Sarson ka Saag is not just a North Indian winter dish, it is an emotion. Made with fresh winter greens this curry is bursting with warm, rustic flavours and nutrition. Serve it with a generous dollop of homemade butter, hot makki roti and jaggery for a heart-warming meal.
Come winters, making sarson da saag and makki roti is an absolute must. But traditionally, making sarson ka saag is quite a lengthy process that involves cooking the leafy greens in a large earthen pot until theyβre soft and mushy. It is then ground to a coarse paste using a wooden whisk, before finally tempering it with ghee, onions, tomatoes and a few spices.
But my sarson ka saag recipe is simpler and a whole lot quicker. We use a pressure cooker to cook the greens a lot faster, before tempering it as usual. But donβt worry, using a pressure cooker doesnβt affect the taste or texture in way.
By pressure cooking the greens, the cooking time is reduced to nearly half and the entire dish comes together in less than an hour.Β
It is the perfect way to include greens and other fresh winter produce in your familyβs diet.Β
Despite its long list of ingredients, this dish is surprisingly easy to make.
Can be made in a large batch and frozen for future use.
Can be made ahead as this dish tastes a lot better the next day.
The combination of leafy greens makes this dish a rich source of fibre, antioxidants and vitamins.
This recipe is naturally gluten free and can be easily made vegan by excluding ghee and curd.Β
Ingredient you Need
Here are the main ingredients youβll need to make some delicious sarson ka saag this winter:
Sarson/mustard leaves: Sarson or mustard leaves have a dark green colour and a sharp, pungent taste. This winter produce is the star ingredient of this recipe. While it is best to use fresh leaves, you can easily replace them with pre-cut, cleaned and even frozen mustard leaves.
Other greens: This recipe uses spinach and bathua leaves to balance out the sharp taste of sarson and add a dash of earthiness. If you donβt have access to bathua, you can easily replace it with methi (fresh fenugreek leaves), kale, collard greens or arugula.
Radish and radish greens: Radish and radish greens enhance the flavour of mustard.
Ginger and garlic: For flavour, balance and aroma
Green garlic: Optional but adding a dash of green garlic when cooking the greens makes this more garlicky
Makki atta: Makki atta or maize flour is used to thicken and make the saag creamy
Ghee: Ghee is used along with mustard oil in the tempering process
White butter: A must in my opinion for a well rounded flavour
How to make Sarson ka Saag
Pressure cook mustard leaves, bathua, spinach, radish leaves, radish, green garlic, ginger, garlic, green chillies with a cup of water for 2-3 whistles or approx 10-15 minutes
Let the steam escape completely before opening the pressure cooker
Let this cool and grind only the greens to a coarse paste, while reserving any water in the pressure cooker.
I prefer using a stick blender so I can control the blending. The consistency should be coarse and it should look like the greens were chopped finely. If you donβt have a stick blender, pulse the mixture in a mixture grinder and check every few seconds
5. Heat mustard oil and ghee and add jeera, ginger, garlic, green chilli paste.
6. Saute for a minute and add onions. Cook till translucent
7. Add tomatoes, chilli powder and salt and cook till mushy.
8. Add the greens mixture to the onion tomato paste
8. Also add the reserved water plus an additional half cup of water and cook for 5-10 minutes till you start seeing some oil on top.
9. Whisk together curd and makki atta and add the mixture along with jaggery to the pan. Bring this to a quick boil while stirring continuously to avoid any lumps.
10. Once it starts boiling; reduce the flame, adjust water if required and cook covered for 5-10 minutes or till you start seeing specks of fat float on top. Add a big dollop of makhan on top.
11. Serve hot with makki ki rotis
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to wash the greens?
After separating the leaves from the stem, place the leaves in a large bowl. Fill it up with water and swish the leaves around. Remove the leaves and youβll notice all the dirt settling in the water at the bottom. Throw the water and repeat the process a few times till there is no more dirt. Always wash the leaves just before using so that they donβt rot from the moisture.
2. Can I freeze sarson ka saag?
Absolutely! Sarson ka saag is freezer-friendly and stays well for up to a month both with or without the tadka. I usually cook a large batch of the greens, allow them to cool down completely and then store them in zip lock bags in the freezer. When I want to eat it, I simply allow it defrost on the counter, reheat and add the tadka. It tastes absolutely delicious every time.
3. Why is my Sarson Ka Saag bitter?
Sarson or mustard leaves naturally have a slightly bitter and pungent taste. But if your greens taste excessively bitter, you can simply reduce their quantity and add more spinach and/or other greens. The tempering process and using green garlic, ginger and tomatoes will further help reduce the bitterness.
Richaβs Top Tips
Leafy greens are usually covered in dirt and mud. Thoroughly wash the leaves under running water to get rid of all the impurities before cooking them.
