Masala yoghurt, red, green and tamarind chutneys, onions, tomatoes and crunchy sev are all crowd-pleasing toppings. These snack-tastic fried spinach leaves get more addictive with every bite! If you’re a lover of crispy nachos, try this Indian-style chaat.

What is Palak Patta Chaat (Crispy Spinach Chaat)?

This recipe begins with spinach, lots of spinach. Each leaf is dipped in a batter of chickpea flour (besan), rice flour and spices before getting deep fried.

Once crispy all over, the spinach bhajiya (fritters) are spread out on a tray or plate.

Now for the fun part: A tumble of red onions and tomatoes. Then a smatter of various hot and sour chutneys made with fresh herbs, fruits and spices. Cold sweet and savoury yoghurt drizzle goes on top.

Finally, sev (chickpea flour noodles), fresh coriander leaves and optional chaat masala. This dish really is a celebration of spinach.

What else can I add to my Chaat?

If the aforementioned toppings aren’t enough to set your taste buds alight, you can also throw on some fresh pomegranate, mint leaves and fresh chillies. It really is a flavour free for all. Indeed, I’ve been known to scatter over some crushed potato chips.

How do you eat Chaat?

Depending on the style of chaat, you can either use your hands, a spoon or fork. Generally speaking, eating with your hands is commonplace but if the chaat is drenched in chutneys and yoghurt, grab yourself a spoon.

I’m actually a firm believer of going in face first. Just kidding. I like to use my hands, nachos style. I pick them up, scooping up as many toppings as you can, sort of like a spinach-leaf surf board riding some deliciously-gnarly waves.

How many different types of Chaat are there?

Hundreds. Chaat is one of those dishes that is has consistency as well as uniqueness. You can prepare Chaat from almost any base ingredient: Think crispy bhajia (fritters), vada, fried dough, dumplings, noodles, fruit and many more things. Each of Chaat is both unique, yet familiar all at once.

The familiarity of chaat comes from the toppings. Almost all will have some sort of yoghurt, chutney, onion and tomato combination (not the fruit ones). Sometimes a sprinkle of chaat masala if it’s available. If not chaat masala, a pinch of black salt (kala namak) and roasted cumin seed powder.

What are the different types of Chaat?

While practically anything can be a chaat, some of the most popular chaats of India are:

• Aloo Chaat (with fried potato cubes)
• Samosa Chaat (with erm… samosas)
• Papdi Chaat (with fried strips of shortcrust dough)
• Sev Puri Chaat (same as above but with fried chickpea flour noodles)
• Dahi Puri Chaat (mini pastry shells filled with boiled potatoes and lentils and lots of seasoned yohurt)
• Channa Chaat (with chickpeas)
• Kachori Chaat (similar to samosa chaat but with a stuffed shortcrust round. Fillings usually include, but aren’t limited to peas, daal and onions).
• Fruit Chaat (mixed fruit sprinkled with chaat masala and fresh herbs).

Essentials I used for this recipe

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. These are all products I have purchased of my own accord and ones that I use myself. None of the products mentioned have been gifted to me. By using an affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no expense to you. This commission helps to support this blog. Thanks in advance if you choose to make a purchase through these links!

How to make Palak Patta Chaat (Crispy Spinach Chaat)

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Palak Patta Chaat (Spinach Leaf Chaat)

Crispy fried spinach leaves topped with a monsoon of Mumbai chaat favourites including masala yoghurt, red, green and tamarind chutneys, onions, tomatoes and crunchy sev. They get more addictive with every bite! If you're a lover of nachos, try this Indian-style chaat.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Indian

Keyword bhajias, chaat, spinach, street food

Servings 4

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

For the crispy fried spinach:

• 180 g baby spinach leaves washed and dried
• 175 g chickpea flour (besan)
• 50 g rice flour
• 1 1/4 tsp dried garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp carom seeds (ajwain)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/8 tsp asafoetida (hing – ensure it's a gluten free one if you have any allergies or intolerances)
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
• 2 tsp oil (I used sunflower)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 300 ml ice cold water

For the masala yoghurt:

• 150 g unsweetened vegan yoghurt (I used soy)
• 1 tsp roasted cumin seeds coarsely ground
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp black salt (kala namak)

For the chaat toppers:

• 1 tomato finely diced
• 1 small red onion finely diced
• 2 tbsp sev
• 1/4 tsp chaat masala (optional)
• 1/4 tsp chilli powder or fresh green chillies (adjust according to your taste)
• Lemon wedges
• 2 tbsp green coriander and mint chutney recipe linked below
• 2 tbsp tamarind and date chutney recipe linked below
• 2 tbsp red chilli chutney recipe linked below
• 2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves
• 1L oil for deep frying (I used sunflower)

Instructions

For the masala yoghurt:

• Mix together all the ingredients and chill in the fridge until needed.

For the batter:

• Place the chickpea flour in a large bowl. Add the Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric, asafoetida, dried garlic powder, salt, ajwain and rice flour. Stir to combine.
• Next, add the oil and lemon juice. Now gradually add the water, whisking all the time to ensure you work all the lumps out. It's good to add the water in stages for this reason. The final batter should be like a smooth dosa or crepe batter.

