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!

Palak Paneer

This green curry is very popular in North India and is often served at restaurants and parties. This vegetarian dish is a combination of spinach(palak) and Indian cottage cheese(paneer) that’s mildly spiced. Palak paneer can be exotic and simple at the same time. Most people think it’s difficult to make but it’s so easy that anyone can make it in less than half an hour (just have all the ingredients ready!) that’s not all…it’s a super healthy dish too!!

Preparation time: 10minutes
Cooking time: 25-30 minutes
Serves: 4

You need:
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp butter
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
2 small bunches of palak (spinach)
200gms paneer (Indian cottage cheese)
1 medium size tomato (chopped)
2 medium size onions (roughly chopped)
10 cashew nuts
4 green chillies (roughly chopped)
¼ tsp sugar
salt to taste
½ tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
a pinch of garam masala
water as required

For garnishing:
2tbsp fresh cream

Step-by-step: 

Cut paneer into small cubes and keep aside 

Cook the onions, cashew nuts and green chillies in a little water for 5 minutes. Cool and blend in a mixer till smooth (now the base of the gravy is ready) 

Wash and clean the palak leaves thoroughly

Boil a vessel full of water, drown the spinach leaves and cook for 2-3 minutes. Drain and immediately immerse in ice-cold water (or keep it under a cold water tap) for 5 minutes so that the bright green colour is retained
Drain and blend in a mixer to make a smooth paste 

Heat oil and butter in a non-stick kadhai, add the ginger garlic paste and tomatoes, mix well and stir on medium fire for 6-7 minutes (cook till the tomatoes turn mushy)  
After it’s cooked, add the prepared gravy and stir for another 5-6 minutes 

Now add the spinach paste, paneer, salt, kasuri methi, sugar and garam masala. Stir for about 5 minutes 

Transfer on to a serving bowl and garnish with fresh cream

Enjoy hot palak paneer with any Indian bread or rice.