Recipe for Aalu Methi Sabzi

Name: Recipe for Aalu Methi Sabzi
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 5-6 Potatoes; peeled and cut into medium long prices.; 1 Big Bunch Fresh Fenugreek leaves; washed and chopped; 2 tbsp Oil; 1 tsp Cumin Seeds; 1 tbsp Ginger and Garlic; finely chopped; 1 Big Onion; finely chopped; 1 MediumSized Tomato; finely chopped; 1 tsp Turmeric Powder; 1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder; 1 tbsp Coriander Powder; 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder; Salt; to taste

Today, the recipe I am posting is very close to my heart. It is a simple sabzi, prepared in less than 30 minutes, yet delicious and heartwarming. The sabzi, I am talking about Aalu Methi. Aalu means Potatoes, and Methi means Fenugreek. This dish combines potatoes and fresh Fenugreek leaves with a few Indian spices.

I have special memories associated with this food as I often carried it in my lunch box during my school days. I used to take it with parathas in my lunch box, and it all tasted fantastic even after it got cold. So, every time I make this at home, it brings back the memories of my school days and reminds me of the wonderful time I had with my friends. Here, I am talking about the years before 1995. It seems really long back, but it is lovely how some smells, and tastes remind us of certain people and some places and allow us to time travel without any sophisticated gadgets!

Before I get on with the recipe, I would like to touch upon the key ingredient of this dish, i.e., Methi. Fenugreek is called Methi in Hindi. It is a leafy vegetable that has a slightly bitter taste. It is used in many forms in Indian kitchens. We use Fenugreek seeds, fresh leaves, and even dry fenugreek leaves. Each has its unique taste and flavour and a different application based on the dish that is being prepared. It is also found that Fenugreek has many health benefits, like increasing breastmilk in feeding mothers and reducing menstrual cramps, and it is recommended as a dietary supplement for diabetes.

In India, the fresh leaves are combined with Potatoes, Paneer, chicken, mutton, etc., to make curries, or they are combined with lentils to make Methi dal and even added to Parathas and Theplas to make for a tasty and nutritious breakfast.

While these fresh leaves are readily available in India, finding them in Germany can sometimes be challenging. Though they are easily available in big cities, it is not always the case in small cities. But the good news is that fenugreek is very easy to grow. Even if you know nothing about gardening, you can grow fenugreek. You only need fenugreek seeds, which you can get from any Indian store. Sow them about 1 inch deep in the soil, water the plant daily, and in about 5-6 weeks, you will get fully grown fenugreek leaves.

Every year, I grow fenugreek in my balcony garden from the beginning of spring through the summer, and I harvest about 5-6 times during this time. You could try this too but remember to move the plant to a shaded area when the day is very hot.

Fenugreek is a treasure of goodness, so try to include it in your diet. I shall share other recipes with Fenugreek soon, but today, it’s time for Aalu Methi Sabzi ( Sabzi made with Potatoes and Fenugreek leaves).

Ingredients needed for Aalu methi:

Potatoes: 5-6, washed, peeled, and cut into medium long prices.
Fresh Fenugreek leaves: a big bunch ( approximately 250 gms of leaves), washed and chopped
Oil: 2 tablespoons
Cumin Seeds: 1 teaspoon
Ginger and Garlic: 1 tablespoon, finely chopped
Onion: 1 big, finely chopped
Tomato: 1 medium-sized, finely chopped
Turmeric Powder: 1 teaspoon
Kashmiri Red Chili Powder: 1 teaspoon
Coriander Powder: 1 tablespoon
Garam Masala: 1 teaspoon
Salt: 1 teaspoon or to taste

Recipe for making Aalu Methi Sabzi

Heat oil in a pan and fry cumin seeds.
Then add chopped onion, garlic, ginger, and fry until the onions turn translucent.
Then add tomatoes.
Then add all the spices – Turmeric powder, chilli powder, Garam masala, coriander powder, and salt.
Reduce the heat. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the oil separates.
Add potatoes. Close the lid and cook the potatoes on medium heat till they are 80% done.
Now add the fenugreek leaves.
Close the lid and cook on medium heat for another 5-7 minutes.
Mix well and serve.

You can serve this sabzi with Roti or Paratha.

About Ingredient sourcing in Germany:

While you will get some of the ingredients needed for this recipe from a German Supermarket, you can get all the ingredients from any Indian shop near you or the online store of Spicelands. They are a big store in Frankfurt, delivering all across Germany.

Alternatively, you can even buy these ingredients from amazon.de. Links are given below:
Potatoes: https://amzn.to/3VYoo6D
Oil: https://amzn.to/3W2tXkw
Cumin Seeds: https://amzn.to/42RlR0e
Ginger: https://amzn.to/3pxq4Ia
Garlic: https://amzn.to/42wXmWy
Onion: https://amzn.to/41A3k7W
Tomatoes: https://amzn.to/42BdtCB
Turmeric Powder: https://amzn.to/3M6pCrX
Red Chilli Powder: https://amzn.to/3o1N6Xj
Coriander Powder: https://amzn.to/3OcRKww
Garam Masala Powder: https://amzn.to/3IdiSYd
Salt: https://amzn.to/3ACstDM

Equipment needed for the recipe:

Pan: https://amzn.to/44V92Ek
Cutting Board: https://amzn.to/3n9IXjM
Knife Set (includes a bread knife): https://amzn.to/3Lg64Bj

Here is the recipe in printable format: