Spinach/Palak Vegetable Gravy

Spinach/Palak is one of the very common greens used around the world. It is rich in Vitamin A. Also it is rich in calcium, iron and protein. Here I used to find spinach a lot more than other greens. So I try lot of recipes with spinach. I made this vegetable spinach combination as a side dish for chapathis. I tastes really very good and even kids who hesitate to eat greens will taste this for sure.

My daughter will taste greens only in paste form. If I make sabzi kind of greens recipe, she will not eat it. So most of the time, I make greens in paste  form (Keerai Kadaisal). Just mix this kadaisal with white rice and give the kids. They will love it and also its very healthy.

Ingredients:

Palak/Spinach - 2 cups
Mixed Vegetables - 1 cup
Onion - 1 (finely chopped)
Tomato - 1 (chopped)
Green Chilli -  2 (slitted)
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Dhania/Corriander powder - 2 tsp
Cumin - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2 tbsp
Butter/Ghee - 1 tbsp

Note:

a) Grind the palak and make a paste of it.
b) Take any vegetables of your choice and cut to equal size.

Method:

1) Heat a pan and add oil. Add cumin seeds and onion.

2) Saute it well and add ginger garlic paste. Saute it until you get rid of the raw smell and add tomatoes, green chillies.

3) Saute it well and add the cut vegetbales.

4) Also add the dry powders.

5) Mix well and add water. Let the vegetables become tender.

6) Once the vegetables are cooked, add the palak paste.

7) Mix it well with the vegetables and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.

8) Finally add the butter/ghee.

Mouthwatering and healthy palak vegetable gravy is ready to taste.

Palak Pulao with Tomato Raitha

All greens are rich in iron. So I use greens a lot in my cooking. Today I tried this Palak/Spinach pulao. The taste was awesome. My hubby and my daughter loved it a lot. Felt I might have added 1 more cup of spinach. Other than that everything was so good and very delicious.

Also I wondered what raitha would accompany this pulao to its best. So thought of trying some spicy raitha as the pulao was very mild. Then I thought of using tomato and onion together in my raitha. It made a very good accompaniment.

Ingredients:

Basmati rice - 1 cup
Onion - 1 (chopped lengthwise)
Spinach/Palak - 2 cups (finely chopped)
Milk - 1/2 cup
Green Chillies - 2 or 3 (slitted)
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Butter/Ghee - 1 tbsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste

Tomato Raitha:

Curd/Yogurt - 2 cups
Onion - 1 (chopped lengthwise)
Tomato - 1 (finely chopped)
Cilantro/Corriander leaves - few (to garnish)
Chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - to taste

Method:

1) Soak basmati rice for about 15 to 20 mins. Heat a pan and add butter/ghee. Add the soaked rice and roast for about 2 to 3 mins. Keep it aside.

2) Now heat a pan. Add oil. Also add cumin seeds and chopped onion.

3) Saute it and add ginger garlic paste. Then add the slitted green chillies.

4) Then add chopped palak. Saute it for 2 about mins.

5) Then add the roasted rice.

6) Mix it well and add the milk. Also add water and salt.

7) Cook it and your pulao is ready.

8) For making raitha mix all ingredients except salt and let it soak for about 30 mins. Add salt just before you start to eat.

Delicious and healthy palak pulao is ready now.

Spinach Coconut Gravy

This spinach coconut gravy tastes really delicious. Even kids and adults who hesitate to eat greens, will love this recipe, because of its great taste.

Ingredients:

Spinach - 3 cups (chopped)
Moong dal - 1/2 cup (cooked)
Mustard - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Red chilli - 2
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Dhania/Corriander powder - 2 tsp
chilli powder - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp

For grinding:
Coconut - 3 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Onion - 1/2 (cut to cubes)


Method:

1) Heat a skillet and add oil. Add mustard seeds. Once it starts to splutter, add urad dal and red chillies.

2) Now add the chopped spinach.

3) Let it cook for 3 mins by sprinkling some water and add chilli powder, corriander powder, turmeric powder and salt.

4) Meanwhile, grind the coconut, cumin seeds and onion in a blender to make a paste.

5) Now add the dal and coconut paste to the spinach.

6) Let it cook for about 5 mins and its ready to taste.