SPINACH CURRY WITH MIXED GRAINS

Spinach or Valche Bhaji is grown like a creeper in the Coastal town of Mangalore. Its fresh and lush green and is a source of iron and fiber. Spinach cooked with prawns or chicken tastes delicious. Here I have prepared a combi of Spinach and mixed grains.



To prepare the Spinach curry:

• 500 gms spinach
• 150 gms mixed grains
• soaked overnight

For the Masala:

• 8 dried chillies
• 1 tbspn coriander seeds
• 1/2 tspn cumin seeds
• 1 tspn pepper
• 1 tspn mustard seeds
• t tspn tamarind paste
• 1 cup grated coconut
• 1 onion
• 6 flakes garlic

Tempering:

• 1 tspn olive oil
• 1 tspn mustard seeds
• 4 flakes garlic
• 1/4 tspn asafoetida
• Salt for taste

Method:

• Clean the spinach, each leaf has to be checked for tiny gren colour worms/parasites and leaves with holes should be discarded. Cut 5" pieces of spinach stem and separate the leaves
• Wash under running water and leave it in a strainer.
• Blend together all the masala ingredients using water.
• Cook the soaked mixed grains in a pressure cooker.
• First cook the stems of spinach and later add to it the leaves.
• Blend in the cooked grains and mix well.
• Mix the ground masala with the water.
• The gravy should be of flowing consistency.

• Add salt to taste.
• Temper with oil, mustard seeds, smashed garlic flakes and asafoetida.
  

Delectable spinach curry is ready to be served with Chapathis or boiled brown rice.

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