Spiced Spinach With Yogurt Food

INDIAN-SPICED SPINACH (SAAG)

Steps:

• Defrost and cook the spinach according to the package directions. Set aside
• Fry the onions, ginger, and garlic in the oil over medium heat, for about 4 or 5 minutes or until lightly browning.
• Add the dry spices and continue frying fo another 15 minutes. You will need to stir this every few minutes or so. The mixture will get dryer as you fry it. Add a tablespoon of water when it gets too dry.
• Add the spinach and yogurt and heat through.
• Blend until the spinach is your desired consistency. Taste, and add salt as needed. Salt will bring out all of the flavours.

SUMMER VEGETABLES IN SPICED YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Put oil in a deep, wide skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add the ginger, garlic, cumin seeds, turmeric, cayenne and the serrano chile. Stir-fry the mixture until it begins to sizzle a bit, about 1 minute.
• Add onion to pot, and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season well with salt.
• Stir in garam masala, squash and turnips, along with 1 cup water. Cover and simmer briskly until vegetables are just done, about 3 minutes.
• Add yogurt and almond flour. Stir well to combine. Add peas and corn. Simmer gently, uncovered, until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Taste sauce for salt and adjust as needed.
• Add the spinach, and let wilt into the mixture. Turn off heat. Sprinkle with cilantro, and serve with rice, if desired.

TURKISH YOGURT AND SPINACH DIP

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the spinach and blanch for 10 to 20 seconds. Transfer to the ice water, cool for a minute, then drain and squeeze dry. Chop coarsely.
• Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and mash to a paste (alternatively, finely mince). Combine with the lemon juice and olive oil, and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in the yogurt.
• In a medium bowl, combine the chopped spinach, dill, parsley and mint. Stir in the yogurt and garlic mixture, and the optional scallions. Add freshly ground pepper to taste and more salt if desired. Serve with bread, pita or raw vegetables.

SPINACH IN YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium heat until it shimmers. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Add spinach, chile, 2 tablespoons water, and 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in yogurt.
• Heat remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook mustard seeds until they begin to pop and/or turn gray, then add cumin seeds and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until cumin seeds brown, about 30 seconds more. Add curry leaves (if using), covering skillet immediately for a few seconds, then stir spice mixture into spinach mixture. Season with salt. Serve warm.

MIDDLE EASTERN SPINACH WITH SPICES AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat, and add the clove, allspice berries, and coriander seeds or cumin seeds. Heat, shaking the pan, until the spices begin to smell toasty, about three minutes. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool for a few minutes, then grind in a spice mill. Add the cinnamon, and set aside.
• In a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt to a paste, and stir into the yogurt. Set aside.
• Place the baby spinach in a bowl, and add just enough boiling water to cover. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water, squeeze out excess water, and chop coarsely.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet, and add the pine nuts. Stir until they begin color (two to three minutes), then remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the spices to the oil. When they begin to sizzle, cook for about 30 seconds and add the spinach, toasted pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the spinach is heated through and coated with the oil and spices, two to three minutes. Transfer to a serving dish, and spoon the yogurt over the top.

SPINACH AND YOGURT DIP

Steps:

• Blanch the spinach for 20 to 30 seconds or steam for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse and squeeze out excess water and chop coarsely.
• Pound the garlic to a paste with salt in a mortar and pestle. Stir into the yogurt and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet and add the spices. Cook, stirring, until they begin to sizzle, and add the spinach. Cook, stirring, until heated through and coated with the oil and spices, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a food processor and pulse to a puree. Add the yogurt and blend together. Transfer to a bowl or platter. Serve on croutons or with crudités such as red pepper squares, or with pita triangles. Garnish with chopped walnuts if desired. Serve with pita bread.

FRESH SPINACH WITH GARLIC-YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste; stir 1 minute. Add chiles and 1/3 of spinach. Cook until spinach wilts, adding remaining spinach in 2 additions and tossing often, about 4 minutes. Mix in rice. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and moisture from spinach is absorbed, adding water by tablespoonfuls if needed for rice, about 10 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until mixture is dry, about 2 minutes; discard chiles.
• Meanwhile, press garlic cloves into small bowl, stir in yogurt, and season with salt and pepper. Melt butter with 1 tablespoon oil in small skillet. Mix in cayenne and remove from heat.
• Spread spinach mixture on platter; make indentations with back of spoon. Spoon yogurt into indentations and drizzle with cayenne butter.

INDIAN-SPICED EGGS WITH SPINACH AND TURMERIC YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the yogurt and turmeric in a small bowl, season with salt and set aside. Toast the pitas on a sheet pan in the oven until they're warmed through and beginning to crisp, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic and chile and cook until softened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the garam masala and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds more. Begin adding in the spinach by the handful, tossing it frequently to encourage wilting. Gradually add more as it cooks down, about 6 to 8 minutes total. Season with salt.
• While the spinach cooks, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Crack the eggs into the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the undersides are crispy and the yolk is still runny, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Spread the turmeric yogurt on the toasted pitas and top each with spinach and then a fried egg. Scatter cilantro over the top, if using, and serve.