Sindhi cuisine is one of the oldest cuisines of India. Our forefathers have always stressed on having greens and having healthy food. Having greens is highly beneficial.
Here is a Sindhi sai bhaji curry which ensures the body receives both iron and protein rich greens along with carbohydrates in rice.
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Who are Sindhis ?
Sindhis are the descendants of Indus valley civilization. This community has survived the test of both the time and partition. Although, the diaspora got scattered, post the partition, they have preserved 'Sindhiyat' wherever they settled.
Similarity with Telugu cuisine
The Telugu community also makes various lentils and greens combinations. palakura pappu is a dish very close to this spinach based lentils. In this case,we add tamarind and temper with dried red chilly,garlic and curry leaves. You can use tuvar or arhar/split pigeon peas lentil for it.
Equipment
- Pressure cooker/ instant pot
- Potato masher
Ingredients
- Yellow mung dal/chana dal ,soaked in water
- Spinach leaves
- Tomatoes
- Onion
- Capsicum
- Carrot
- Ghee/ clarified butter/ oil if vegan
- Water
- Spices
- Cumin seeds
- Grated ginger
- Turmeric powder
- Green chilli
- Coriander powder
- Red chilli powder
- Kasoori methi optional
- Salt as per taste
How to make Sai bhaji? (step by step instructions)
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add ginger, green chillies and chopped onions. Let it cook until pink.
- Cook tomatoes along with salt until it soften. Add all the spices.
3. Add all the vegetables along with lentils & water. Pressure cook for upto 3 whistles on a medium flame.
4. Mash the lentils.
5. Serve hot with rice or roti.
Traditionally this recipe is made with channa dhal in Sindhi households. However we use some moong dal for its benefits as it is lighter to digest. Hence its also a moong dal palak recipe.
Variations
Depending on your taste, add little quantity of khatta bhaji/ gongura, fenugreek leaves/methi and dill leaves along with spinach. Accordingly, adjust the quantity of spinach in the recipe. Reduce the quantity of tomatoes if using khatta chukka or khatta bhaji. You can even add some carrots, capsicums, other greens like amaranth for flavor
Substitution
You may also use any lentil of you choice. This palak curry can be made with just tuvar or thoor dhal.
Storage
You can store it for 1-2 days.
Serving suggestion
It is best served in dinner with chawal/rice, fried potatoes, crispy rice papad, kheeche/khichiya, fried or roasted papad and some salad. Best combination is with Green garlic rice or Bhuga chawal or Tairi.It is a must have on Teejri or Kajri teej.
Try more greens from Indian kitchen?
- Saag paneer/palak paneer
- Indian vegan palak soup
- Undhiyu
- Sarson ka saag
- Sindhi style 7 vegetable curry - sata bhajiyun
- Amaranth dal/ Thotakura pappu
How to make Sindhi sai bhaji ?(video)
Another great recipe is seyal bhindi patata if you want to enjoy the curry and dal with roti.
Sindhi dal palak recipe
Equipment
- pressure cooker/ instant pot
- potato masher
Ingredients
- ½ cup yellow mung dal/channa dal dal soaked in water for 30 minutes.
- 250 grams Spinach chopped after removing stalks or baby spinach (around 5-6 cups of chopped spinach)
- 2 medium Tomatoes chopped
- 1 medium Onion finely chopped
- 1 capsicum finely chopped
- 1 medium size Carrot finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon ghee or oil if vegan
Spices
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon chillies finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon red chilly powder or as per taste
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon kasuri methi optional
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Wash the lentils and soak in water for 30 mins,drain the excess water later.
- Remove the stalks of spinach.Chop it into smaller pieces, keep it aside.
- In a pressure cooker, heat the oil .Add cumin seeds and let it splutter.
- Add chilli, ginger.Saute them for 10 secs.
- Now add onions and salt, until the onions turn pinkish in color.
- Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 -10 mins.
- Once they soften,add the spices and carrots.
- Add the spinach followed by lentils and water.
- Pressure cook for 3-4 whistles on medium flame.
- Open the lid, mash it well with the whisker.Adjust its consistency to a semi-dry.
- Serve hot with plain white rice or Bhuggal Chawal.
Notes
Depending on your taste,add little quantity of khatta bhaji, fenugreek leaves and dill leaves along with spinach.
Accordingly adjust the quantity of spinach in the recipe.
Reduce the quantity of tomatoes if using Khatta chukka or khatta bhaji.
Spinach shrinks and leaves water when hot.
Add more water will make the recipe more liquid.
You can also blanch spinach and use it.
Please share your inputs..