Chana saag recipe is a perfect way to get protein and iron. It tastes even yum the next day. You can eat with bread rice or roti. Learn to make it here
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Main
Cuisine: Indian(Punjabi)
Keyword: chana saag recipe, saag chana recipe
Servings: 4
Equipment
pressure cooker
pan / pot for cooking curry
Instructions
In a pan or a pot, heat oil. Add onion with ginger, garlic and some salt and saute on low/medium heat until dark brown. (If you prefer the dark gravy cook as brown as possible. Switch off just before they start to burn.)
Add the crushed/pureed tomatoes with little salt.(I have just blended fresh tomatoes here.)
Continue cooking with little salt, once tomatoes have soften.
Add the spices(curry powder,garam masala and red chilli/paprika powder).
Continue cooking until the masala has mixed well.
Add chickpeas to curry mix and hot water, Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes.
Add coconut milk to the chickpea curry. You can adjust it according to your taste.
Add the chopped spinach leaves and turn off the heat.
Ingredients
3 cups Boiled chickpeas or canned chickpeas (refer notes for dried chickpeas)
2 medium onions diced
1 cup pureed tomatoes / diced tomatoes
2-3 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1 tablespoon garlic paste
1 tablespoon curry powder
½ tablespoon garam masala or adjust as per taste
½ tablespoon red chilly powder or paprika powder adjust as per taste
Salt as per taste
2 cups hot water
2 cups spinach chopped
¼ cup coconut milk optional( it will help to balance spice)
Notes
Note: If you prefer the dark gravy cook as brown as possible. Switch off just before they start to burn. It is worth the wait trust me!
For boiling chickpeas :
Soak chickpeas overnight or at least for 4 hours in water for 2 hours in hot water. They swell and double in the size post soaking. If you want you can also use canned chickpeas for this curry.Pressure cook the chickpeas with 3-4 cups of water and bit of salt for 2-3 whistles or in a covered pot, until soft
For instant pot, I would recommend to cook on high of 15 minutes and release the steam after 15 minutes. This would change a bit based on the quality chickpeas you are using.
The Crispy cheesy hash browns – Air Fryer Hash Browns are stuffed with melty cheese and just right for breakfast! For any occasion, they make a wonderful side dish
8 to 10 medium – Russet Potatoes
6 slices- Vegan cheese or plain cheese
1/2 tsp – Garlic powder
1 tbsp – Onion powder
1 tsp– Black pepper powder
2 tbsp – Cornflour
Oil
Salt to taste
Peel all the potatoes. With the help of the dicer, dice all the potatoes.
Soak the diced potatoes in ice-cold water for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes drain water and rinse under cold water.
Heat water in a pan. In the boiling water, add all the diced potatoes.
After 10 minutes take the potatoes into a bowl. Mash all the potatoes with the fork.
Add cornflour, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper powder, and salt.
Mix everything together nicely. Keep them a little coarse, not mushy.
Take a portion of mashed potatoes and shape them like hash brown on the parchment paper which we will be using in an air fryer.
Another method is grease hands with water. Shape the hash browns with hands by pressing and we will fry them on the stovetop.
On medium flame, fry both sides in a frying pan.
Fold a cheese slice and place it on the hash brown.
Now place one hash brown on the cheese slice hash brown. Fry and press it till you get the desired result. The stovetop method is ready.
Air fry method, grease oil on the parchment paper place the two hash brown grease oil on the hash brown. Air fry hash brown on 200°C or 400°F for 20 minutes.
Take them out and place a cheese slice in between the hash brown air fry at 180°C or 375°F for 2 minutes.
Our cheese hash brown is ready to be served.
NOTES
Rinse the shredded potatoes thoroughly under cold running water after shredding. You can wash them off by placing them in a colander and running tap water over them.
Again, ensure that the potato diced is thoroughly dried for maximum crispiness. Pour the liquid into a clean dishtowel and squeeze.
Add cold water to the potatoes in a big bowl. Make sure to soak them for 20 – 30 minutes in cold water for best results.
Pass through a sieve after removing from water. Using a paper napkin, wipe them clean.
You can use a stovetop or air fry or oven for making these hashbrowns.
