Bihari Saag

Bihari Saag

Bihari Saag

Veg Vegan

Mustard greens or bathua (pigweed/chenopodium) wilted and cooked in mustard oil with a garlic and dried red chilli tempering — the winter leafy green of Bihari households, eaten with makai roti and ghee, simpler and less blended than Punjabi sarson da saag.

Cuisines

Bihari

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 40 min Total: 60 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

250 grams mustard greens (sarson)
150 grams spinach (palak)
100 grams fenugreek leaves (methi)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch ginger, grated
2 tablespoons mustard oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 pieces dried red chilies
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup water

Instructions

  1. 1 Wash and roughly chop the mustard greens, spinach, and fenugreek leaves.
  2. 2 Heat mustard oil in a pan over medium heat until it starts to smoke slightly.
  3. 3 Add cumin seeds and dried red chilies to the oil and let them splutter.
  4. 4 Add the chopped onion, garlic, and ginger to the pan and sauté until the onion turns golden brown.
  5. 5 Add the turmeric powder and red chili powder, and stir well.
  6. 6 Add the chopped greens to the pan and mix well with the spices.
  7. 7 Add salt and water, then cover the pan and let it simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.
  8. 8 Check occasionally and stir to ensure the greens are cooking evenly.
  9. 9 Once the greens are tender and the water has mostly evaporated, mash them slightly with the back of a spoon.
  10. 10 Serve hot with steamed rice or roti.

Tips

For a richer taste, add a dollop of ghee on top before serving.