4 minutes max.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy Marry Me Paneer with turmeric rice or Jeera Rice.
- Alternatively, you can enjoy this dish with naan or roti.
Tried this recipe? If so, please leave a comment & rate this recipe. That would mean so much to me. If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I’m happy to share and mention you. Thank you!
Marry Me Paneer
INGREDIENTS
Soak Paneer 20 Minutes
- 225 grams paneer, cubed into 60 small cubes, I love Gopi Paneer
- 2-3 cups boiling water, enough to submerge paneer
For Marry Me Paneer
- 2 tbsp oil
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 green chilies, chopped
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp dhaniya powder
- salt to taste
- 1 cup baby spinach leaves
- add cubed paneer, drained
- 1 tbsp kasoori methi
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1/4 cup or more fresh cilantro
For Turmeric Rice
- 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 4 black peppercorns
- 2 green cardamoms
- 1 cup white basmati rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt, or more if needed
INSTRUCTIONS
- Saute – Heat oil in a braiser and sauté garlic and green chilies for a minute. Add sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste, then pour in vegetable broth and cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in coconut milk and whole milk, followed by Kashmiri chili, red chili, coriander, oregano, and salt.
- Add Spinach & Paneer – Add fresh spinach and cook until wilted, then fold in the drained cubed paneer. Finish with garam masala and kasoori methi, garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve hot with turmeric rice.
- Turmeric Rice – Wash and soak basmati rice for 15 minutes, then drain. In an Instant Pot, press Saute mode, add butter and oil followed by turmeric powder, peppercorns, and green cardamoms. Saute for a minute and add drained basmati rice. Saute for a minute and add water along with salt. Stir. Close the Instant Pot and high pressure for 5 minutes. Let it naturally release and enjoy hot.
NOTES
- Coconut Milk – The brand of coconut milk matters in this recipe. Use a brand that is thick and creamy.
- Whole Milk – Don’t skip the whole milk, it helps balance the flavor and adds sweetness to this recipe.
- Paneer – Don’t overcook the paneer – cook it for 3-4 minutes max.
I needed a quick dinner recipe using paneer. Decided to give this one a try as I have made several of Nisha’s recipes before and have enjoyed them all. This was DELICIOUS! My kids loved it too! Definitely adding it into the rotation! Thank you for making easy recipes that also taste amazing!
Hi Nisha – Thank you for your sweet comment. I’m so glad this recipe was a hit. It’s so easy and it comes together so quickly. I loved it too and so did my mil. 🙂