Saag Tofu Recipe Tofu Simmered In Spiced Mustard Spinach Leaves Food

SAAG TOFU (INDIAN TOFU WITH SPINACH)

Steps:

• Cut tofu into thirds lengthwise and eighths crosswise. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring gently every 2 to 3 minutes, until browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the pan and reduce heat to medium. Add onion, garlic, ginger and mustard seeds and cook until the onion is translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add spinach in batches small enough to fit in the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until all the spinach has been added and has wilted, 4 to 6 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, combine yogurt, curry powder, cumin and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Add to the pan along with the tofu and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.

SAAG TOFU (TOFU WITH SPINACH, GINGER, CORIANDER AND TURMERIC)

Steps:

• Drain the tofu on paper towels. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat in a wok or a large, heavy lidded skillet and add the tofu. Stir-fry until golden brown and remove from the heat.
• Combine the shallot or onion and the ginger in a food processor or mini-chop and blend until finely minced, almost a paste.
• Heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat in a wok or skillet and add the cumin seeds, fennel seeds and whole chiles. Cook, stirring, for about 15 seconds, or until the spices are fragrant and reddish-brown. Add the onion and ginger and stir-fry until it is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the coriander, salt, cayenne and turmeric, stir for about 10 seconds and add the spinach in batches, adding the next batch after the first batch wilts and stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze.
• Stir in the tofu, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the spinach is uniformly wilted and the tofu is warmed through.
• Whisk the cornstarch into the yogurt. Remove the pan from the heat, remove the chilies, and stir in the yogurt. Taste, adjust salt and serve with rice or other grains.

SAAG (INDIAN SPINACH)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil on medium high along with ginger and garam masala until onions are translucent and begin to pick up some color.
• Add minced garlic to pan, and cook briefly to soften. Do not allow the garlic to burn - lower heat if necessary.
• Add tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes. Incidentally, you can add a little more or less tomato depending on what you have available, slight differences in quantity will not be noticeable.
• Stir in yogurt. Do not worry if the yogurt separates.
• Add curry powder, coriander, cumin, sugar, and salt.
• Add bag of frozen spinach and mix well to combine. There is no need to defrost first if you use a the bagged spinach. If you are using the frozen block, I would advise defrosting first. You can also use the equivalent of fresh spinach.
• Add about a cup of water to the pot and cover. Simmer on medium for approximately 30 minutes. Spinach is done when the color has changed from the initial bright green to a much less vibrant green (almost brownish). If you crank up the heat, it is possible to cook this a little faster, but you have to pay attention to the moisture level. You may have to add more water throughout the cooking process if it cooks off.
• Once the spinach is fully cooked, remove the lid and cook off any remaining liquid. The spinach should be moist, but there should not be much liquid free in the bottom of the pan.
• Remove pan from heat.
• Using an immersion blender, blender, or food processor, puree the spinach. Leave it as chunky as you like. You can also choose to puree only half of the mixture if you like bigger pieces of spinach.
• Add further salt to taste.
• I have found that I have to fine tune the spices every time I make this dish depending on how I feel that day. For me, adding further small amounts of coriander is the key.
• If you like, potatoes, paneer cubes or chick peas may be added at this point.
• ***NOTE*** It is very helpful to prepare all ingredients in advance of cooking so that they can be added quickly during the cooking process. I recommend combining the components of each step beforehand (i.e. pre-measuring the spices together) so that you can just dump everything in quickly as you go.

MA PO TOFU WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Start your rice cooker.
• Dice the pork into tiny cubes, stir in a splash of soy sauce, and set aside.
• Cut the silken tofu into 1/2 inch cubes and set aside. Be gentle with your tofu, the soft kind is delicate and comes apart easily.
• Combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, sherry, sugar, and salt, and set aside.
• Heat up the vegetable oil in a wok, deep skillet, or dutch oven.
• when the oil is very hot, add the chili sauce and garlic. Stir for 30 seconds, just enough to wake up the flavors, but not enough to burn the garlic.
• add the diced pork and stir, cooking for another minute or so. (It will cook more later).
• Add the tofu and pour in the sauce. Stir once gently, being careful not to break up the tofu.
• Bring the sauce up to a boil and braise uncovered for 5 minutes or so. (How long you want to braise it depends on how saucy you want it to be--the longer it boils, the more the liquid will reduce.).
• Dice the green onion, white and green parts together.
• After 5+ minutes, the tofu will take on a nice reddish brown color from the sauce. At this point, mix cornstarch and water to make about a tablespoon of goopy paste, and stir into the boiling sauce. Throw about 4 handfuls of baby spinach onto the top and cover, cooking for another 2 or 3 minutes.
• When your spinach is wilted and the sauce is "clingy", gently stir in the green onion and 1/2 tsp of sesame oil.
• Serve on top of lots of steamed white rice.

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.

SAUTEED SPINACH LEAVES

Steps:

• Cut away and discard any tough spinach stems and blemished leaves. Wash spinach thoroughly in cold water and drain well.
• Heat the butter in a large skillet, then add the spinach, salt and pepper to taste and the nutmeg.
• Stir as the spinach wilts. Cook over medium high and cook until the spinach leaves are thoroughly wilted. Remove from the heat and serve.