Palak Corn Recipe
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
241 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Indian
Palak Corn Recipe
Description
This recipe begins by blanching fresh spinach leaves to tenderize and preserve their vibrant color, then quickly chilling them in ice water before pureeing to a smooth consistency. The masala paste of onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, chilies, cashews, and melon seeds adds depth and texture to the curry. Sweet corn kernels are steamed or boiled separately before incorporation.
The spinach puree is cooked with spices including cumin seeds, turmeric, red chili powder, asafoetida, garam masala, and crushed fenugreek leaves to impart an earthy aroma and balanced heat. The optional addition of light cream smooths and enriches the curry. A final tempering with oil or ghee may be done to enhance flavor.
Palak Corn pairs well with Indian breads, rice, or as part of a larger meal. The combination of creamy spinach and sweet corn provides texture contrast. The mild spicing makes it approachable, while the nuts in the masala paste lend a subtle richness and thickness.
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1 bunch spinach (palak) - yields approx 2 to 2.5 cups spinach puree or 250 grams spinach
- 4 to 5 cups water - for boiling the water and blanching the spinach
- 2 to 3 cups water or chilled water - for adding the blanched spinach leaves, ice cold
- 2 cups sweet corn or 2 medium corn cobs or green peas, kernels
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 pinch turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) - optional
- ¼ or ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon fenugreek leaves kasuri methi), crushed, dry
- ¼ cup light cream or cooking cream (20% to 25% low fat cream) - whisked till smooth - optional
- 1 cup water
- 2 to 3 tablespoons neutral cooking oil or butter or ghee, generic cooking oil
For masala paste
- ⅓ cup onion or 1 medium-sized, chopped
- ½ cup tomato or 1 medium-sized, chopped
- 1 inch ginger - roughly chopped
- 3 to 4 garlic small to medium sized, chopped, cloves
- 1 or 2 green chilies - chopped or 1 teaspoon chopped
- 2 tablespoons cashews chopped
- ½ tablespoon melon seeds (magaz) - you can also use watermelon seeds.
For garnish
- ½ to 1 inch ginger - julienne
Instructions
Preparing masala paste
- In a small grinder or blender, add all the ingredients listed under "Masala paste" above.
- Grind or blend to a smooth paste. Add very little water if required while grinding.
- Keep this masala paste aside.
Blanching and making spinach puree
- Rinse the spinach very well in water. Boil water with ½ teaspoon salt. Let the water comes to a boil. Then switch off the flame. Immediately add the spinach leaves to this hot water.
- And let the spinach leaves be immersed in the water for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Drain the water and quickly pour ice water over the spinach or immerse the spinach in ice cold or cold water. Keep for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Drain the ice cold water or remove the blanched spinach leaves with the help of pasta tongs and place them in a blender.
- Blend to a semi-fine or smooth spinach puree adding very little water, if needed. Set aside.
Making Corn Palak
- First steam or boil the corn kernels and keep aside. You can choose to steam the raw corn kernels or corn cobs in a pan or steamer or stovetop pressure cooker or Instant Pot.
- In the step wise instructions above I have detailed the steps to cook corn kernels in a stovetop pressure cooker. You can also use canned corn kernels to cut down on cooking time.
- After you have cooked the corn kernels drain all the water from them and set aside.
- For the cooked corn cobs, let them cool completely. Then carefully remove the corn kernels with a knife.
- Heat oil or butter or ghee in a thick bottomed pan. Fry the cumin first till they crackle, become aromatic and are browned.
- Now add the ground masala paste and mix very well.
- Then add the turmeric powder, red chili powder, asafoetida and garam masala powder.
- Keep on stirring and sautéing the masala, till the oil starts to leave the sides of the paste.
- When you see that the oil has started leaving the sides of the masala paste and its color has changed, the paste has thickened and have become glossy, then add the spinach puree. Mix very well.
- Then pour water and season with salt as required. Simmer the curry for 6 to 7 minutes on a low heat. Later add the boiled corn kernels and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes more.
- Whip or beat cream till smooth in a bowl with a wired whisk or spoon.
- Now add cream and dry fenugreek leaves. Stir and cook further for ½ to 1 minute.
- Garnish with ginger julienne and serve corn palak hot with naan, roti, paratha or jeera rice or steamed rice.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 241 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 241kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 8mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 363mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 789mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 8384IU | 168% |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 2mg | |
| Vitamin B6 | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B12 | 1µg | 42% |
| Vitamin C | 37mg | 41% |
| Vitamin D | 1µg | 5% |
| Vitamin E | 5mg | |
| Vitamin K | 416µg | |
| Calcium | 129mg | 13% |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 207µg | |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
| Magnesium | 117mg | 29% |
| Phosphorus | 159mg | |
| Zinc | 1mg |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.