Methi Chaman

5 from 4 votes

Recipe for methi chaman, an exquisite Kashmiri Indian dish of pureed greens in a spicy, flavorful sauce. Scoop it up with naan or roti.

Prep Time20

Cook Time20

Total Time40

Course: Vegetable side

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 236kcal

¼ cup raw cashews
16 oz high protein tofu (also called super firm tofu. Cut the tofu in ½-inch cubes)
2 tablespoons oil (avocado oil or any neutral oil)
5 oz methi greens (a large bunch, tough stems trimmed)
5 oz spinach (or baby spinach. If using regular spinach trim any tough stems and chop the greens roughly)
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1-inch stick cinnamon
4 green cardamom pods
4 cloves
1 large onion (finely chopped)
5 cloves garlic (crushed or put through a garlic press)
2 medium tomatoes (finely chopped)
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon turmeric
½ to 1 teaspoon cayenne (or any red chilli powder)
1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
1 heaping tsp garam masala
½ teaspoon sugar
2-3 cups water
Salt to taste

Place cashews in blender with ½ cup water and blend into a smooth paste. If not using a high-powered blender, soak the cashews for 30 minutes before blending. This will help them soften and become creamy when blended.

Heat avocado oil or any neutral oil in a wide skillet or Dutch oven. Add the tofu cubes and brown them on all sides.
Remove the browned tofu cubes to a plate or bowl and set aside. Leave behind any oil that remains in the pan.

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the spinach and methi greens and stir them in. The leaves should wilt quickly. Let them remain in the pot for three more minutes. Strain in a colander.
Place the leafy greens in a blender and add ¼ cup water. Blend into a very smooth paste. Set aside.

In the pan used to fry the tofu, over high heat, add the mustard seeds, asafetida, cinnamon stick, cloves and green cardamom pods. After the mustard sputters and pops, add the onions along with a pinch of salt.
Sauté the onions 3-5 minutes over medium heat until just beginning to brown. Stir in and sauté the garlic until you can smell the aroma, about 30 seconds.
Add the tomatoes, ground coriander, ground cumin, cayenne and turmeric to the pan. Mix everything and cook until the tomatoes are very soft and pulpy.
Stir in the ginger garlic paste and sauté another 30 seconds.
Add the pureed greens to the onions and tomatoes with 2 cups water.
Add sugar and garam masala to the greens. Mix well and let the greens simmer, without covering the pot, for 10 minutes or until the greens don't taste raw anymore. Stir frequently and add some water if the greens start sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Stir in the browned tofu cubes and the cashew cream. Mix well, return to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for a couple of minutes. Check for salt and turn off heat. Serve the methi chaman hot.