Mastering the Art of Saag: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Perfectly Tender Greens

Saag is a popular dish in Indian cuisine made with leafy greens like spinach, mustard greens, and/or collard greens. Here's a recipe for saag that serves 4-6 people and takes about 45 minutes to prepare:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb spinach
• 1 lb mustard greens
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 inch piece of ginger, minced
• 1 green chili, finely chopped (optional)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chili powder (optional)
• Salt, to taste
• 2 tbsp oil or ghee
• 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions:

1. Wash and clean the spinach and mustard greens, then chop them finely.
2. Heat oil or ghee in a large pan over medium heat.
3. Add cumin seeds and wait until they start to crackle.
4. Add the onions, garlic, ginger, and green chili (if using) to the pan and sauté until the onions are translucent.
5. Add the coriander powder, turmeric powder, and red chili powder (if using) and sauté for a few seconds.
6. Add the chopped greens to the pan and stir well.
7. Add salt, to taste.
8. Add 1/4 cup of water, cover and let it cook for 15-20 minutes or until the greens are tender.
9. If desired, add 1/4 cup heavy cream and stir in.
10. Let it simmer for a minute or two.
11. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or roti.

Note: you can use other leafy greens like collard greens, kale or chard.

Enjoy your homemade saag!