Whether you want to stay
fit or wish to have a glowing skin the solution is to include greens in your
diet. Last year Kale leaves became very popular just like some trend and
everyone tried it, talked about it and blogged about it. I too wanted to
include atleast one Kale recipe in my vegetarian blog but I
just couldn't stand the taste of kale- the colour, the flavour, the
texture nothing impressed me. So I decided to part my way with kale and
became friendlier with spinach.
Spinach or as we say palak
or saag in hindi is my favorite green. The crisp and bright green
spinach is not just appealing to eyes, but is a home for lot of nutrients.
It is low in fat and even lower in cholesterol, spinach is high in niacin and
zinc, as well as protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6,
folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese.
And another jewel in the crown is its price and availability- available
throughout the year in every part of the world and is very much affordable. So
to simplify-include spinach in your daily diets as it is loaded with goodness
for every part of your body an d pocket.
On a friendlier note with
spinach I share with you one great dip recipe- Palak Ki Chuntey/ Spinach dip.
It is not only easy peasy but indeed very delicious and a sure shot crowd
pleaser. Indian spices, lentils and
curry leaves are roasted on tava with spinach, and finally grinding to a smooth
paste. Now it is versatile recipe and
you can do whatever you wish to do with it. I like to use it as a marinate for
tandori panner tikka or even have it as pasta sauce. Use it as a spread, a dip
for spicy daal pakodas, or as a side with tawa pulav or aloo parathas.
Ingredients:
2 cups spinach/palak
1 tomato/tamatar
1/4 cup chopped coriander/dhaniya
1 teaspoon oil
2 teaspoon white gram/Urad dal
2 teaspoon Split Bengal Gram/Chana dal
2-3 green chillies/hari mirch
1/2 inch peiece ginger/adrak
8-10 curry leaves
2 cloves garlic/lehsun
Juice from one lemon/nimbu
1 teaspoon mustard seeds/rai/sarso
Pinch Asafoetida/hing
Salt to taste
Method:
- Chop ginger, garlic, green chillies, tomato and spinach leaves finely.
- Heat oil in a pan, and on slow flame add mustard seeds, curry leaves, asafoetida, garlic, ginger and green chillies.
- When the raw smell fades away, add in chopped spinach. Let spinach cook for 5 minutes or till it turns mushy and leaves water.
- Add chopped tomato and cook till it becomes soft and mushy.
- Grind the above vegetable mixture with coriander leaves in the mixer to a smooth paste.
- Mix all the remaining spices and serve.
Notes:
This chutney will keep well in the fridge for 1 week.
Keep in air tight container.
I used baby spinach, but use any kind you want.
Never ever cover the pot
when cooking spinach. Leaving the pot uncovered helps to release more of the
acids with the rising steam.
Remember
spinach is bit salty due to sodium content, so add little salt first. Taste and
then adjust.
Serving
suggestions:
Serve as a
side with dosa, idli or cheelas.
Great
accompaniment with sandwiches and rolls and savory snacks like
pakodas, dhoklas, momos or tikkis.
Serve the
Indian way with daal and rice or parathas.
You can also
serve as a dip for bread, nachos or crackers.
This goes
well as a spread frankies or pitta pockets.
Healthy chutney, would like to try this sometime..
ReplyDeletevery healthy, will try it some time..
ReplyDeletechatore log chutney post kar rahe hai, love this healthy dip, bus now need pakoras
ReplyDeletehealthy and yummy chutney
ReplyDeleteMy all time fav. Made before too but didn't turn out as fabulous this one. Gonna try again with your recipe. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeletewow such an healthy and delicious chutney with palak swetha :) lipsmacking !!
ReplyDeletevery healthy and delectable chutney Shweta...
ReplyDeletechutney looks very inviting ..yummy
ReplyDeleteWow...love the second pic... Looks so yummy through your lens!
ReplyDeletea very new recipe to me. such vibrant colour and so healthy
ReplyDeleteNow, this is something I never thought about...so good and healthy.
ReplyDeletePalak is tasty inspite of being healthy! Love the idea of this palak dip. Lovely color1
ReplyDeleteloved all the clicks dear..n a healthy dip tooo :)
ReplyDeletehealthy and yummy chutney
ReplyDelete