Palak (Spinach Curry)
Palak - Spinach Curry
This is a simple spinach curry, cooked with milk and has a delicious unique taste. This was my father’s favorite dish in winter time. A creamy savory dish with mild spices. Serve with , Makki ki Roti or Naan
Ingredients
- 12 oz spinach washed and remove the stems this should be about 8 cups of packed spinach
- 1 Tbsp ghee clarified butter
- 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds mathi seeds
- 1/2 tsp turmeric haldi
- 1 Tbsp chopped ginger adrak
- 2 Tbsp green chili chopped, I prefer serrano chili
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp besan gram flour
- 1/2 cup chopped tomato in small pieces
- 4 cups whole milk
For Seasoning
- 2 Tbsp ghee clarified butter
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds jeera
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the besan with half cup of milk to make a lump free batter and set aside.
- Blend the spinach, ginger and green chilies using about 1/2 cup of milk. Spinach should not be pasty. I prefer to use food processor.
- Heat the ghee in a saucepan over medium high moderately. Add fenugreek seeds, and turmeric. Stir for a few seconds.
- Add the spinach, and milk and turn the heat to medium. Bring spinach to boil. Lower the heat to medium low and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes, stir occasionally, scraping the sides.
- Add besan batter, and salt, and let it cook for about 10-15 minutes, stir occasionally, scraping the sides.
- Spinach curry should be thick batter consistency. Add chopped tomatoes cook for 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
Seasoning
- In a small sauce pan heat the ghee over medium heat. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil. If the cumin seeds crack right away, the oil is ready. Add cumin seeds and turn off the heat and add red chili powder and about 2 tablespoons of water this will prevent spices to burn.
- Pour the seasoning over spinach curry.
Notes
Spinach curry is ready to serve. Serve hot with Naan, Roti, Paratha.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
65 Responses
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Manjula, I have made this palak countless times, but today I substituted rai for methi and maida for besan, and recipe turned out delicious as always. Thank you!
Really nice recipe! I substituted 3 cups almond milk, and one cup almond yogurt for the milk to made as a vegan dish – It is so satisfyingly creamy! Thank you Manjula for the recipes, and your cooking advice!
I will make this for my son who is vegan, thank you
Excellent recipe Manjula aunty.. It was an instant hit at home.. I made some minor tweaks – Added paneer, garam masala and kasoori methi towards the end and added garlic in the tadka. This made the most delicious saag paneer I have ever had and tasted the same as the ones you get in a restaurant..
I have always been a fan of your simple yet delicious cooking. Keep up the great work..
Manjula, second time I am making this recipe and it’s delicious. I used one 16-oz package frozen chopped spinach and came out perfect! My fiance was so impressed. Thank you!
Your recipe is awesome I try at home yum. thanks for sharing.
Manjulaji,
You are the original Indian food youtuber–God sent for us vegetarians in the US. This recipe uses a bit more milk than I like–can we just use 1/2 cup and use with water instead?
Chitra, Thank you, yes you can use as much milk you like
Dear Manjula,
The spinach recipe is great. My daughter does not like tomatoes so skipped that step. But the curry still tasted good.
Sunetra, Thanks, it is always good to make changes to your liking.
Radheshyam……
This recipe is New for me….today I will try n offer my radhagovindji….may be my radhagovindji like it’s very much….thanks manjulaji
Manjula, this recipe was outstanding. Do you think it will work if I make it again with 12 oz. of roasted, mashed eggplant?
Kiran, you should try, it should work, more fun trying different combinations.
Dear Manjula when I did a close up, I saw the amount of palak you had. That’s the amount of palak I had in 6 oz. it was 4 cups. My 12 oz was much more than yours. Ty so much
Also ,your milk seems more than 4 cups
Romi I measure every ingredient before I show
Ty for your prompt reply. It’s just that I’m your ardent follower.so please pardon my frequent questions
Romi, I like the questions and try to reply
Irene, Thank you
Manjula–your videos have opened the world of Indian food up to me. Thank you for making this vast tradition accessible.
