Sunday, May 15, 2011

Hara Bhara Chaman/ Palak Methi Chaman

This Hara Bhara Chaman is a typical Punjabi preparation. It’s simple, healthy and wholesome. With a combination of palak and methi, it’s filled with calcium and folic acid (excellent for pregnant women!). I believe in making nutritious food through the week and sinful food on weekends.     
  
I am putting up this post on a Sunday as this one is my first entry to an event. Sending this post to Herbs & Flowers - Fenugreek leaves by Mom Chef of What's Cooking and Dish Name Starts with H hosted by Akilaskitchen. 

Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Preparation Time : 10 to 15 minutes
Serves: 4

You need:
1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
1½ cup chopped spinach (palak)
¾ cup fenugreek leaves (methi)
1 tbsp butter
200gms paneer (Indian cottage cheese)
1tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
a pinch of turmeric powder
1/4 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp coriander powder (dhania) 
1 tsp ginger-green chilli paste
salt to taste
1/4 tsp garam masala

Step-by-step: 

Wash and clean the spinach and fenugreek leaves thoroughly. Boil a vessel full of water, drown the leaves and cook for 2-3 minutes. Drain and immediately keep it under a cold water tap for 5 minutes (this will help the leaves to retain the bright green colour).Drain and blend in a mixer to make a smooth paste 
Roast the dried fenugreek leaves in a pan till crisp (that’s an interesting smell!) 

Cut paneer into 1inch cubes. Heat butter in a pan. Fry until we get a light brown color on all the sides Drain the paneer pieces onto the kitchen towel and immediately drop them into bowl of warm water (this will keep the paneer soft) 

In the same pan, heat a tbsp of oil, add cumin seeds. Once they crackle, add onions and fry till they turn golden brown 
Add the spinach-fenugreek paste and fry for a minute

Add asafoetida, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, ginger-green chilli paste and dried fenugreek leaves. Fry again for 2-3minutes 

Add salt and panner and allow it to cook for 2 to 3 minutes 

Turn off the heat and sprinkle garam masala 


Enjoy hot with rice or any kind of Indian bread!!

Yours Tastefully!





8 comments:

  1. Yummmmm! The name itself got me in! Fabulous :)

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  2. thank you Arti..were you able to view the pics? I'm not able to...there seems to be a problem:(

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  3. I have tried this.really it was so delicious and healthy.Great creative cooking .Thanks for this recipe.

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  4. Madhusmita, thank you very much for trying my recipe

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  5. Thanks so much for posting this recipe. I've bought/harvested the ingredients and am off to start cooking right now.
    Cheers,
    Cate

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