Soaking and washing potatoes remove excess starch from them, which is really important. Too much starch will result in soggy and non-crispy potatoes. To get crispy hash browns, it is important to follow this step.
This Chickpeas Greek Salad is a super delicious recipe. It can be eaten as is as a salad or can be stuffed inside a pita or rolled in a wrap to make a mini meal. The salad is so easy to put together. Also, learn how to make Greek Salad Dressing at home with ease.
1 cup Cherry Tomatoes or Regular size chopped as the same size that of cucimbers
1/4 cup Red Onion thinly sliced or chopped the same size
1/4 cup Parsley chopped fine
1 sprig Mint leaves chopped fine
1/4 cup Feta Cheese skip for vegan option
Greek Salad Dressing
Ingredients for Greek Salad Dressing
2 cloves Garlic minced
1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard
1 tsp Dried Oregano
2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar or use regular white distilled vinegar
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1/2 cup Olive oil
3/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black Pepper powder
Instructions
Making Greek Salad Dressing
Take a small glass jar. Add all the ingredients as mentioned under dressing to the jar. Close the lid of the jar. Give it a vigorous shake till oil is well mixed with the other ingredients. Use as much as desired. Refrigerate the leftover upto a week.
For best results, let sit the dressing for at least 30 minutes before pouring over the salad. That lets the dressing absorb the best of the ingredients flavors to impart to the salad.
Making Chickpeas Greek Salad
Take a large bowl. Add all the ingredients as mentioned under the Salad Ingredients. Give it a good toss. Add dressing to the salad as required. Give another good toss. Chill the salad for sometime before serving.
NOTES – you may add some pitted black olives and colored bell peppers to the salad for more texture and flavor. Also add some lettuce to it and fill inside a PITA POCKET to make a complete meal.
In case you want to use dry chickpeas for the recipe and cook in Instant Pot –
Wash and soak overnight – 3/4 cup of chickpeas in 3 cups of water. Or you can soak these for 8 hrs minimum.
When ready to cook, drain chickpeas from the water. Add soaked chickpeas to the instant pot. Add about 3 cups of water and 1/2 tsp salt (optional). Secure the lid of the IP and set valve on sealing.
Cook for 20 minutes on PRESSURE COOK MODE and follow NPR (natural pressure release). Once the safety valve drops down, remove the lid. Drain any excess water.
Perfect textured chickpeas to be used in a salad are ready. Cool them down to room temperature or refrigerate before adding to the salad.
These are great for any meal prep. And can be kept handy to be added to any recipe that needs it.
These Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steaks are perfect for indoor or outdoor grilling. It’s an easy recipe that takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Just marinate, grill and enjoy!
▢1-2 teaspoons liquid smoke (sub with 1 teaspoon smoked paprika)
▢1 large garlic clove , minced or crushed
▢½ teaspoon granulated onion
▢salt and fresh cracked pepper , to taste
Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark
Instructions
In a large and shallow baking dish, whisk all the marinade ingredients together. Taste and add more seasoning if desired (*note: the flavors will be concentrated).
Add the mushrooms to the dish and liberally brush the marinade on all sides. You can also spoon it on. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, flipping and brushing again midway through the marinating time.
Heat a Grill, Grill Pan OR Skillet over medium-high heat. When fully heated, brush with oil and place the mushrooms on top (they should sizzle when they hit the pan). Don’t move them once they are in the pan, just gently press down with a spatula or tongs. Give them a minimum of 4-5 minutes so they sear. Flip over and sear the other side, adding more oil if needed (you can also brush on more marinade). Grill until browned and tender about 4-5 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
TIPS:
Use a dry, slightly damp paper towel or a soft brush to clean each mushroom. They are like sponges and will absorb a lot of water which can make them soggy.
It’s very important to heat the pan/grill thoroughly before adding the mushrooms or they won’t sear properly.
Don’t overcrowd the pan or the mushrooms will steam and cause a lot of moisture.
SERVING IDEAS: serve with fries, roasted potatoes, salad, macaroni salad, grilled vegetables or potato salad. You can also serve it in a burger bun with roasted peppers, vegan pesto and grilled red onion. *The nutritional information includes the full amount of marinade.
