Aloo Palak: Spinach Potato Curry

A simple no-onion-no-garlic spinach potato curry, uniquely flavored with asafoetida and yogurt. I’ll place this right up with my most-loved comfort foods.

Adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor’s TV show Khana Khazana.

You Need:

• Potatoes – 3 boiled and peeled ^[1]
• Spinach – a large bunch, washed well [2]
• Yogurt – 1/2 cup
• Cumin powder – 1/2 teaspoon
• Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
• Asafoetida – a pinch
• Green chilies – 2-3, slit vertically
• Oil – 2 teaspoons
• Salt – To taste
• Sesame seeds – 2 teaspoons

In the picture above: boiled potatoes, spinach, green chilies, yogurt with turmeric, cumin and coriander powders.

How To Make Aloo Palak:

Pre-cooking steps:

Cut boiled potatoes into cubes. Chop spinach.

Toast sesame seeds on a tava/skillet on low flame, till they turn a darker color and give off a nutty aroma (about 2 minutes). Keep aside.

Whisk yogurt with the dry spice powders and salt.

On the heat:

Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a wide-bottomed non-stick pan. Add to it cumin seeds, asafoetida and slit green chilies.^[3]

Pop in the potato cubes. Let them turn golden on medium heat for 5 minutes.

Add spinach, stir and close lid.

When the spinach wilts (5 mins), turn the flame low, add the spiced yogurt mix and blend it in gently.

Cook for another 5 minutes, switch off the flame and let the dish stand covered for a few minutes.

Spinach potato curry (aloo palak) is ready.

To Serve:

Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds to garnish. Serve aloo palak hot with chapatis/boiled rice.

My meal today: boiled rice, aloo palak and tomato dal.

Notes:

1. If you put potatoes in a curry immediately after boiling, they become mushy. Let them cool to room temperature or put them in the fridge for a few hours before use. This holds good not just for this recipe but any that uses boiled potatoes.

2. Make a small slit before you drop whole green chilies in hot oil to avoid their bursting and splashing hot oil all around.

3. For more such spinach recipes, check out this post: 10 Spinach Recipes to Bring Out the Popeye in You!

4.Also see these potato+[vegetable] combo curry recipes: aloo tinda, aloo kachcha kela, aloo kaddu.