To fry the spinach:

• Heat the oil in a large pan suitable for deep frying, about 5cm deep. Bring the temperature to 200C/400F. It should be hot but not smoking.
• Dip a spinach leaf in the batter, gently shaking off any excess. Carefully place the spinach leaf in the hot oil. It may crackle and spit so be extra vigilant.
• Repeat more spinach leaves, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. I fried mine in batches of 6-7 at a time. Turn the spinach in the oil often using a perforated spoon or frying spider/skimmer. After around 2 minutes the spinach should be golden and crispy. Lift the spinach out of the oil using the perforated spoon.
• Place the spinach on a plate or tray lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. If you want to keep them warm, you can transfer the fried spinach leaves to an un-lined tray and place them in a low oven while you fry the remaining spinach. This will help keep them crispy.

To build the chaat:

• Arrange the spinach leaves on a tray. I lined mine with baking parchment for easy clean up. Top with onions, tomatoes, chilled masala yoghurt, chutneys of your choice, sev, fresh coriander leaves, optional chaat masala and any other toppings you would like to add. Serve with fresh lemon wedges.

Video

Notes

• Serve immediately. This chaat doesn’t wait around for long so get stuck in.
• Not suitable for reheating or freezing.

Get my 3 epic chutney recipes

Easy Mint & Coriander Chutney

Smooth and creamy Indian street-style chutney for drizzling over chaats, spreading in sandwiches and dipping bhajiyas. My recipe is super aromatic and medium hot in flavour. You can add as many chillies as you like. If you prefer a milder chutney, feel free to stir in some natural yoghurt or dairy-free yoghurt.

Check out this recipe

Atomic Red Chilli Chutney

Calling all chilli lovers! This red chilli chutney is quick and easy to make and intense enough to satisfy your spice cravings. Use two or more types of chilli for both flavour and intensity. Mixing your chillies in this way will add multiple layers of flavour.

Check out this recipe

Tamarind & Date Chutney

Learn how to make sweet and sour tamarind and date chutney from scratch! No Indian chaat is complete without a drizzle of this mouth-puckering fruity chutney.

Check out this recipe

Pin this Spinach Leaf Chaat recipe for later!

If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Maggi Noodles Chaat

And these Aloo Chaat Potato Skins

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The post Palak Patta Chaat (Crispy Spinach Chaat) appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

The velvety texture and subtle spicing of this recipe for Saag Paneer ensures the peppery mustard leaves and juicy paneer are the true stars of the show.

What’s the difference between Saag Paneer and Palak Paneer?

You may or may not know that Saag Paneer and Palak Paneer are two completely different dishes. The names are often used interchangeably which is misleading.

Indian restaurants and big supermarkets are usually the worst offenders when it comes to making this mistake. Let me explain the difference here.

Greens used for Saag

Saag is a dish is made from a combination of leafy greens. It usually includes mustard leaves but can also feature bathua (goosefoot), chaulai (amaranth) and chane ka saag (chickpea leaves). Each one has a distinct flavour.

A dish is made from only spinach leaves and paneer is called Palak Paneer.

Saag Paneer vs. Palak Paneer. Why does it matter?

You know how people always confuse Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie? Well, many mix up Saag Paneer and Palak Paneer in the same way. Each is made using different ingredients which means they have very unique flavours.

Not all greens taste the same so the combination of leaves used can make a HUGE difference in the finished dish. I’m always disappointed when I order Saag Paneer and am served a bowl of Palak Paneer.

What do mustard leaves (sarson ka saag) look like?

Palak Paneer definitely doesn’t have the same peppery kick from the mustard greens as Saag Paneer does.

Can I use shop-bought paneer?

The short answer is yes. In fact, I encourage it. You don’t have to make your own paneer for this recipe unless you really want to.

If you do want to make your own paneer, head on over to my Homemade Paneer video for an easy step-by-step tutorial.

A bit about pressure cookers

I adore my pressure cooker. I’ve had one since I can remember because it’s so handy for making everyday Indian food. I use my pressure cooker for daal, curry, khichdi and more. It’s definitely one of my most prized possessions in the kitchen!

In this recipe, the pressure cooker breaks down the saag and aromatics in just 10 minutes. If you have an Instant Pot the saag takes around 5 minutes to cook on high power.

If you don’t have either, bring everything to the boil in a large stock pot and cover with a lid. Cook for 30 minutes until everything is tender.

How to make vegan Saag Paneer

Simple! To make vegan Saag Paneer, switch the paneer for fried firm tofu cubes. Replace the butter in the recipe with your favourite plant-based spread and substitute any plant-based cream for the single cream.

Do I need a blender to make Saag Paneer?

My recipe calls for a blender because it makes quick work of creating a smooth sauce. For that reason, I use a high-powered NutriBullet. However, you can use any blender you have, including a stick blender.

It’s also fine to serve the Saag Paneer chunky if that’s what you like. In Northern India (where Saag Paneer comes from), people chop all the greens and aromatics finely before cooking the saag low and slow.

The pot of saag is constantly beaten with a long spurtle (basically a wooden stick) to break everything down. You need serious arm power to make Saag under the Indian sun.

The finished dish is hearty and dark green.

How to make Saag Paneer

Step 1

Boil all the leafy greens and aromatics (ginger, garlic and onions) along with some water in a pressure cooker until tender. A pinch of baking soda will help the greens cook quickly!

This should only take 10 minutes, or 4 whistles in the cooker. Let it cool slightly.

Step 2

Transfer everything to a blender and add the cornmeal. The cornmeal thickens the saag up nicely. As a result, it has a nice, velvety texture. I like to add a knob of butter to the blender to help everything emulsify to a silky sauce.

Step 3

Pan fry the paneer in until golden and then soak in hot water (I just use kettle water) for 5 minutes. After a soak, the paneer will be juicy and squidgy.

Step 4

Give the inside of the pressure cooker a quick wipe. Heat butter in the pot and add the black cardamom, onions, garlic, and chillies. Cook for 10 minutes over a med-low heat. The onions should be lightly golden and soft.

