Sarson Ka Saag Spicy Stewed Mustard Greens Food

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.

SARSON KA SAAG

Steps:

• Wash and chop the greens and then add them to the pressure cooker. Then add the chopped onion, garlic, ginger and green chilies.
• Add tomatoes and white radish. Then add the red chili powder and salt. Add 1.5 cups water and stir.
• Pressure cook for 5-6 whistles (in a traditional stove top pressure cooker) on high heat until everything is soft and done.If using the Instant Pot (like I did here), cook on high pressure for 5 mins and then let the pressure release naturally. Alternatively, you can also cook everything on a stove top for 20-25 minutes until soft.
• Open the pressure cooker/instant pot and then use an immersion blender to puree the saag. If you don't have an immersion blender, wait for it cool down a bit and then puree using your regular blender.
• Blend to a coarse paste. You may blend it to super fine texture using a high speed blender. I prefer it little coarse.
• Transfer saag to another pot on stove top over medium-low heat. Add 2 tablespoons of maize flour to the saag and mix, this helps in thickening the saag.
• Set heat to low and let the saag simmer for 20 to 25 minutes on low heat. It will thicken as it simmers.
• For the final tadka, heat a small pan on medium heat. Once the pan is hot add ghee to it and then add hing and chopped garlic cloves. Saute for few seconds and then add the chopped onion and dried red chilies.
• Cook until the onions and garlic turn light golden brown. Add the coriander powder and garam masala and mix.
• Transfer the tadka/tempering to the saag and mix.
• Serve sarson ka saag with makki roti, sliced onion, jaggery and white butter!

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.

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.