This Lentils Curry is super easy to make & very flavorful. Instructions to cook LENTILS for salads & side are also included in notes.
CourseMain Course, Side Dish
CuisineIndian
KeywordBrown Lentils, Dal, instant pot vegetarian recipes, Lentils Curry
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Servings4
Calories10kcal
Equipment
Measuring Spoons, Measuring Cups, Stirring Spoon,
Chopping board and knife
Instant Pot 6 quart or Mealthy Multipot
Inner Pot
Kitchen Spatula
Ingredients
1 cup Brown Lentils whole, dry
3 Cups Water
1/2 tsp Ginger finely chopped
1 small Green Chili finely chopped (optional) skip to reduce heat. May use 1 jalapeno (de seeded and membranes removed) too.
1 tbsp Cilantro / Coriander leaves finely chopped
1-2 tsp Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1/4-1/2 tsp Red Chili powder or Paprika
1 tsp Garam Masala you can use 1/2 tsp to make it milder
1 piece Black Cardamom optional (it adds smoky flavor to the lentils)
1&1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
Dal Tempering (optional)
1 tbsp Ghee or Cooking Oil (for vegans)
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/4 – 1/2 tsp Red Chili powder or Paprika skip it for mildly flavored dal
Instructions
Always read the whole recipe first then start prepping. Gather the ingredients. ALWAYS READ THE NOTES for tips, storage, substitutes and more options.
First and foremost, wash the Whole Brown Lentils(dry) under running water 3-4 times. Set aside. Finely chop ginger, green chili & cilantro leaves and set aside.
Now put the Stainless Steel Inner Pot inside the Instant Pot and plug it in.
Add washed washed Brown Lentils, Water, Turmeric powder, Red chili powder or Paprika, Garam Masala, Salt, Black Cardamom (optional), finely chopped ginger, & green chili. Give it a good stir. NOTE – You may add any seasoning of your choice at this point (see notes for more options). Or you can also choose to add 1 tbsp of good quality CURRY POWDER in case you want to avoid the list of spices mentioned.
Why Black Cardamom? – Although black cardamom is not commonly used in this recipe, but I love to add it because of its smoky flavor. It adds so much flavor and aroma to the lentil curry while cooking. You can skip it if you do not like it.
Place the lid and secure it. Set the valve to SEALING. Press the PRESSURE COOK BUTTON and set it on high for 14 minutes. Once the timer goes off, follow NPR (natural pressure release). This will yield nice thick, creamy & soft Dal.
If you do not want the dal to be very soft, then pressure cook for 12 minutes and follow QPR after 10 minutes.
Open the lid. Give it a good stir with the Kitchen Cooking Spoon. Your Brown Lentil Curry or Sabut Masoor Dal is Ready. Add chopped Cilantro leaves & Squeeze about 1 -2 tsp of lemon juice on top and mix. Serve it hot.
EMPERING (optional) – Adds so much flavor to the Dal
Heat 1 tbsp Ghee or Oil for Vegans in a small pan. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1 tsp Cumin seeds. Once the seeds crackle, add 1/4-1/2 tsp Red chili powder or Paprik to it and switch off the heat. Add this hot on top of the dal. You can skip red chili powder in case you want to keep it mild. Also if you do not want to make the tempering, just add 1 tbsp of Pure Ghee on top and mix.
Serving Suggestion
You can serve these with RICE or Naan/Pita with some cut salad on the side.
STOVE TOP INSTRUCTIONS
Follow the same recipe and ingredients above. Add all of the ingredients in a heavy bottom sauce pan with 5 cups of water/broth. Bring it to a boil and simmer on low heat till the lentils are soft and cooked. It might take 25-30 minutes on stove top. If the water gets less, then add some more warm water and cook further.
Notes
What kind of Lentils can I use for this recipe?
I normally cook with Brown Lentils. But you can use Black Lentils or Green Lentils also for this recipe. Red lentils are split so they will cook faster. Therefore this time and water ratio wouldn’t work for red lentils. Check out our Red Lentils Dal Recipe for the right measurements and timings. Dry lentils cook really well in Instant Pot.
Is it necessary to soak lentils before cooking?
