Indian Spiced Greens Recipes

INDIAN SPICED CHICKPEAS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Heat a large cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the oil and onion and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and lightly golden. Add the garlic, and sauté for ~ 1 minute.
• Stir the chickpeas, garam masala, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cayenne, and salt into the pan. In a small bowl mix the tomato paste with the 1/4 cup of water until smooth, then add to the pan. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the kale or greens of choice and a small sprinkle of salt to the pan. Let the greens wilt for about 1 minute to shrink somewhat before trying to stir them in. Carefully stir as the greens wilt to mix in fully. Sauté an additional 4-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the lemon juice, and stir, cooking 1 minute. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro or scallion greens, and serve with basmati rice, asian noodles, or Indian flatbread. Finish it off with some hot sauce, sambal oelek, or plain unsweetened nondairy yogurt or raita. Enjoy!

INDIAN-STYLE STEWED GREENS (SARSON KA SAAG)

Steps:

• Prepare greens by separating the stems and leaves. Discard the larger stems. Roughly chop the remaining stems and leaves. Place chopped greens in a large bowl and fill with cold water. Swish greens with your hand. The dirt will sink to the bottom.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-heat. Add ginger and green chilis. Sauté 1-2 minutes until you see golden brown bits. Scoop out the prepared greens from the water, and add them to the saucepan along with 1 cup water and the salt. Turn heat to medium-low, cover, and steam for 30 minutes. The greens will become very soft.
• Meanwhile, in a separate small skillet on medium-low, heat ghee and add onion. Sauté until lightly browned (about 10-15 minutes). At the beginning, nothing much will happen, but as soon as the moisture evaporates it will brown quickly, and even burn. So be careful. You want it evenly and lightly browned. Turn off the heat and set aside until needed.
• After 30 minutes of simmering the greens, turn off the heat. Use an immersion blender to blend the greens right in the saucepan, or blend separately in a blender after cooling slightly. (If you use the blender method, be very careful and ensure that the steam has a way to escape so the lid doesn't blow off.) After blending, turn the heat back on low.
• Add prepared onion saute to greens, along with garam masala and fresh lime juice. Simmer until the oil rises to the surface (about 3-5 minutes). Taste, and adjust for salt. If you find it too bitter, add a teaspoon of raw sugar.

INDIAN SAAG

Steps:

• In a large skillet or wok, melt butter over medium-high heat, and cook and stir cumin seed, chile pepper, garlic, and turmeric until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the chopped mustard greens and spinach a little at a time, adding the tougher parts first (the stems and thicker leaves). Continue to add greens, and cook and stir until all greens have been added and all are thoroughly wilted. Stir in the cumin, coriander, and salt. Cover; reduce heat and simmer until greens are tender, about 10 minutes, adding water as needed to keep the greens moist.

SARSON KA SAAG (INDIAN MUSTARD GREENS)

Steps:

• Place the chiles into a dry skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir until the chiles turn dark red-brown in color and give off their fragrance, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, allow to cool, and remove stems of chiles; shake out the seeds, and tear the flesh of the roasted chiles into pieces. Set aside.
• Place the spinach into a saucepan over medium heat; place mustard greens into a separate saucepan. If leaves are dry, mix in 1 or 2 of tablespoons of water. If leaves are still wet, just cover the pans and simmer the greens until tender, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool.
• Place greens together into the work bowl of a food processor, and pulse several times to break up the greens, then process to a paste, about 1 minute.
• Heat ghee in a large saucepan over medium heat, and stir in the cumin seeds, stirring for about 30 seconds or until the seeds sizzle and turn a darker brown color. Mix in the onion, cook and stir until lightly browned, about 3 minutes, and mix in the roasted peppers, ginger paste, garlic paste, and tomato. Mix in the pureed greens, bring to a simmer, and stir in salt and sugar to taste. If dish is too thick, mix in up to about 1/4 cup of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the greens are the desired thickness.