#ALOO METHI KI SABZI

I love the sight of fresh green leafy vegetables sold by road side vendors in Bangalore. Sometimes they are so fresh that you can find the damp earth still stuck to the roots. And they always inspire me to try something new. The most commonly made dish in Andhra Pradesh using greens would be dal (Palak dal , Methi dal etc). So I am constantly on the lookout for new recipes using greens. They are not only healthy but also taste good. My most favorite dishes using greens are palak paneer and palak kofta which remind me very much of mom’s cooking. Today when I had methi in the fridge, I decided to make a simple and quick aloo methi sabzi. So here I am sharing the recipe with you.


This recipe would serve 3-4 people.

Here is what you would require:

Methi greens/ menthi kura - 1 big bunch
Potatoes medium sized - 3 to 4.
Oil- for shallow frying potatoes
Jeera/cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Asafetida /hing – 1 pinch
Turmeric- a pinch
Garlic pods – 5 to 6
Green chillies - 2 to 3 chopped to one inch pieces
Curry leaves – 6 to 8
Dhania powder – ¾ tsp (optional)
Salt- to taste
Chilli powder- ½ tsp or according to taste
Coriander leaves – for garnishing.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the cumin seeds. When they splutter add the hing and stir. When aroma of the hing starts emanating, add slightly crushed garlic pods, green chillies and fry. Now add chopped potatoes to it and fry for sometime till they are slightly cooked.

If you are health conscious like me and prefer to use less oil, here is your way out. Boil the potatoes and keep aside before you start the process of cooking. Peel the potatoes and chop into pieces. Add these pieces after garlic and fry. I find this a healthier alternative. It is tasty too.

Once the potatoes are cooked, add the chopped methi leaves to the potatoes and stir. Be careful while stirring as we do not want to mash the potatoes. The pieces need to stay intact.(You can try the chef style of tossing the contents of the pan in the air too. But please be sure not to throw everything down. Else there would be no curry left to eat. Try at your own risk :P)

Add curry leaves and close the pan with a lid. Allow the curry to cook in its own steam for sometime so that all the aromas get infused. You can add little water if necessary. You can also add the dhania powder and turmeric at this stage.

Once you see that the greens have cooked to your satisfaction, add salt, chilli powder and mix well. Check seasoning.

Just before switching off the stove, add chopped coriander.

This dish tastes best with roti or puri but can be eaten with rice too.