I added fried garlic into tadka and it tasted the best palak curry I’ve ever eaten! Thank u Manjula!
Maya, Thank you, made me happy
Tried this recipe and it tastes divine. Simply loved it. Thank you.
Jyoti, Thanks, Makes me happy
Very different recipe of spinach, looks yummy. I never thought milk can be used in spinach recipe. Thanks for sharing.
It’s easy and Really nice recipe to try when you are confused with what to make with palak and bored with eating palak paneer. Nice..!! Thank you.
Janhavi, changes are always good.
well i sort of twisted the recipe… with Spinach i added two green bell peppers as well. this tasted even better.
Sai, good suggestion, that is fun part of cooking, making the changes and sharing.
I tried this recipe and it’s so quick and easy to make, turned out very very tasty.
Thanks for such an amazing recipe. Would love to make this again and again 🙂
I tried this recipe. It’s such a simple one and tasted just awesome!!!
Many thanks for such an amazing recipe!
Hi Manjula ji, I cook sometimes just for fun. Used your recipe and the dish was savoury. Even children liked it who usually balk if you even mention palak 😀 .
Thank You, Ashok
Ashok, Thank you it is always good to hear that.
I tried it, it’s awesome, my daughter loved it, thanku madam, I am not so good with cooking,now I can say I can make good Palau receive, haha
I tried your recipe and it came good…my husband too liked it…thank you for such a tasty recipe
Nikky, thank you, makes me feel good to hear that
I don’t have besan flour. Is there a substitute? I’m trying Indian coming in Mexico with limited Indian food and spice resources.
Rebecca, corn flour or whole wheat flour will work
I have been looking for a spinach curry recipe that doesn’t have onions and yet tastes divine. Think I found it!! Thank you. We loved this one.
Supriya, Thank you
Manjula aunty, won’t the ginger curdle the milk?
Jessica, not really
Mam whr you used tomatoes in this recipe ?
Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe! Can this be made vegan by substituting milk with coconut milk?
Nia sounds good but use half the quantity of coconut milk as it is more creamy.
hi Nia,
Did you try it with coconut milk ?? how was it?
Hi Manjula ji I don’t understand, in your recipe you say 4 cups milk but mention 1/2 cup in blending spinach and 1/2 cup in mizing with Besan what and where is use for the other 3 cups? I like the recipe and would try this but can you please explain and clarify. Thank you. Love your recipes and have tried several with great results.
Mala, check it again I do use 4 cups of milk.
I made this recipe today. It’s very tasty n everyone liked it. Thank you mam….
thebankinfo, thank you, made me happy
Hi Manjula ji, your page was recommended by one of my friend. I have tried many of receipes and I must say results have been truly amazing. Above all your recipes are so simple.
Afzaal, Thank you and also I will like thank your friend.
Thank you very much, Manjulaji. I usually make palak paneer ot aloo palak. This definitely is a colorful, flavorful dish.
Seems extremely simple a recipe.. but i can feel my mouth savoring it. will definitely try this. can you suggest any veggies for me to add in this?
Krithika, you can add potatoes
You use green chilies a lot in your cooking. What type of chili are you using?
Thank you
Richard, I use serrano chilies
Thank you, I enjoy your web-site very much.
Richard, Thank you, it is always good to hear that
Hello Manjula Ji,
Can I first boil the spinach, then blend it and add milk, as I don´t have big blender? Will it taste same?
Thanks
Reema, That will work
Thanks
Thans you so much for this video, I will certainly try your recipes!
With kind regards,
Jolanda
Dear manjula ji,
I will definitely try this recepie. It looks delicious.
Rakhi poonia
Rakhi, Thank you, let me know when you try how it turn out.
Looks very good. I love your recipes. Whenever I watch your recipes through facebook or email , the video is played from your website. How do I like the videos? Please create a link in your site to like the videos.
Thank you for sharing your innovative recipes.