This is an authentic, tasty and easy recipe of Punjabi style Palak Saag that can be made in microwave oven and also on the stovetop. Serve Spinach Saag with any Indian flat bread of your choice for a comforting and hearty meal.
Combine all the greens, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, chillies with water in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 7 to 8 minutes on high power.
Add the butter, maize flour, salt and chilli powder.
Microwave again on medium power for 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
When cooled, blend the whole mixture coarsely or smoothly, depending on what you prefer.
Microwave the pureed mixture for 4 to 5 minutes on medium power.
Preparing the Tempering for 2 to 3 servings
In another microwave safe bowl, take some ghee and microwave on full power for 1 minute or until the ghee is lightly hot.
Add the onions and microwave for 7 to 8 minutes till they get light browned.
Add the 2 to 3 cups of saag (use a measuring cup) to the lightly browned onions and microwave for further for 2 to 3 minutes.
Top the Palak Saag with homemade butter and serve with any flat bread of your choice.
Keep the remaining saag in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. You can also freeze the spinach saag for about a week.
Notes
For cooking palak saag on stovetop, follow this method
Add all the greens, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green chilies with salt and water in a deep pan or a pressure cooker. Also add maize flour and butter. Add around 1 cup water to the veggies.
Cook the whole lot in the pan for 7 to 10 minutes or in a pressure cooker for 3 to 4 minutes.
Once cooled blend into a smooth or coarse paste. Add the saag in another pan and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes till it thickens a little bit.
For the tempering
Lightly brown the onions in ghee and then add the saag to it.
Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
For a saag serving 2 to 3 people, 1 medium sized onion is enough with 2 tablespoons ghee for the tempering. The remaining saag you can refrigerate and use as when required.