Step 5

Add the saag mixture and stir. Cook for 5 minutes over a low heat, stirring all the time. Be careful as it will bubble and spit. Allow to thicken slightly. Stir in the salt and garam masala.

Step 6

Add the drained paneer to the saag and stir well. Heat through and serve piping hot with your favourite roti, paratha or naan.

What to serve with Saag

Serve this Saag Paneer the traditional Punjabi way with Makki ki Roti (thick cornmeal rotis), butter or ghee, onions and chillies. It might be a little non-traditional but I love Saag Paneer with rice.

How to make The Ultimate Saag Paneer

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The Ultimate Saag Paneer

The Ultimate Saag Paneer recipe is pure MAGIC! Soft paneer chunks in a creamy mustard greens & spinach sauce. Every bite will melt in your mouth. A true Indian comfort food meal.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Keyword curry, mustard greens, north indian, paneer, saag, spinach

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Sanjana

Equipment

• Pressure cooker

Ingredients

• 300 g mustard greens washed, roots trimmed
• 300 g spinach leaves washed
• 2 large onions cut into chunks
• 8 large cloves garlic peeled
• 6 cm piece ginger peeled and cut into chunks
• Small pinch baking soda
• 2 tbsp fine cornmeal
• 100 g butter
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 50 ml single cream
• 450 g shop-bought or homemade paneer cubed
• 2 tsp oil

For the tadka:

• 50 g butter
• 1 black cardamom whole
• 1 large onion finely sliced
• 3-4 green chillies chopped
• 4 large clove garlic finely sliced

To serve:

• Red onions finely sliced
• Chopped chillies
• Extra butter
• Paratha makki ki roti or wholewheat roti, to serve

Instructions

• In a large pressure cooker, add the mustard greens, spinach, onions, garlic, ginger and baking soda. Fix the lid onto the pot and cook for 10 minutes (4 whistles).
  
• While this cooks, pan-fry the paneer on all sides until golden. Once golden, put the paneer in to a large bowl and add enough boiling water to cover. Soak for 10 minutes and then drain. This will make the paneer chunks extra soft and remove any excess oil.
• Carefully release the steam from the pressure cooker and remove the lid. Allow to cool slightly. Add the cornmeal and butter, then blend to a smooth purée. The butter will help it emulsify for a smooth finish.
  
• Melt the butter in the same pot and add the black cardamom, sliced onions, chopped chillies and sliced garlic. Sauté over a low heat for 10 minutes until the onions are lightly golden brown and then add the blended saag. Cook for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in the salt and garam masala. Cook for a further 5 minutes.
  
• Finally, add the paneer chunks and cream. Heat through. Serve immediately, garnished with red onions, extra butter and optional chillies.
  
• This pairs perfectly with paratha, makki ki roti (cornmeal roti) or wholewheat rotis.

Notes

• Store leftovers in an airtight container. Reheat thoroughly before serving.
• Freeze the Saag Paneer in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature and ensure food is piping hot before serving.
• For a vegan option: Replace the paneer with firm tofu, use vegan butter and any plant-based cream of your choice.

Pin The Ultimate Saag Paneer recipe for later!

If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Tofu Dopiaza

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Every bit of colour in these Soft Spinach Roti (chapati) comes from the fresh spinach leaves, so there’s not a drop of food colour in sight. Serve them hot from the pan as they are, or slather them with butter.

Fold them in half, roll into cigars or use them as wraps. Either way, they’re perfect with spicy curries or your favourite sandwich fillings. I like my chapatis small and soft, not big, chewy and dry like tandoori rotis. This is because I grew up in a Gujarati home. Gujaratis adore tender, melt-in-the mouth chapatis. Our way of making chapatis (we call them rotli) is different to how they’re made in other parts of India. If you prefer tandoori-style rotis, reduce the amount of oil in the recipe by half and use warm water instead of hot water to bind the dough.

Roll the Soft Spinach Roti a little bigger and cook as per the recipe below for chewier, restaurant-style rotis.

What are chapatis?

Softer and smaller than your average Punjabi or Pakistani chapatis (commonly known as Roti), these Gujarati-style spinach chapatis have oil in the dough. They are also cooked on a super-hot steel or iron tawa (pan), leaving them delicious and toasty. I don’t cook my chapatis over an open flame because they’re so soft, they’d just break. However, many people do choose to cook their chapatis this way. They still puff up like hot air balloons as they cook, don’t worry.

If you’re planning on cooking rotis over an open flame, pop a trivet or wire rack over the flame for stability first. Only cook the roti over the open flame upon the third flip (the first two turns should still be on the tawa). Use tongs to remove it from the flame and be very careful of the hot steam inside the rotis.

How to make great chapatis

The gold standard for me has to be a round roti that’s double layered from rising that happens during cooking. If your chapati has been rolled evenly, it will puff up upon the third flip on the tawa (or over the open flame). This is important because chapatis are inherently an unleavened bread so the rising all comes from the rolling technique. It’s certainly an art. The surface of the roti should be leopard-spotted and the texture soft.

How do I make my rotis rise?

Make sure the dough is soft and smooth. I use a combination of oil and hot water for my dough. This allows for easier rolling. My mother showed me an amazing trick to create a double layer. It’s done by rolling a piece of dough to a couple of inches in diameter, sprinkling over some flour and then pinching to close before rolling the roti. The roti rises perfectly because of the pocket created by the flour and folding. Find the full instructions in the recipe below.

How do I roll round rotis?

