Aloo Palak or Saag Aloo is a Healthy, Easy Recipe in which Potatoes and Spinach are sautéed together with a few spices. It is usually served as a side but can be served as a main with chapatti. It also happens to be Vegan!
Once hot, add cumin seeds. When they sizzle, add Onion, Garlic and Green Chilli, cover and cook for 10 - 15 minutes till golden brown.
Add Tomato and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat.
Add Salt, Coriander Powder, Chilli Powder and Turmeric Powder. Mix well. Cook for 2 minutes.
Add Spinach and Water. Cook covered on low for 30 minutes.
Add Potatoes and cook for covered on low for 15 - 20 minutes. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and mix.Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with a sprinkling of Coriander leaves.
Notes
Top tips to make the BEST Aloo Palak
You can use fresh bags of Baby Spinach from the Supermarket like I do or you can buy fresh Spinach and trim. If using the latter, weigh after trimming.
You can also use frozen Spinach in this recipe.
Finely chop the Spinach by hand.
Try to chop the Potatoes evenly and also chop them quite small so they cook fast. A good size is around ½ inch.
As tempting as it is, do not stir the Spinach and Potatoes after the potatoes have begun to soften. I am someone who has to step away and find something else to do during this time because I am so impatient. Stirring them at this stage will just break them down.
Blend tomatoes before hand to make for a smoother base.
Variations
You can adjust the Spices in this recipe. Some people only use whole spices - Fenugreek, Cumin, Mustard and Garlic and that is also delicious.The spices here are minimal and as such, you can add more or less according to your liking. You can also add just some ground Garam Masala at the end.
How to serve it
This goes beautifully with a hot buttered roti. Alternatively, you can also stir in a nice generous spoonful of butter at serving time. Butter really complements the flavours of the spinach so well.