Do you love Indian cuisine? Here is my best collection of flavorful, easy Indian Spinach Recipes you should try today.
Along with these palak dishes, I will show you how to incorporate spinach into everyday meals and share my best tips on selecting, storing, and cooking spinach perfectly.
Spinach, known as “Palak” in Hindi and “Palakura” in Telugu, is a staple in Indian cuisine. It’s my favorite leafy green because it seamlessly blends into various Indian dishes, adding flavor, texture, and nutrition.
I prefer fresh spinach for most recipes, but frozen spinach is a great alternative. We grow spinach at home, and here’s a picture of the fresh spinach from our terrace garden.
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Indian Spinach Recipes
Here are my favorite Indian spinach recipes. I make them very often at my home, and my entire family enjoys them so much.
Spinach Curry
A classic Indian dish with nutrient-rich spinach and aromatic spices. This velvety, flavorful curry is simple, comforting, and perfect for a nourishing weeknight dinner.
Spinach Curry Recipe
Spinach Chutney
Make this vibrant spinach chutney to add color and flavor to your meals. With fresh spinach, tangy tamarind, and aromatic spices, this chutney is perfect for dosas, sandwiches, or rice bowls.
Spinach Chutney Recipe
Saag Tofu
A vegan take on Saag Paneer! This rich and creamy curry features tofu instead of paneer, making it a perfect plant-based meal.
Saag Tofu Recipe
How to Add Spinach to Everyday Meals
Here are some of the ways I include spinach in my everyday cooking.
- Mix chopped spinach into chapati or paratha dough.
- Add spinach puree to poori dough.
- Blend spinach into idli or dosa batter for a vibrant green twist.
- Mix finely chopped spinach into chickpea flour pancakes or semolina pancakes.
- Add steamed spinach to sandwiches for a nutrition boost.
- Use spinach in pasta dishes.
- I sometimes add finely chopped spinach while cooking basmati rice in a rice cooker. Spinach imparts a light green color and adds flavor to the rice.
Spinach Cooking Tips
Selecting and Storing Spinach
✅ Pick fresh leaves – They should be bright green, unwilted, and free from holes.
✅ Store in the refrigerator – Keep spinach dry and loosely packed in a storage bag. Wet leaves spoil quickly.
✅ Wash before storing – Rinse well and refrigerate for easy use.
✅ Use a salad spinner – I always use a salad spinner after washing spinach. It dries the leaves quickly and keeps them fresh longer.
Preparation Tips
✔ Pureeing: Chop spinach before blending to speed up the process and prevent overheating.
✔ Blanching: Blanching in boiling water for 1 minute keeps the green color intact. If I’m short on time, I skip the ice water and drain it quickly – it still works well.
✔ Steaming: I prefer steaming spinach for oil-free cooking, but if you want a quicker method, sautéing in a dry pan for 1-2 minutes works too.
✔ Washing vs. Chopping: Always wash spinach before chopping—chopping first can lead to color loss.
Common Spices & Pairings
🌿 Mint and cilantro: Add mint and cilantro while making spinach puree for enhanced flavor and color. If you like a milder taste, use only cilantro.
🍋 Lemon juice: Always add lemon juice after removing spinach dishes from the heat. Cooking lemon juice can make the dish slightly bitter.
🧄 Garlic, ginger, cumin, garam masala: These are the must-have spices for any spinach dish.
How to Retain Spinach’s Green Color
✔ I always use green chilies in spinach dishes because red chili powder can dull the color.
✔ Avoid overcooking—this turns spinach a dull green or brown.
Spinach Substitutes
If you don’t have spinach, you can use:
- Mustard greens (for a bolder flavor)
- Amaranth leaves (milder taste)
- Kale or Swiss chard (chewier texture)
Spinach is a versatile, nutritious green used in everyday Indian cooking. Whether blended into soups, dals, or curries or tossed into bread and stir-fries, spinach effortlessly adds flavor and nutrients to meals.
Try these Indian spinach recipes, and let me know your favorite!