Palak Patal Bhaji/ पालकाची पातळ भाजी

Paatal Bhaji aka Dal Bhaji is a star dish of Maharashtrian cooking. It is a quintessential part of Maharashtrian thali. We make it on every festival or on every religious occasion. We make it very either Spinach, Meethi (Fenugreek) or even with Colocasia leave (Arvi Patte). I have previously shared my mom’s version of Patal Bhaji made using colocasia (Arvi).

Now sharing my mother in law’s version of Patal Bhaji. She usually makes it with Spinach and pep up with Garlic Tadka. Also, she replaces chana dal with Matar (peas) at times. But I love the crunch of peanut, chana dal in it.

It is again a healthy, nutritious and delicious Bhaji. You can include it in your weekly menu. Especially those who are not fond of spinach can have this Bhaji.

Enjoy it with Phulka/Bhakri or hot steam rice.

All you need is 

Servings: 2

INGREDIENTS:-

1 cup Spinach, chopped

2 tablespoon Chana Dal (split Bengal gram)

2 tablespoon Peanuts

Few pieces of coconut

2 tablespoon or ¼ cup Besan

1 tablespoon Tamarind paste ( imli ki paste)

2 tablespoon Jaggery

1 ½ tsp salt or to taste

FOR TEMPERING:-

3 tablespoon Oil

1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds

¼ teaspoon Asafetida (heeng) or little more

3-4 garlic cloves, crushed

½ teaspoon turmeric

2-3 dry red chillies

1 teaspoon red chilli powder

METHOD:-

1.  Soak chana dal, peanuts and coconut for 2 hours.

2.  In a broad pan boil 1 litre water, add soaked ingredients, chopped Spinach leaves and boil it for 10 minutes or till the Dal is cooked.

3.  Meanwhile in a bowl add Besan, Tamarind Puree and make a batter using little water.

4.  Add this batter to Dal Palak and stir in continuously.

5.  Add salt, mix it and again cook for 4-5 minutes.

6.  FOR TEMPERING:- heat oil in a pan

7.  Add mustard seeds, asafetida, turmeric, garlic and red chilli powder.

8.  Now pour this tempering (tadka) over the cooked Bhaji, mix it well cook for another 2-3 minutes on high flame.

9.  Enjoy it with nice hot steam rice with a generous amount of ghee over it.

look at the picture to know how to serve a thali.

 

Hey Friends! If you like my blogs kindly post your comment below the post and do share your response. Looking forward to some new innovative recipes. Thanks for reading. HAPPY COOKING! :)

Kakdi Tamatar Koshimbir/Maharashtrian Salad

What is Koshimbir?

It is a typical Maharashtrian salad. Usually made with cucumber, tomato and crushed peanuts, with tempering of asafetida. It is a must for Maharashtrian thali meal. There are varieties of koshimbir relished by Maharashtrians. The asafetida in the tempering makes it a good digestive aid and gives a fantastic aroma to it. A Maharashtrian thali consists of a lemon wedge, koshimbir (Salad), chutney, papad, Bhajiya (Pakora), Varan(dal), Bhat (rice), Bhaji (Sabji), Poli (chapati) and taak(chaas).  There is a way of serving the thali. At my home, we still follow the rule of serving thali. Everything should be in the correct place. My mother (aai) made sure that I serve correctly and eat clean. Probably that’s a part of our culture and I absolutely love it.

For a basic koshimbir, all you need is

SERVINGS: 2

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup Cucumber, chopped

½ cup Tomato, diced

1 green chilli, chopped

2 tbsp Peanut powder (crushed peanuts)

2 Tbsp onion, chopped (optional)

½ tsp Sugar

¼ tsp Salt

1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

For Tempering-

1 Tbsp Oil

½ tsp Mustard

¼ tsp Asafetida (Hing)

1/8 tsp turmeric

3-4       Curry Leaves

Coriander for garnishing

METHOD:

1.    In a bowl add cucumber, tomato, green chilli, onions, salt, sugar and peanut powder. Toss the ingredients well.

2.    Now add lemon juice and give it a mix.

3.    For tempering

·       Heat oil.

·       Add asafetida, curry leaves, turmeric.

·       Allow it to splutter

4.    Pour the tempering over the salad.

5.    Give it a final mix, add coriander and serve it. 

Note- Serve it immediately as if you keep it for a long time, salad releases its juices.

Enjoy this simple preparation with Varan-Bhat.

 

Hey Friends! If you like my blogs kindly post your comment below the post and do share your response. Looking forward to some new innovative recipes. Thanks for reading. HAPPY COOKING!! :)