Sweet Corn 'N' Palak Paneer Gravy

Palak Paneer has been one of our family's recent favorite. Started out to experiment with colors in the recipe,I thought of adding sweet corn to the dish as Corn and Spinach goes very well in Pasta recipes.The outcome was amazing.The texture of corn and the creamy taste of the palak gravy gave a new lift to the taste.

Its an amazing combo that goes very well with all Indian breads,rice,jeera pulao and what not.Low in calories and with added health benefits ,do try out this flavorful delight and enjoy a healthy and sumptuous meal :)

Ingredients:
Spinach (Palak) 1 bunch
Onions 1 no very finely chopped
Tomatoes 2 nos pureed
Jeera
Red chilli powder 1 tsp
Garam masala1 tsp
Fresh cream 3 to 4 tsp/ to decorate (I have used Amul low fat fresh cream)
Boiled sweet corn 1/4 cup
Paneer cubes  1/4 cup lightly toasted or directly drop in the recipe as you may prefer.
Lemon juice- 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil as required

To grind:
Ginger 1 inch piece
Garlic 3 nos
Green chillies 1 to 2 as per taste
Coriander seeds- crushed slightly (Trust me ! This ingredient gives a whole new flavor to this recipe)

Method:

Step 1:  First blanch the spinach leaves by boiling them after thorough cleaning.Let it boil till cooked.Add minimal water to cook and add a pinch of sugar to retain the green colour.After 5 mins switch off the flame.Filter the water and preserve it for cooking.Let the greens cool a while.

Step 2: Once cooled grind all the ingredients under To grind along with palak leaves.

Step 3:In a kadai,pour oil,splutter jeera,fry the onions till cooked  by adding little salt  and add the tomato puree.Let it cook till raw smell goes.Add red chilli powder and give it a mix.Now add the ground green paste and let it boil for 3 to 4 mins.Now add in the corn and panner and boil for a couple more minutes.

Note:Over boiling of greens is not advisable.

Step 4.Finally top it off with garam masala,fresh cream and a little of crushed coriander seeds and lemon juice. Adjust salt.

Steaming hot creamy Palak Corn Paneer Gravy is waiting to hit your plates !

BrokenWheat BisiBelaBath Recipe

The healthy version of normal rice bisibelabath is made using broken wheat(also called sambha godhumai in tamil).The combination of veggies with the broken wheat gives a delicious twist to the taste buds.

I'm sure you would love the taste and texture of this recipe.The only trick here is the water used to cook wheat.Either it ends too dry or watery.But with ideal measurements you can pull it off very well.I have used readymade MTR Bisibelabath powder which gives an amazing flavor to this recipe.

You can find broken wheat here.Broken wheat
The ones used for upma are little finer,but you need to use grainy, slighly broken ones for this recipe


Ingredients:

• Broken wheat 1 cup 
• Toor dal 3/4 cup

Soak the above ingredients in water for min 30 mins.

Other ingredients:

• Oil as required
• Mustard seeds 1 tsp
• Fenugreek/Methi/Vendhayam 1 tsp
• Curry leaves a bunch
• Asafoetida/Perungayam powder 1 tsp
• Small onions 1 cup - Normal onions can also be used but shallots give amazing flavour.
• Tomatoes chopped 1/2 cup
• Veggies of your choice.I added carrot, beans,potatoes, peas- veggies like drumstick,white pumpkin gives authentic taste.
• Tamarind water from a small ball sized tamarind approx 1/4 to 1/2 cup
• Bisibela bath powder - I used readymade MTR ones. - 5 to 6 tsps.
• Coriander leaves for garnish
• Cashews-1/4 cup fried in ghee
• Jaggery 2 to 3 tsp.
• Red chilli powder - as per taste.
• Water - nearly 51/2 to 6 cups of water

Method:

• In a pressure cooker ghee+oil,splutter mustard seeds followed by fenugreek and cashews.
• When its slightly brown drop in curry leaves and asafoetida powder and give a stir.
• Pop in small onions and mix well till it turns slightly in colour and gives flavour.
• Add in tomatoes.Add half of salt now for faster cooking.
• Once tomatoes are mushy,add in tamarind water ,jaggery and MTR Bisibelabath powder and let it boil for 5 mins.
• Now add in the chopped veggies and give a mix.
• Next step,add in soaked wheat+dal draining the soaked water.
• Check salt.Add red chilli powder for added colour and spice.
• Close the cooker lid and cook for nearly 7 to 8 whistles or close to 25 mins in medium flame.
• Once pressure is released give a stir and pour 2 to 3 tsps of ghee over it.

Garnish with coriander and fried cashews.Potato chips/raita is a great accompliment to this recipe.

P.S: The broken wheat takes a bit long time to cook but worth the wait I promise ! :)

Tip:

• You can adjust the tsp of bisibela path powder /red chilli powder for more spice versions.
• Jaggery gives a good taste and balancing flavour.It is purely optional.
• If you find the recipe little watery after opening from pressure,just give a quick boil for few mins and you get the right consistency ! :)

Enjoy this delicious recipe and share your valuable feedback.