Brij Saag

Brij Saag

Brij Saag

Veg Vegan

Winter greens — bathua (chenopodium), methi (fenugreek), or palak — slow-cooked with mustard oil, asafoetida, ginger, and dried chillies in the no-onion-no-garlic Vaishnav style. A cold-season staple in Brij households, eaten with roti or puri alongside a smear of fresh ghee.

Cuisines

Brij

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Total: 45 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

250 grams spinach leaves
100 grams fenugreek leaves
50 grams mustard leaves
1 tablespoon ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch ginger, grated
2 medium green chilies, chopped
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
salt to taste
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1 tablespoon fresh cream

Instructions

  1. 1 Wash and chop the spinach, fenugreek, and mustard leaves.
  2. 2 In a large pot, boil water and blanch the greens for 5 minutes.
  3. 3 Drain and immediately transfer the greens to cold water to retain color.
  4. 4 Blend the greens into a coarse paste and set aside.
  5. 5 In a pan, heat ghee and add cumin seeds until they splutter.
  6. 6 Add chopped onions and sauté until golden brown.
  7. 7 Stir in garlic, ginger, and green chilies, and cook for another minute.
  8. 8 Add coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt, and mix well.
  9. 9 Add the blended greens paste to the pan and stir to combine.
  10. 10 Sprinkle cornmeal over the mixture and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  11. 11 Finish with fresh cream, mix well, and cook for another 2 minutes.
  12. 12 Serve hot with roti or rice.

Tips

For a richer flavor, add a dollop of butter on top before serving.