We have long known, thanks to our wonderful moms, the value of eating spinach.
A nutrient powerhouse, spinach is rich in vitamins A and C, folate, iron, calcium and fiber. Like all greens, it is super-low in calories so it's very waist-friendly as well.But the real reason I grew to love Spinach was its fabulous taste, ease of cooking, and versatility.
It is easy to wilt spinach to tenderness in seconds, making it a hurried cook's best friend. What's better, it goes with almost anything. Spinach parathas, spinach rice, spinach dal...you name it, and there's a way to cook it with spinach for an easy health buzz!
I grab up fresh spinach when I can find it at the market, but I always have some frozen spinach on hand for those quick weeknight meals that need to be both tasty and healthy. My recipe for today is Spinach Kootu, one such favorite. A classic Tamil dish, Spinach Kootu takes just minutes to put together.
The Kootu goes great with rice, although I love nothing more than eating it with a hot chapati or a pilaf. I like it so much, in fact, that when I have it on hand, I snack on it straight out of the refrigerator. Yum.
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More vegan bean and lentil recipes to try:
- Curried Pink Beans with Dill
- French Lentils Spiked with Mustard
- Broccoli Paruppu Usili
- Spicy Urad Dal
- Cabbage Kootu
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Spinach Kootu or Keerai Kootu Recipe
Spinach Kootu | Keerai Kootu
Ingredients
- 16 oz spinach (frozen, zapped in the microwave for a few minutes until tender.)
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon urad dal (black lentil dal)
- 1 tomato (diced)
- 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
- 2 dry red chile peppers
- ½ cup coconut milk
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Grind the fenugreek seeds, red chillies and coconut milk into a smooth paste.
- In a saucepan, combine the ground masala and the spinach. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer five minutes.
- Heat the oil in a small skillet. Add the mustard seeds, and when they sputter, add the udad dal.
- Fry the dal until lightly golden and then add the tomato. Cook for another minute until the tomato begins to break down.
- Pour on the kootu. Add salt to taste and serve hot.
Nutrition
Loved this spinach kootu? Check our more Dal Recipes on Holy Cow!
Kelly
I made this last night it was incredibly delicious - I would never have thought something so simple would be so yummy!
I substituted some things: used coconut cream with added water instead of coconut milk, used half a small carton of chopped tomatoes instead of fresh and used a tsp of ready ground dried chilli flakes instead of whole dried chillies (basically, whatever I had in the cupboards).
I've made several of your recipes before and am becoming a bit of a fan girl! Every time I want to cook good vegan Indian food I come to your website. Thanks for your continued awesomeness.
Mints!
I have never used coconut milk in spinach bhaji. Will try this soon. Spinach is my favorite too and for the same reasons as yours.
Divya
Hey!
I have tagged you for a Meme, check out my blog under the latest post today.
Have fun doing it!
Sangeeth
I too make i t with dal..urs is completely different...ought to try it
Uma
As Cham said, I cook spinach with dal! Love your version too. shall try this next time. looks so delicious Vaishali!
Divya Vikram
Absolutely healthy one !
Hima
simple and healthy meal. The colour of the dish is looking so amazing.
ANJALI J.
i love spinach too, nothing like the fresh farm spinach..this recipe is somethg differnt.
VEGETABLE PLATTER
yummy kootu .. its been sometime since i had spinach .. loved ur version of kootu ..
Sireesha
Spinach kootu looks delicious ......
Sunshinemom
Vaishali, this is new to me! We use moong dal with spinach for kootu alongwith grated coconut but the milk is new! Thanks:)
SMN
this looks yum..
Jayashree
Spinach really is a versatile ingredient, isn't it? not only does it add its own subtle taste to the dish, it also absorbs the flavours of the other ingredients and kicks the taste up a notch.
Cham
I make spinach kootu with dhal! Ur version is totally different and yummy too!
ChocolateCoveredVegan
Mmmm I love spinach. I had some vegan channa saag for dinner tonight and it was fantastic. But this recipe sounds even better, thanks to the addition of coconut milk.
Pete
Wow, this is a healthy meal. Simple too!