Round chapatis were something I was utterly fascinated by as a child. The first thing I ever ‘cooked’ were raggedy, uneven rotlis using my mini rotli-making set my masi bought me when I was five. I’d peer over our cooker wide-eyed at the hot air balloon show my mum told me was happening. The suspense that built up as they rose from flatbreads to footballs was inexplicably exciting for a little girl obsessed with eating. I would roll out the same piece of dough over and over again and by the end of it, my poor dad would have to eat the splat-shaped biscuit thing I had presented him with such pride. He’d tell me it was delicious that and I was getting better and better.

Thanks Dad.

My point is that practice makes perfect so start off with a simple recipe that yields a soft dough like the one I’m sharing below. Use extra flour to dust your board enough so that the dough doesn’t stick but not so much that the surface becomes chalky. Roll and spin if you can. But if not, roll and turn the roti dough 90•degrees before rolling again. After six or seven turns you’ll have something round-ish. Strive for an even surface. The perfect round shape will come with practice.

What’s the best pan for making rotis?

A traditional Indian tawa made from steel or iron are the best pans for making rotis. Non-stick frying pans aren’t ideal because they don’t get hot enough. A non-stick pan will still work, but the smoky flavour won’t be as pronounced (I think this is the key to good chapatis). Get a tawa from your nearest Indian cookware store. Larger Indian grocery stores may also stock them. You could also buy one online. What’s the best flour for making rotis? Wholewheat chapati flour, also known as “atta”. It’s pale brown in colour and slightly gritty in texture, depending on how finely milled you like it. Most brands offer 2-3 different mills ranging from fine white to medium and brown. You can even buy newer styles such as multigrain and gluten-free chapati atta in the shops now.

How to make delicious Soft Spinach Roti (chapati)

Step 1

First, make the dough using chapati flour, oil and hot water. I add the blended spinach to the dough in my recipe here but you can also omit for plain rotis. Stir with a spoon and when cool enough to handle, knead the dough until soft and smooth, about 5 minutes.

Step 2

Portion the dough into small balls and cover with a damp tea towel. Heat up the tawa for a good 5 minutes. Roll the dough on a clean work surface or chapati board (chakli/patlo).

Step 3

Use some extra chapati flour to stop it from sticking. First roll to a few inches in diameter, sprinkle the dough with a pinch of flour, spread and then pinch the dough to close. Press with your palm to flatten and seal.

Step 4

Turn the dough over so it’s seal-side down and roll the roti to 17cm (7-inches) in diameter. Dust off any excess flour and slap the roti on to the hit tawa. As soon as small bubbles appear on the surface, flip it using a metal spatula (tavitho).

Step 5

Cook on the other side for 30 seconds until it looks evenly leopard spotted. Flip again.

Step 6

You can transfer to a trivet over an open flame at this point if you like or continue cooking it on the tawa. I cook the chapati on the tawa the whole time because it’s easier and just as delicious. This third side is the rising side. Cook for 20 seconds or so.

Step 7

Don’t worry if it doesn’t rise the first few times. It will come with practice. Once patchy charred marks appear, the roti is done.

Step 8

Remove from the tawa and stack with the dark patchy side (from the third rise) facing upwards. Spread with butter if you like.

Step 9

Repeat for the remaining dough balls.

How to serve Soft Spinach Roti (Chapati)

Serve the Soft Spinach Roti (chapati) with your favourite curry. You could also use them as wraps and fill with your favourite sandwich fillings. I love them filled with succulent tandoori paneer pieces.

For plain chapatis, try my Gujarati Rotli recipe.

How do I store Soft Spinach Roti (chapati)?

I avoid refrigeration when it comes to rotis, it dries them out and they go stale pretty quickly. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature and eat within 24 hours. Alternatively, you can freeze them well wrapped in an airtight container with pieces of baking parchment between each roti. Defrost at room temperature and reheat on a hot tawa.

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Soft Spinach Roti

Can you believe the dough for these Soft Spinach Chapatis is enriched with a whole bag of spinach? Popeye would be proud! Pack a healthy portion of leafy greens into your meal with this easy recipe the whole family will love.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Keyword bread, chapati, flatbread, roti, spinach, vegan

Prep Time 35 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Sanjana

Equipment

• Steel or iron tawa
• Rolling pin
• Clean work surface or chapati board
• Metal spatula (tavitho)
• Blender

Ingredients

• 500 g chapatti flour plus more for rolling
• 260 g spinach leaves washed
• 80 ml sunflower oil
• 260 ml water

Instructions

• Place the water in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the spinach and cook uncovered for 4-5 minutes until wilted. Allow to cool to hot but not boiling.
• Transfer the spinach to a blender and purée until smooth. Open carefully to allow steam to escape.
• Add the flour to a large bowl and make a well in the middle.
• Pour the oil into the well and top up with the blended spinach water.
• Use a spoon to mix the dough. Use your hands to bring the dough together until shaggy. Knead for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and soft.
• Make small golf ball-sized pieces with the dough. Keep some flour on a plate for rolling.
• Line another plate with kitchen paper and keep some butter handy.
• Place the tawa (steel or irohot plate or a frying pan on a medium heat. Leave it for 5 minutes so it’s very hot.
• Get your rolling board and rolling pin ready. Keep a wet sponge under the board so it doesn’t move.
• To start rolling, take a piece of dough and roll it between your palms, flattening it slightly. Dip each side in flour.
• Roll it once up and down with the rolling pin and then take a pinch of flour. Place it in the middle of the dough and then use your index fingers and thumb to pinch it closed, starting from the outer edges. This step isn’t something everyone traditionally does but is what my mum taught me for soft rotli that rise.
• Next, flatten the dough using your palm and again, dip each side in flour. Now, begin rolling the dough in a circular motion, teasing the dough to move around with your rolling. If you can’t do this, pick the roti up with one hand and move it around yourself. The aim is to create a perfectly round, even surface and a flatbread that’s around 2mm in thickness and 6-7-inches in diameter.
• Place the roti on the cast iron hotplate and cook until little bubbles appear on the surface – around 10 seconds. Flip it.
• Cook it on the second side until small, even brown spots appear all over the bottom of the rotli – around 30 seconds. Flip it.
• Now, this is the rising side. Don’t worry if your rotis don’t rise the first few times you try it. It comes with practice. They’ll still taste delicious. Cook until darker, less evenly-spread patches appear on the bottom. Around 15-20 seconds. Flip it and place it this side up on your kitchen paper-lined plate. Butter it.
• Repeat this process for all of your roti until you have a beautiful, buttery stack.

