Palak Puri

blanching palak

1. Rinse palak leaves in water very well. Drain all the water. Use a colander or strainer while rinsing. 
2. In a pan heat 3 cups water till it starts boiling. Then keep the pan down.
3. Place the palak leaves in the hot water. Immerse the palak leaves in the hot water and blanch for 1 minute.
4. With the help of pasta tongs, lift the blanched leaves.
5. Then place the blanched leaves in 2 cups cold water.
6. Keep the leaves in cold water for 1 minute.
7. Again using pasta tongs place the leaves in a blender or grinder jar. Add 1 inch ginger (chopped) and 1 green chili (chopped).
8. Without adding any water blend to a smooth puree. Keep aside.

making palak puri dough

1. Take 2 cups whole wheat flour in a pan or mixing bowl. Also add ½ teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain), 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) and salt as per taste.
2. Add the palak puree. mix the palak puree with the wheat flour.
3. Shake & rinse the blender or mixer jar with ¼ to ⅓ cup water so that the puree stuck to the sides and bottom of jar gets mixed with the water. Add this water in parts to the flour mixture.
4. Adding water in parts knead to a semi-soft dough. Cover and keep aside for 10 minutes.
5. Then divide the dough in small or medium sized balls. Roll them into neat round balls.
6. Take one dough ball. Flatten it and spread some oil on both sides of the dough.
7. With a rolling pin (belan), gently roll to a 4 or 5 inches poori. Roll to poori which are neither thick nor thin.

frying palak poori

1. Heat oil in a pan or kadai. Check the oil temperature by adding a tiny piece of dough in it. If it comes steadily and gradually on top, the oil is medium hot and ready for the poori to be fried.
2. Gently slid one puri in the medium hot oil.
3. The oil will bubble, sizzle and the poori will come on top of the oil.
4. Nudge with a slotted spoon, so that the palak poori puffs up while frying.
5. Fry till the oil stops sizzling. If poori becomes too golden then green colour will not be there.
6. Then with the slotted spoon, gently turn over.
7. Fry the second side of the palak puri. Fry poori till the oil stops sizzling. If you want you can turn over the palak poori once or twice more.
8. Remove the puri with the slotted spoon draining as much oil as possible.
9. Place the fried puri on kitchen paper towels to remove excess oil. Prepare remaining palak poori in the same way.
10. Serve palak puri with potato curry or chana masala or veg kurma or any veg gravy or curry of your choice. It can also be served as a tea time snack or can be packed for tiffin box.