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.
- 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
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 [timer minutes=20]15-20 minutes[/timer], stir occasionally, scraping the sides.
Add besan batter, and salt, and let it cook for about [timer minutes=15]10-15 minutes[/timer], stir occasionally, scraping the sides.
Spinach curry should be thick batter consistency. Add chopped tomatoes cook for [timer minutes=2]1-2 minutes[/timer]. 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.
Comments
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Kiran
July 27, 2021 at 11:45 amManjula, 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!
Paula Wing
February 16, 2021 at 7:43 pmReally 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!
Manjula Jain
February 21, 2021 at 12:22 amI will make this for my son who is vegan, thank you
Jane Mathias
January 13, 2021 at 1:49 pmExcellent 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..
Suhana
March 4, 2020 at 7:59 amManjula, 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!
Plain Palak Recipe
January 2, 2020 at 3:16 pmYour recipe is awesome I try at home yum. thanks for sharing.
Chitra
December 18, 2019 at 11:25 amManjulaji,
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?
Manjula Jain
December 19, 2019 at 1:41 amChitra, Thank you, yes you can use as much milk you like
Sunetra Giridhar
November 2, 2019 at 11:52 pmDear Manjula,
The spinach recipe is great. My daughter does not like tomatoes so skipped that step. But the curry still tasted good.
Manjula Jain
November 3, 2019 at 11:36 pmSunetra, Thanks, it is always good to make changes to your liking.
Dipshikha
June 26, 2019 at 9:40 pmRadheshyam……
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
Kiran
April 26, 2019 at 2:09 pmManjula, this recipe was outstanding. Do you think it will work if I make it again with 12 oz. of roasted, mashed eggplant?
Manjula Jain
April 28, 2019 at 11:36 pmKiran, you should try, it should work, more fun trying different combinations.
Romi
October 29, 2018 at 4:26 pmDear 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
Manjula Jain
October 29, 2018 at 8:45 pmRomi I measure every ingredient before I show
Romi
October 29, 2018 at 9:53 pmTy for your prompt reply. It’s just that I’m your ardent follower.so please pardon my frequent questions
Manjula Jain
November 3, 2018 at 12:43 amRomi, I like the questions and try to reply
Manjula Jain
October 15, 2018 at 7:27 pmIrene, Thank you
Irene
October 15, 2018 at 9:14 amManjula–your videos have opened the world of Indian food up to me. Thank you for making this vast tradition accessible.
Maya Mallya
September 25, 2018 at 11:28 pmI added fried garlic into tadka and it tasted the best palak curry I’ve ever eaten! Thank u Manjula!
Manjula Jain
September 26, 2018 at 12:40 amMaya, Thank you, made me happy
Jyoti
May 9, 2018 at 10:31 amTried this recipe and it tastes divine. Simply loved it. Thank you.
Manjula Jain
May 12, 2018 at 2:30 pmJyoti, Thanks, Makes me happy
sandhya sharma
April 13, 2018 at 11:04 pmVery different recipe of spinach, looks yummy. I never thought milk can be used in spinach recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Janhavi
February 24, 2018 at 8:52 pmIt’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.
Manjula Jain
February 25, 2018 at 9:57 pmJanhavi, changes are always good.
Sai
February 1, 2018 at 2:03 amwell i sort of twisted the recipe… with Spinach i added two green bell peppers as well. this tasted even better.
Manjula Jain
February 5, 2018 at 9:46 pmSai, good suggestion, that is fun part of cooking, making the changes and sharing.
Kriti agarwal
January 17, 2018 at 7:57 amI 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 🙂
Kriti agarwal
January 17, 2018 at 7:37 amI tried this recipe. It’s such a simple one and tasted just awesome!!!
Many thanks for such an amazing recipe!
Ashok Sharma
December 27, 2017 at 5:22 amHi 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
Manjula Jain
December 30, 2017 at 6:34 pmAshok, Thank you it is always good to hear that.
Smruti
November 29, 2017 at 5:49 pmI 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
Nikky
October 22, 2017 at 5:52 pmI tried your recipe and it came good…my husband too liked it…thank you for such a tasty recipe
Manjula Jain
October 24, 2017 at 8:30 amNikky, thank you, makes me feel good to hear that
Rebecca
October 2, 2017 at 8:32 pmI don’t have besan flour. Is there a substitute? I’m trying Indian coming in Mexico with limited Indian food and spice resources.
Manjula Jain
October 5, 2017 at 11:06 amRebecca, corn flour or whole wheat flour will work
Supriya
August 5, 2017 at 4:15 amI 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.
Manjula Jain
August 10, 2017 at 9:13 pmSupriya, Thank you
Jessica
July 13, 2017 at 8:05 amManjula aunty, won’t the ginger curdle the milk?
Manjula Jain
July 19, 2017 at 2:26 pmJessica, not really
Aparna
July 5, 2017 at 3:40 amMam whr you used tomatoes in this recipe ?
Nia
June 3, 2017 at 10:06 amThank you for sharing this yummy recipe! Can this be made vegan by substituting milk with coconut milk?
Manjula Jain
June 3, 2017 at 9:58 pmNia sounds good but use half the quantity of coconut milk as it is more creamy.
Shalu
April 8, 2018 at 9:45 pmhi Nia,
Did you try it with coconut milk ?? how was it?
Mala
June 2, 2017 at 9:49 amHi 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.
Manjula Jain
June 3, 2017 at 10:00 pmMala, check it again I do use 4 cups of milk.
thebankinfo
May 5, 2017 at 1:03 amI made this recipe today. It’s very tasty n everyone liked it. Thank you mam….
Manjula Jain
May 5, 2017 at 5:43 pmthebankinfo, thank you, made me happy
Afzaal Aslam
April 8, 2017 at 2:58 amHi 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.
Manjula Jain
April 10, 2017 at 10:22 pmAfzaal, Thank you and also I will like thank your friend.
Smitha
April 4, 2017 at 10:28 amThank you very much, Manjulaji. I usually make palak paneer ot aloo palak. This definitely is a colorful, flavorful dish.
krithika balu
March 26, 2017 at 9:12 amSeems 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?
Manjula Jain
March 29, 2017 at 7:57 amKrithika, you can add potatoes
Richard
March 10, 2017 at 7:29 amYou use green chilies a lot in your cooking. What type of chili are you using?
Thank you
Manjula Jain
March 10, 2017 at 9:49 pmRichard, I use serrano chilies
Richard
March 12, 2017 at 11:52 amThank you, I enjoy your web-site very much.
Manjula Jain
March 15, 2017 at 5:54 pmRichard, Thank you, it is always good to hear that
Reema
February 14, 2017 at 3:10 pmHello 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
Manjula Jain
February 14, 2017 at 10:14 pmReema, That will work
Reema
February 16, 2017 at 8:10 amThanks
Jolanda
February 13, 2017 at 3:40 amThans you so much for this video, I will certainly try your recipes!
With kind regards,
Jolanda
Rakhi poonia
February 12, 2017 at 7:47 pmDear manjula ji,
I will definitely try this recepie. It looks delicious.
Rakhi poonia
Manjula Jain
February 13, 2017 at 12:48 amRakhi, Thank you, let me know when you try how it turn out.
Geetha
February 10, 2017 at 3:36 pmLooks 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.