Notes

• I avoid refrigeration when it comes to rotis, it dries them out and they go stale pretty quickly. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature and eat within 24 hours.
• Alternatively, you can freeze them well wrapped in an airtight container with pieces of baking parchment between each roti. Defrost at room temperature and reheat on a hot tawa.

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You can tell a good Indian restaurant from a bad one by the quality of their Palak Paneer.

Have they bothered to blend the sauce for a rich, luxurious finish? If it’s left chunky with tomatoes, lots of turmeric and far too many spices, it might be the base for another dish on the menu, doubled up to be used for Palak Paneer too.

What is Palak Paneer / Saag Paneer?

It also shouldn’t be labelled Saag Paneer on the menu. Saag Paneer is an entirely different dish made with a blend of seasonal greens. Usually it’s peppery mustard greens but it can be a whole range of locally-grown leafy greens.

Saag Paneer shouldn’t be confused with the milder-tasting Palak Paneer made purely with spinach.

How to make smooth and creamy Palak Paneer

It’s delightful when restaurant Palak Paneer turns out to have a smooth and creamy blended spinach sauce with a bright green colour.

You can tell it’s been made with care and attention. simple flavoured sauce paired with a big, bold and spicy tadka on top (but using very few ingredients).

Ginger, garlic & chilli: the big 3 Palak Paneer additions

You have to be able to taste the ginger, garlic and green chillies; they can’t just be part of the background flavour. Bonus points for a little splash of cream on top to temper the heat of the green chillies.

What is Palak Paneer?

Palak Paneer is a stick-to-your-ribs North Indian treasure that was made to be a filling vegetarian option so please don’t cut out the butter.

How to make vegan Palak Paneer

You can however, veganise this Palak Paneer easily by switching the paneer for pan-fried firm tofu, using a flavourless oil in place of ghee and butter and topping it off with a splash of coconut milk instead of cream.

For a true restaurant-style finish, I have some simple tips to share. These will ensure you have a smooth, bright green sauce, melt-in-the-mouth paneer chunks and a luscious tempering of garlic and chilli on top.

My tips for Easy Creamy Palak Paneer

1. Don’t overcook the spinach

The trick to a super green sauce is to cook the spinach as little as possible. Just apply enough heat to wilt it at the beginning and heat the finished sauce just to warm all the ingredients through.

2. Soak the paneer in hot water (if using shop-bought paneer)

Soak the paneer in slightly-salted boiling water to soften it up and give it a bright white colour. You only need to do this if you’re using shop-bought paneer. Fresh paneer will already be tender.

3. Top it with garlic tadka

I like to finish Palak Paneer off with a buttery garlic and chilli tadka (tempering). Only cook it up until the point that the garlic is blonde and crispy. Ensure the chillies are slit so that they don’t burst in the oil.

4. Make the most of the spinach flavour

If there’s excess water in your wilted spinach, use a slotted spoon to drain as much as you can from it before you blend the leaves.

Leave the cooking liquor in the pan and reduce it down to around 2 tbsp. This is full of flavour and goodness so you don’t want to throw it away but you also don’t want excess water blended into the sauce.

This will ensure you don’t need to evaporate the water by simmering the finished sauce too long.

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Easy, Creamy Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is a stick-to-your-ribs North Indian treasure that was made to be a filling vegetarian option. Serve with laccha paratha, roti, naan or rice!

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Keyword curry, paneer, spinach

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 900 g spinach leaves washed and squeezed of any excess water
• 450 g paneer cubed
• 5 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
• 2- inch piece ginger grated
• 2-3 green chillies chopped
• 1 tbsp melted ghee
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 50 g butter
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 2 tsp salt or to taste
• 2 tbsp double cream optional

For the crispy garlic tadka:

• 1 tbsp oil
• 50 g butter
• 2-4 green chillies slit lengthways
• 3 large cloves garlic sliced finely

Instructions

• If you’re using shop-bought paneer, place the cubes in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. You can add a pinch of salt to this if you like. This will soften them up and give them a beautiful white colour. Allow this to soak.
• Place the ghee in a large pan and add the cumin seeds. Allow to sizzle for a moment before adding the ginger, garlic and chilli. Sauté for a minute or two before adding the spinach. Cover and allow the spinach to wilt, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Transfer the spinach to a blender, along with the butter. If there’s a lot of excess water in the pan (this depends on the spinach), remove as much of the spinach as you can and leave the water in the pan. Blend the spinach until totally smooth and creamy. The butter will help to emulsify the spinach and give the sauce a rich, silky finish. I use a Nutribullet to do this.
• Simmer the excess water down over a medium heat until reduced to about 2 tbsp. This is full of flavour and you don’t want to waste a drop.
• Drain the paneer cubes of their soaking liquid.
• Pour the sauce back into the pan and add the garam masala and salt. Stir to combine. Fold in the paneer pieces and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. You want to cook this as little as possible to retain that beautiful green colour.