Brown Lentils are easy to cook. Although you can choose to soak them for 10 minutes, but you can cook them without soaking too.
What is the right ratio of water to Brown lentils? For how long should I cook Lentils in Instant Pot?
Since we are talking about the right ratio and time, then it can vary depending upon how you intend to use the lentils in your recipe. This does not apply to red lentils.
Instant Pot Lentils for Soups and Curries
The ratio is 1:3, where 1 is for dry brown lentils and 3 is for water or broth. Remember, the lentils swell up and thicken as they sit longer.
For more creamy & comforting texture that means slightly mushed lentils, you will cook it for 14 minutes with NPR (natural pressure release). This is our family favorite way of eating lentils.
Instant Pot Lentils for Salads
The ratio is 1:1.5 (1&half), where 1 is for dry lentils and 1.5 is for water or broth. You will cook it for 8 minutes and then do QPR (quick pressure release) for firm bite that is required for the salads.
Instant Pot Lentils as Side
The ratio is 1:2, where 1 is for dry lentils and 2 is for water or broth. You will cook it for 12 minutes and then do NPR (natural pressure release) for just the right bite that is soft and not mushy.
How can I flavor Brown Lentils?
Brown lentils have an amazing flavor profile that is meaty, tender and intense. You can use it in salads, soups, curries, and much more. Here are some flavoring options if you do not like Indian Curry or want more options.
Spice these up with Cajun seasoning.
Italian seasoning works very well too.
You can add salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder & oregano.
Middle Eastern Spices will work very well with the lentils.
Tex Mex Taco seasoning will work wonders.
Salt, Pepper, & lemon juice with fresh herbs make a simple yet delicious addition.
Can I make it ahead of time?
That’s the beauty of lentils that you can make it ahead of time. These are great for MEAL PREPS and can add as a delicious side or a full meal in itself.
How to store the leftovers?
The leftover lentils can easily be refrigerated. These will stay good for up to a week when stored in an air-tight container.
Can I freeze the cooked lentils?
Although I have never frozen the lentils, but most of the cooked beans & lentils can stay good when frozen for 6 months.
How do you eat the cooked lentils?
If you are making a dal or curry with the dry lentils, then you can serve these with RICE or Naan/Pita.
When you prepare it as a soup, then a good loaf of bread and salad on the side is super.
This thick and creamy soup reminds me a bit of potpie filling, but in soup form. The small ditalini pasta are the same size as the diced vegetables, making it easy for kids to scoop up a bit of everything in one bite. Made with no cream, not even homemade cashew cream, you won’t believe how creamy it is. You’ll be heading back for seconds in no time!Vegan with gluten- and nut-free options.
Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minsCook Time: 25 minsTotal Time: 35 mins
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil – See Notes for oil-free option.
1 yellow onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 ribs celery, diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried dill
1 ¼ teaspoons salt, or to taste
¼ cup all-purpose flour (I used white whole-wheat for a whole-grain option) – For a gluten-free option, use brown rice flour.
2 cups unsweetened and unflavored non-dairy milk, divided – I used soy milk.
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, optional
1 cup dry ditalini pasta or similar small pasta shape (gluten-free or whole-wheat, if desired)
Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the carrots, celery, and bell pepper and sauté 4 to 5 minutes until starting to soften.
Add the parsley, basil, thyme, dill, salt, and flour and stir to combine, scraping up any bits of flour on the bottom of the pot. Slowly pour in ½ cup (120 ml) of milk while whisking continuously, again scraping up any bits of flour on the bottom; a flat whisk is convenient here, but a balloon whisk will work as well. Whisk until the flour is completely incorporated.
Add the remainder of the milk, vegetable broth, and nutritional yeast, if using. Whisk to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta, and then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the pasta is cooked through, stirring often to prevent the pasta from sticking.
Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
NOTES
For a gluten-free option, use brown rice flour instead of all-purpose flour.For WFPB/oil-free diets, replace the oil with a few tablespoons of broth during sautéing, and use white whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose and a whole-grain pasta of choice.For nut-free soup, simply use your favorite nut-free milk. Store leftover soup in the refrigerator for up to four days.Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook so that I could write this review. The thoughts & opinions are 100% my own.
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.
