Best Spinach Keerai South Indian Spinach Stew Recipes

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KEERAI MOLOGUTAL (SOUTH INDIAN SPINACH-LENTIL STEW)



Keerai Mologutal (South Indian Spinach-Lentil Stew) image

In Tamil, Keerai = spinach. This recipe has been in my family for absolute ages, and is unfailingly on the table at lunch every Sunday... and we'll never get tired of it! :-) This is a very nutritious stew that's perfect over steamed rice. A spicy pickle or condiment is traditionally served along with this. Or, you can just have the stew as a, well, stew or soup! Hope you like this one!

Provided by Anu_N

Categories     Stew

Time 50m

Yield 4 cups, 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 bunch fresh spinach, washed,not dried,coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
4 cups water
1/2 cup yellow lentils (tur dal)
1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 red chile
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon Urad Dal (skinned and split black gram)

Steps:

  • Make sure that you don't dry the spinach after washing.
  • Cook the chopped spinach in a microwavable bowl, covered, in a microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes, with 1 teaspoon salt, stirring thrice.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • Add water, lentils, and turmeric in a pot, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until lentils are tender.
  • Do not drain.
  • Grind coconut, cumin, red chili, with 1/2 cup water in a blender, to a paste.
  • Remove from the blender and set aside.
  • In the same blender (you needn't wash it), separately grind the spinach coarsely (don't make it into a paste!).
  • Mix the spinach, coconut paste, and cooked lentils (along with its water) together in a large pot and bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove from the flame and set aside.
  • While the spinach-lentil mixture is boiling, in a small frying pan, heat the oil, and add mustard seeds and Urad dal.
  • When the mustard sputters, pour the contents of the frying pan into the spinach-lentil mixture.
  • Stir, and serve hot, over plained steamed rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 215.4, Fat 11.2, SaturatedFat 6.6, Sodium 660.7, Carbohydrate 21.6, Fiber 11.5, Sugar 2, Protein 10

SPINACH KEERAI (SOUTH INDIAN SPINACH STEW)



Spinach Keerai (South Indian Spinach Stew) image

This is the South Indian version of Palak Paneer or Saag Paneer, but without the paneer. Serve this dish over rice and crumple potato chips on top. Serve yogurt on the side. You can substitute any kind of greens, or a mix of greens, for the spinach. And fresh is better. Adjust spices to your taste and your tolerance. Make sure you use unsweetened coconut. You can use other lentils, but toor dal or mung dal is best. Adjust salt according to how salty you cooked the dal.

Provided by alvinakatz

Categories     Indian

Time 20m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

10 ounces frozen spinach
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooked toor dal or 1 cup cooked mung dal
2 tablespoons grated unsweetened coconut
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 dried red chili
3/4 teaspoon rice flour or 3/4 teaspoon cornstarch
1 -2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon Urad Dal (optional)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder

Steps:

  • Cook greens in the wok, adding water if necessary.
  • Add salt and turmeric powder.
  • Add dal and heat.
  • Grind coconut, cumin, chili, and rice flower until fine. Add water if needed so it isn't chunky.
  • Add ground spices to spinach/dal mix.
  • Adding water if necessary, grind (with blender or immersion blender) until parts are a puree and parts still look like bits of leaves. You don't want a smooth paste. Consistency should be like a smoothie, only with leaf bits.
  • In a small pan, heat the oil. Add mustard seeds and heat until they pop and turn grey.
  • Pour oil and mustard seeds on the keerai, stir and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 280.4, Fat 9.2, SaturatedFat 4.6, Sodium 501.8, Carbohydrate 36, Fiber 18.4, Sugar 2.6, Protein 16.2

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