For the garlic and chilli tadka:

• Heat the oil and butter in a small pan. Add the slit chillies and garlic slices. Sauté over a medium-low heat until lightly golden and crispy. Pour this over the Palak Paneer and garnish with the cream (optional).

Serve with paratha or naan. Or if you’re anything like me, eat it straight up with a spoon.

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for 30-Minute Saag Paneer

Love Sanjana

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To demonstrate how easy this is, I’ve pulled together a short video where you can see how it’s rolled and coiled for that awesome shape. As much as I love this, it wouldn’t be half as amazing to eat if it wasn’t for the epic Carrot and Cucumber Mustard Salad. It’s loaded with hot and sour flavours which cuts right through the richness of the pie.

I glazed these pies with a combination of melted butter and turmeric for as a cheeky replacement for egg wash. Nobody will ever know.

This is perfect for serving up when you have friends over for dinner, taking along to picnics and stowing away in the freezer prior to baking for a quick meal.

Watch the video, read the recipe, make it for your friends and family and let me know how it goes. I love seeing the pictures of what you create at home so keep ‘em coming. BTW, I get to say hello to you again today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFRhzjynokI&feature=youtu.be

Palak Paneer Snails
Serves 6

Ingredients 

700g leaf spinach
250g paneer, crumbled into large pieces
250g ricotta
1 tbsp ground fennel seeds
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tbsp coarse semolina
1 medium red onion, chopped finely
1 tbsp grated ginger
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp garam masala
4 green chillies, chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds
Salt to taste
16 sheets filo pastry (approx. 12″ x 22″)
200g butter, melted
Pinch or turmeric
Sesame and nigella seeds

For the Cucumber and Carrot Mustard Salad

2 large cucumbers
5 carrots
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp English mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar (optional)
Juice 2 lemons
Fried green chillies (optional)

Method

1. To make the pies, heat the sunflower oil in a pan and add the cumin. Allow to sizzle before adding the red onions. Sauté for a moment and add the ginger, garlic, chillies, garam masala and salt. Cook for 5 minutes and set aside.

2. Place the spinach in a colander (you might have to do it in batches) and pour boiling water from the kettle on top. Rinse with cold water and squeeze out all the excess water. Repeat for all the spinach.

3. Pile the spinach into a large bowl, add the paneer, onion mixture, ground fennel seeds, semolina and ricotta. Combine thoroughly.

4. To assemble, place one sheet of filo pastry on a work surface. Brush it generously with butter before adding your next sheet. Repeat the layering process until you have 4 filo layers.

5. Along the longest edge of the pastry, make a line of filling. Roll it up as tightly as you can without breaking it. Roll it 1 ½ times over itself. If you have excess pastry, trim it with a pizza cutter.

6. Once you have a pastry snake, brush it with more butter, and then take one edge to start rolling it into a coil shape.

7. Take some additional butter and mix it with the turmeric. Brush this all over the top of the coil. Sprinkle with nigella and sesame seeds.

8. Repeat for the next three snails.

9. Place your four palak paneer snails onto a baking tray and wrap with cling film. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Bake for 45 minutes at 160C.

To make the Cucumber and Carrot Mustard Salad

1. Make the salad a couple of hours before for best results. Chop one of the carrots with a crinkle cutter or slice them thinly. Using a peeler, ribbon the other cucumber all the way around. Don’t include too many of the seeds as they’ll make the salad watery. Save them for a snack later. Ribbon the carrots in the same ways as the cucumber.

2. To make the dressing, heat the oil in a saucepan and add the mustard seeds. Wait for the mustard seeds to pop and crackle, and then add the mustard, lemon juice, salt and the optional sugar. Mix this all together and then turn off the heat. Pour the dressing over the cucumber and carrot and mix together. Allow it to stand for around 30 minutes. Lots of water will come out of the salad. With clean hands, squeeze the salad removing excess water. You’ll be left with firm vegetables and slightly pickled flavour. So good.

Love Sanjana

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What is Oroh?

Oroh is simply a name for smoky aubergine cooked with garlic, onions, tomatoes and chillies. If you’re a fan of North Indian food, you’ll probably know it as Baingan ka Bharta – the North Indian version. Oroh is the Gujarati name for it and here’s how we cook it at home.

Baingan ka Bharta is a part of the national cuisines of all nation states of the Indian subcontinent. It’s a well-loved vegetarian dish that’s made by mincing aubergine or eggplant that is grilled over charcoal or direct fire. At home we do it over direct fire.

A whole head of garlic?!

It’s really easy to be afraid of overdoing it with the garlic in this dish. You might think it’s mad to add as much garlic as my recipe calls for but please do stick with it. The burnt aubergine needs flavours that can stand up to it so that the result is smoky, spicy, punchy and tangy.

Can beginners make Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry?

Absolutely! This is one of the first dishes my mother taught me to cook. I’d seen her make it a million times before and it was a favourite in our home. Gather your ingredients and take your time roasting the aubergines over the open flame. Why? Because this is where the dish gets a tonne of flavour so it’s important to get this bit right. Finally, don’t skimp on the charring.

