Mar 1, 2011

Adraki Aloo Palak - Ginger flavored Spinach and Potato Curry

When you mom tells you eat spinach, you eat spinach. Coz moms know best. Sometimes Popeye can also tell you the same thing. You listen to both. 

But what mom might not know is how great you can make spinach taste. And this surely tastes way better than what Popeye also eats out of a can. I don't care if he comes and blows me up for saying that. I mean it.

The inspiration for this dish came out of a  packaged ready to eat Haldiram pack of Adraki aloo palak. I'll confess - I've eaten it a couple of times. But I always find those things so full of oil. I have to skim out a whole layer of oil when I heat it up. And its always too spicy for me. So, I got over that pretty fast. 

But I was craving for this one day and decide to give it a shot myself. And this has become a staple in our house now and sometimes I mix up the greens too. Easy to make and absolutely perfect to eat with either rotis or even rice. And so much goodness in here too. What's not to like?


Get started with the basic favorites. Onions, Green chillies and tomatoes. Divide the onions into two sets - chop one set into big chunks and the other into small pieces. The big ones go in for grinding the masala and the small ones go directly in the curry.

Also chop some ginger and garlic or you can use a ready made ginger-garlic paste.


Wash a big bunch of spinach thoroughly. One of the best ways to wash it is put the whole lot in a big mixing bowl filled with water and let it sit for a couple of mins. You can see the dust settle at the bottom of the bowl. Wash it out and again rinse the spinach at least 3-4 times so you know it is clean.


In a wide pan, add about 2 tsps of cooking oil. Then add all these below

Jeera - 1 tbsp
Coriander Seeds - 2 tbsp
Green Chillies - 3-4 small ones chopped
Onions - about 1 cup chopped into big pieces
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Tomatoes - about 2-3 small ones chopped up

Saute the onions first before adding the ginger garlic paste and then add the tomatoes in there. Cook until they turn a little soft.


Now, add the spinach and let it wilt a little in here. Don't over cook the spinach.


Alternately, boil a couple of potatoes. I microwave them for about 6-8 mins with the skin on. Just wrap a couple of potatoes in a wet paper towel and put that in the microwave. Cooks perfectly and you have soft but firm potatoes ready.


Move all the onion - spinach mixture to a blender or a mixer.


Blend into a smooth puree.


I used the same pan and that's why have the brown rings around. So excuse that please!

Add in a couple of tsps of oil. Then, add the following -

Whole red chillies - 2-3
Ginger - about 1/4 - 1/2 cup equivalent - cut into long strips. Please use fresh soft ginger as these will be pieces of ginger that you will bite into
Onions - about 1/2 cup finely chopped


Next add the cooked and cut potatoes in here and cook for a min. Add salt to taste.


Next, add the pureed spinach mix to the potatoes.


Add all seasonings. Salt to taste, a pinch of turmeric, a pinch of red chilli powder and 1/2 tsp of garam masala. Cook for a few mins until the curry comes together and starts to thicken up. That's it! You're done! How easy was that?


Serve warm with rotis or even hot rice. This is a spicy spinach dish and not a bland one like most of the spinach curries out there. Try it and I'm sure you'll like it.


And yes, this is the way you'll want to eat Spinach without having your mom tell you one more time.



Click here for a printable recipe.

Enjoy. Peace out. 

23 comments:

  1. you are right, what's not to like!

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  2. Looks very delicious..all nice flavors..

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  3. Offlate potatoes seem awfully yummy to me... so yes this is on the menu soooon.

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  4. yyumm..looks so delicious..and love the new look of your blog..

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  5. Looks superb!!! Love the flavor of adrak in it..
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  6. Looks yum ...and I want to try it

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  7. What
    i like most- your writing style,what I lkie next most - your recipe for a spicy spinach curry.Popeye never knew the pleasures of spices(well, inspite of being a sailor, maybe he did not follow Vasco da Gama to India)!!!That need not stop all of us from indulging in this great dish,thanks for sharing!

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  8. Hi, I accidentally got your site searching for something last year and from that day, I am a follower of your blogs. I am amazed by your patience and love to watch the detailed pictures of cooking process. Keep writing...

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  9. Aloo palak both together looks sooo delicious..

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  10. I love the flavor of ginger very much n this sounds fantastic to me..must try :)

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  11. cool. i ll give a try tomorow

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  12. Yummy recipe...I am loving all the ingredients tat go in here...

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  13. Awesome!! Will try this out soon !!

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  14. Loved the green colours wen you blended them...Where is the sunshine in the kitchen lady?always make aloo palak but adding adrak...kya mazaa yaar? shd give it a nice after kick na? I love ginger just like you...Was trying to remember the other "gingery" post a year back...not getting it...and i go nuts when I cant remember??? :(
    Shoba

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  15. I agree, what's not to like? And you had me sold at just 'Aloo'...I didn't need to go any further. Now, need I say more?

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  16. Wow what lovely combo and flavors..love anything with spinach and this is no exception.. love love love it totally....

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  17. Tried, tasted n posted...I just loved it ...thanks for sharing :)

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  18. Yes, ma'am! Agreed! My daughter has been eating spinach since she was tiny because I always made it taste GOOD! It is possible! And her friends can't believe when she gets excited to eat it! I'm bookmarking your recipe :)

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  19. I made this yesterday and it turned out perfect! I posted a link on my page :)

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  20. I love you!!! What an amazing recipe,tried it and came out great!

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Thank you for stopping by! Let me know what you think.