Since we are grinding the greens in this recipe, thereβs no need to chop them. But if you want to try the traditional method of using a wooden whisk to mash the greens, make sure to finely chop all the greens before adding them to the pressure cooker.
Sarson da saag usually has a coarse, creamy texture. I like to achieve this using a stick blender in place of the usual mixture-grinder. A stick blender allows for better control and helps me attain that beautiful coarse texture every time.Β
If you donβt have a stick blender, pulse the mixture in a mixture grinder and check every few seconds.
This recipe can even be prepared with frozen greens. Just thaw and squeeze out any excess liquid before cooking it.
Storage Tips
If you are making a large batch, refrigerate the extra saag in an airtight container without tempering. This saag recipe stays good in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Itβs also very freezer-friendly and can be frozen for up to a month.Β
Customisation Tips
For a more wholesome dish, you can always add paneer or chicken to the saag. Check out my recipes for authentic saag paneer and saag chicken for some inspiration.
If you donβt have access to any greens mentioned in the recipe (except sarson), feel free to replace it with methi (fresh fenugreek leaves), kale, collard greens or arugula.
Serving Ideas
Serve hot sarson ka saag with makki di roti and a generous dollop of white butter or homemade makhan on top.
Add a side of jaggery or gur to balance the earthy bitterness of the greens.
Serve alongside cucumber raita and sliced onions with lemon and green chillies for freshness and crunch.
Turn leftovers into a fuller spread by pairing the saag with plain parathas or rotis for an easy next-day lunch.
Sarson ka saag is the perfect dish to celebrate winters and the bountiful fresh produce. The creamy texture and the garlic-y rustic flavours are sure to leave you craving for more.
If you make this recipe, donβt forget to tag me on stories and send me your recreations over in my DMs @my_foodstory.
Watch Sarson Ka Saag Recipe Video
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Make the most amazing creamy, spicy sarson ka saag that hits all the right notes when eaten with makki di roti and a big dollop of makhan or white butter. This recipe is bursting with flavour and really celebrates winter greens!
2bunches Mustard Leavesapprox 200g, washed and stems removed
1packed cup Bathua leavesapprox 65g, washed and stems removed
1packed cup Spinach Leavesapprox 50g, washed and stems removed
1packed cup Radish Leavesleaves for 1-2 radishes
1small Radishdiced, approx 70g
10gGreen Garlic Scapesif unavailable use 1 tablespoon chopped Garlic instead
1tablespoonchopped Ginger
2Green Chillies
Other Ingredients
1/4cupMustard Oil
2tablespoonsGhee
1teaspoonCumin Seeds
2tablespoonsfinely chopped Garlic
1teaspoonchopped Ginger
1teaspoonGreen Chilli Paste
3/4cupchopped Onionsapprox 90g
1cupchopped Tomatoes
1teaspoonChilli Powderor paprika
1-1.5tspSalt
1/2cupCurdsor yoghurt
3tablespoonsMakki Atta
1/4cupgrated Jaggery
2-3tablespoonsWhite Butter for serving
Instructions
Pressure cook mustard leaves, bathua, spinach, radish leaves, radish, green garlic, ginger, garlic, green chillies with a cup of water for 2-3 whistles or approx 10-15 minutes
Let this cool and grind only the greens to a coarse paste, while reserving any water in the pressure cooker. I prefer using a stick blender so I can control the blending
Heat mustard oil and ghee and add jeera, ginger, garlic, green chilli paste and onions. Cook till translucent and add tomatoes, chilli powder and salt and cook till mushy.
Meanwhile, whisk together yoghurt and makki atta and keep aside.
Add the greens mixture to the onion tomato paste along with the reserved water plus an additional half cup of water and cook for 5-10 minutes till you start seeing some oil on top.
Add the curd mixture along with jaggery. Bring this to a quick boil while stirring continuously. Once it starts boiling, reduce the flame, adjust water if required and cook covered for 5-10 minutes or till you start seeing specks of fat float on top. Serve hot with makki ki rotis
Video
Notes
Leafy greens are usually covered in dirt and mud. Thoroughly wash the leaves under running water to get rid of all the impurities before cooking them.
Since we are grinding the greens in this recipe, thereβs no need to chop them. But if you want to try the traditional method of using a wooden whisk, make sure to finely chop all the greens before adding them to the pressure cooker.
Sarson da saag usually has a coarse, creamy texture. I like to achieve this using a stick blender in place of the usual mixture-grinder. A stick blender allows for better control and helps me attain that beautiful coarse texture every time.Β
This recipe can even be prepared with frozen greens. Just thaw and squeeze out any excess liquid before cooking it.
If you are making a large batch, refrigerate the extra saag in an airtight container without tempering. This saag recipe stays good in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and can be frozen for up to a month.
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