My love affair with Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

I learnt to cook this when I was 12 years old and it blew my mind. I thought it was insane to cook aubergines on an open flame until they’re practically incinerated on the outside. It went against everything I thought to be true about Indian food. However, the very beauty of it was that while the outside burns to a crisp, the inside is cooked until butter-soft and smoky. Perfection.

Some important things to remember when making this aubergine curry:

• Before you start, make some holes through the aubergines – otherwise there will be explosions and they won’t be fun to clean up.
• I also recommend you line your gas cooker with aluminium foil. That way once you’re done, you can just lift it off and throw it away. Besides, nobody wants to be scrubbing their cooker for hours.
• You’ll only be using the inner flesh of the aubergine in the curry. As a result, the charred skin will eventually be discarded. Therefore, try to think about the skin as a protective layer that needs to be charred for the greater good of the flesh. Wow, that got philosophical quickly!

What can I add instead of spinach?

I’ve added spinach to this but to make classic Gujarati Oroh, simply leave it out. I like the combination of leafy green spinach and melt-in-the-mouth aubergine. Similarly, I’ve made this successfully with kale. Note: kale takes longer to cook than spinach so keep this in mind when simmering for a final time. It’s likely to take around 10-15 minutes longer.

How to serve Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

Serve with hot, buttery Gujarati Chapattis.

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Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

Smoky aubergine cooked over an open flame + a WHOLE HEAD of garlic! This Indian Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry is a sure-fire hit with spice lovers. Yum!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Keyword aubergine, curry, grilled, spinach, vegan

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 3 large, aubergines eggplant
• 2 tbsp sunflower oil or any flavourless oil
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp asafoetida optional
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 8 large cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped
• 3 hot green chillies finely chopped
• 390g tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
• 1 tsp ground cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 250 g baby leaf spinach washed and squeezed of excess water
• Fresh coriander, lemon wedges and chopped green chillies to garnish

Instructions

• Make around 10 holes in each aubergine and place one on each burner of your gas cooker. Turn the flame on high and cook the aubergines for 8 minutes. Don’t touch or move them during this time. Trust me.
  
• Once 8 minutes have passed, use tongs to turn them over and cook the other sides for 8 minutes, again not moving them. Steam will escape from the holes you’ve made. It’s important not to leave the kitchen during this time! Open a window too. Once charred on the outside, use tongs to place each aubergine onto a plate and set aside to cool.
  
• In a large pan, heat the oil and add the cumin seeds and optional asafoetida. Cook for a minute and then add the onions. Allow to cook on a medium heat until golden, about 10 minutes. Add in the garlic and chillies and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
• Tip in the tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients except for the spinach and freshly-chopped coriander. Cook for around 15 minutes, stirring frequently until the sauce is thick and the oil begins to separate from the tomatoes slightly.
• Whilst the sauce is cooking, check the aubergines have cooled enough to handle. Split each aubergine lengthways and scrape out the soft inside. It’s okay if some burnt skin comes away with it but try to remove the large pieces. Chop it all up roughly and add to the tomato sauce along with the spinach. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring all the time until the spinach has wilted and any excess water has evaporated.
• Serve sprinkled with fresh coriander, chopped green chillies and lemon wedges.

Notes

• This curry can be made 48 hours in advance. The flavours get better with time so it’s a great make-ahead recipe!
• Make a double batch and freeze half for later! Allow the curry to cool completely, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost and room temperature and ensure the curry is piping hot before serving.
• This curry is traditionally eaten with chapattis and salted lassi. Badasses can add a side of Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney if they like. Yeah, MORE GARLIC!
• Once your cooker has cooled down completely, you can lift off the foil lining and wipe down as normal.

 

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Meatless Seekh Kebabs

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Guess what I did this weekend? I made my first wedding cake! 300 cupcakes consisting of both Red Velvet and Lemon. Finished with a swirl of vanilla buttercream and the cutest handmade Indian elephants and peacock feathers. The display was crowned with a vanilla buttercream cake and a giant peacock feather. Thankfully, there were no real disasters and I think everyone enjoyed the bite-sized cakes. Plus, I don’t have the skill to pull off a traditional tiered wedding cake… yet!

I’ll be posting up images from the event tomorrow so keep your eyes peeled for a whole load of cupcakes and lots of diabetic, drooling Modhas.

Some of you will know that it’s Italy Month at Food Network UK and all throughout July they’re featuring delicious pasta recipes. This week, my Spicy Spinach Lasagne made the featured spot in the newsletter. And just between me and you, KO Rasoi reader – Lasagne Indian-style is so much better! I layered up a very basic spicy spinach puree in the same way I would make Saag (my favourite – pass the Makki Ki Roti please!) and made a basic white sauce.

Layering up the dish with green spinach lasagne give this a double-spinach hit. Plus, whenever I make lasagne, it has to be spinach pasta… I wouldn’t have it any other way.

You can find the recipe here: Spicy Spinach Lasagne recipe.

Next time I try this, I’d be inclined to add freshly blended mustard leaves for a deeper, more intense flavour and heat. What do you think?

 

I’ll be back tomorrow to share the wedding cake images! In the meantime, you can find more vegetarian summer recipes here.

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Puris (plural) [also spelt ‘pooris’] are a kind of unleavened Indian flatbread which are hugely popular at weddings. They are typically kept plain or spiced with turmeric and chillies and always, always deep fried. They are beautifully soft, puffy and fluffy and can be eaten with curries, rice, soups, sweet yogurt (shrikhand) and even rolled and dipped in sweet chai for breakfast. You can eat them hot, warm or cold, although I prefer them balloon-like, straight from the hot wok (which I use to deep fry in).

