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A bowl of Pakistani aloo palak with potato cubes in a thick green spinach gravy, served with roti and lemon wedges
Pakistani · Curries

Aloo Palak (Potato and Spinach Curry with Cumin and Ginger)

Tender potatoes simmered in a smooth spinach and onion-tomato masala, finished with garam masala and lemon. A simple everyday sabzi that is ready in under an hour and suits roti or rice.

Prep20 min
Cook35 min
Total55 min
Serves4
Difficulty
CuisinePakistani

Ingredients

4 servings

Equipment: Large pot for blanching, blender or hand blender, wide heavy-bottomed pan with a lid

Method

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the spinach and push it under the water for 2 minutes, just until it turns bright green and wilts.

  2. Drain the spinach and rinse it under cold water so it stays green. Squeeze out most of the water, then blend it with the chopped green chillies into a coarse purée, adding a splash of water only if the blender needs it.

  3. Heat the oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

  4. Add the chopped onion and fry, stirring often, for 8 minutes until soft and light golden at the edges.

  5. Stir in the ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1 minute until the raw smell goes. Add the tomatoes, turmeric, coriander powder, chilli powder and salt.

  6. Cook the masala for 6 minutes, mashing the tomatoes with your spoon, until it turns into a thick paste and the oil begins to separate at the sides.

  7. Add the potato cubes and stir to coat them in the masala for 1 minute. Pour in the water, cover, and cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring once, until the potatoes are about half cooked.

  8. Pour in the spinach purée and stir well. Cover and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until a knife slides easily into the potatoes and the gravy is thick and glossy. Add a splash of hot water if it looks dry.

  9. Stir in the garam masala, crushed fenugreek leaves and lemon juice. Taste for salt, then rest the pan off the heat for 5 minutes before serving.

Cooking tips

  • Blanching for only 2 minutes and rinsing in cold water keeps the spinach a fresh green instead of dull olive.
  • Cut the potatoes into even cubes so they finish cooking at the same time. Waxy or all-purpose potatoes hold their shape better than very floury ones.
  • Do not add the lemon juice until the end, as acid left to simmer will turn the spinach a duller colour.
  • For a smoother gravy, blend the spinach fully; for a more rustic texture, pulse it briefly or chop it by hand.

Substitutions

  • Use 300 g frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry, instead of fresh. Skip the blanching step.
  • Replace the oil with 2 tbsp ghee for a richer flavour, but the dish will no longer be vegan.
  • Swap the fresh tomatoes for 3 tbsp tomato purée mixed with a little water if tomatoes are out of season.
  • Add 3 tbsp cream or thick yogurt at the end for a milder, creamier gravy.

Serve with

Serve hot with fresh roti or paratha, a bowl of plain yogurt or raita, sliced onion with lemon, and a little steamed rice on the side.

Storage

Cool completely and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The potatoes soften a little on standing. Freezing is not recommended because the potatoes turn grainy.

Reheating

Warm gently in a pan over low heat with a splash of water, stirring occasionally, until piping hot throughout. Microwave in covered short bursts, stirring between each.

Nutrition per serving, estimated

235kcal
6 gProtein
30 gCarbs
11 gFat

Estimated from the ingredient list. Values vary with brands and portion size.

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