Spinach and Green Chilli Puris
(makes around 30 small puris)

Ingredients

3 cups fine white chapatti flour (you could use wholemeal but what’s the point when you’re going to massacre it in hot oil?)
1 cup fresh leaf spinach
2 fresh green chillies (or to taste)
¾ cup boiling water
2 ½ tbsp sunflower oil
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
Pinch of turmeric

Oil to deep fry

Method

1. Puree the spinach, chillies and ¾ cup boiling water until smooth.

2. Place the flour, turmeric and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the centre.

3. Add 2 ½ tbsp oil and enough of the spinach mixture to bind into a firm, non sticky dough.

4. Heat the oil to deep fry the puris.

5. Open a window.

6. Follow my steps below.

Tips: When rolling your puri, don’t add any flour to stop it from sticking because when you fry them this flour will come off and turn your oil black. Instead, if your dough is sticking put a little oil on the board and turn the circle of dough ¼ of a degree each time you roll. This way you get a neat little circle, too.

Now go for a shower because no matter how good your puris taste, you still smell like you’ve been marinating in oil for days.

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My crystal ball confirms that the ever popular dish, palak paneer (spinach and Indian cheese) will eternally remain the elite veggie choice on Indian restaurant menus. Nobody can resist that luscious texture of pureed spinach combined with supple, dense and addictive paneer. Oh that reminds me, I mustn’t forget to visit the doctor for my next round of paneer detox drugs. I’ve been in paneer rehab for a while now, having gone cold turkey/paneer (whichever you prefer) a few months ago. Remission is goin’ baaadly. Have you noticed?

Let me introduce you to the six-step programme for overcoming paneer related dependence:*
• Admitting that one cannot control one’s addiction or compulsion (to paneer)
• Recognizing a greater power that can give strength (it cannot be paneer)
• Examining past paneer-related errors with the help of a sponsor (a.k.a. A paneer hater- This can be quite difficult because nobody hates paneer)
• Making amends for these cheesy errors
• Learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior (denial of the existence of paneer)
• Helping others that suffer from the same delicious addictions or compulsions

And so it seems that I failed on all fronts. It would be wrong for me to blame those around me for being negligent towards my delicate disposition by enticing me with cheesy treats. But that’s what I’m going to do. I was tricked and mislead into believing that a slow withdrawal within my paneer remission was a good idea. Thus, resulting in my complete failure to return to normality.

You may be wondering whether there is any truth in what has been written above.

There are two ways to be fooled: One is to believe what isn’t so; the other is to refuse to believe what is so. –Soren Kierkegaard

I really hope you enjoy the palak paneer recipe. If you don’t like paneer:

1. You may need some minor medical help.
2. Just don’t make palak paneer.

Just remember not to be beguiled by any paneer-associated mind games, audio wizardry or optical illusions that could potentially alter your decision to abstain from cooking paneer.

Luscious Palak Paneer
(Serves 4)

Ingredients

1 cup paneer (or tofu for vegans), lightly grilled
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp ginger, minced
3 hot green chillies, minced (more or less if you prefer)
4 medium cloves garlic, minced
9-10 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1 cup water
1 medium onion, minced
2 tbsp sunflower oil
½ tsp turmeric
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
¼ tsp cardamom powder
¼ tsp fennel powder
2 tbsp single cream (optional)
Salt to taste
1 tiny pinch of baking powder

Method

1. Blanch the spinach in hot water with a tiny pinch of baking powder (which keeps it beautifully green!) and drain when wilted. Place in a blender and puree with a cup of water. Set the puree aside.

2. In a large pan heat the oil and add the onions, garlic, ginger, chillies and tomatoes. Cook for around 5 minutes on a high heat stirring constantly. Do not let it burn.

3. Add the spinach puree, turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, fennel powder, cinnamon powder, cardamom powder and salt to taste. Simmer on a medium heat until the oil separates from the spinach mixture.

4. Add the paneer and single cream if you wish and remove from the heat.

5. Serve with naan, rice, paratha or if you can’t wait, a spoon.

*Adapted from what Wikipedia labels AA Rehabilitation Programme

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Who says healthy food has to be boring food? Go on, trick your mind into thinking you’re eating a bowl full of liquid heaven!

 

Luxurious Spinach and Mung Bean Soup

 

Ingredients
(Serves 3-4 as a starter)

 

1/3 cup mung beans, washed, soaked and boiled with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda until tender, then drained
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tbsp mustard oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
¼ tsp asafoetida (optional)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 green chilli
1 tbsp tomato puree
½ tsp turmeric
1 tsp coriander seed powder
2 ½ cups water
¼ cup chopped fresh coriander
Salt to taste
Juice of ½ a large lemon (around 4 tbsp)
¼ cup double cream (omit for a vegan recipe)

Method

 

1. Heat the sunflower and mustard oil in a large pan and add the mustard seeds (wait for them to pop), then add the cumin seeds and asafoetida.

 

2. Add the garlic, ginger and chillies and fry until aromatic. Add the tomato puree, turmeric, coriander seed powder and water. Bring to the boil.

 

3. Add the mung beans, spinach, salt and lemon juice and allow to boil for three to four minutes. Add the chopped coriander.

 

4. Blend until roughly pureed (I used an immersion blender but you can use whatever blender you have).

 

5. Return to the pan and bring to a low simmer and add the cream. Remove from the heat and check the seasoning. Garnish with more chopped coriander if you like.

 

NOTE: If you have a pressure cooker then you can simply add the raw mung beans to the spicy broth mixture (minus the fresh coriander leaves- add that after it's cooked) at step three, pressure cook and blend once cooled.

 

 

 

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