Here’s a quick and easy Saag Curry Recipe incorporating curry, garam masala, and many more spices. The combination of spinach, onions, spices, butter, and yogurt pair beautifully with basmati rice, fish curry, or buttered chicken. Add a side of garlic naan bread, and you have a wonderful dinner of such great comfort food.
This classic Indian dish is so easy to make and tastes like what they serve in Indian restaurants. I’ve ordered it in restaurants, and the spinach curry comes with a spinach mixture that is creamed in a food processor. I’m not a fan of the spinach puree version, so I made this recipe with whole leafy greens.
My family and I always enjoy dining out at Indian restaurants. During the pandemic, that little activity came to an end. So, we began cooking some of our favorite dishes at home.
Saag was one that we made, and we were pleasantly surprised by how easy and delicious it turned out.
I plan to share more dinner recipes we created, but in the meantime, here are a few that I posted so far.
The Inspiration for this Saag Curry Recipe
As I mentioned, we cooked and baked a lot during the pandemic. There is an Indian buffet that we love to dine at, but since we had to shutter indoors, we ate home-cooked meals.
So my husband got busy and made his Indian food. One of his favorite dishes is Saag. I wasn’t much of a fan of the creamy pureed texture, but I was a happy convert once he made it with whole spinach leaves and didn’t put it in the food processor.
I loved his version, but I had to add a bit of yogurt to this delicious dish. The results are a combination of his version and mine. I guess you can say it was a collaboration. We enjoy cooking together on the weekends and find meal-making relaxing and fun.
We still make our Indian dishes, and maybe someday we will return to eat in restaurants. But in the meantime, our culinary skills have improved!
You might not be familiar with Indian food and may have questions, so let’s look at a few.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Saag Curry made of?
Saag curry is a popular dish in Indian cuisine that is typically made with a combination of leafy green vegetables, such as spinach or mustard greens, and a variety of spices and seasonings. The term “saag” refers to any dish made with leafy greens, so the specific ingredients and preparation can vary depending on the region and recipe.
What are some variations of Saag?
- Leafy Greens: The primary ingredient in saag curry is usually a combination of spinach and mustard greens, though other greens like collard greens, kale, or fenugreek leaves may also be used.
- Spices: Cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and garam masala are common spices used in saag curry. Some recipes may include other spices such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, fenugreek, and cumin seeds.
- Dairy: Many traditional saag curry recipes include dairy products like cream, yogurt, or ghee (clarified butter) to add richness and creaminess to the dish. However, vegan and dairy-free versions are also possible.
- Protein: Some versions of saag curry may include protein sources such as paneer (Indian cheese), chicken, lamb, or tofu.
What does Saag Mean in Indian?
It refers to leafy vegetables.
In Indian cuisine, “saag” refers to any dish made with leafy green vegetables. The term originated in the Punjabi language, which is spoken in the northern region of India and Pakistan, and has since become a popular term used throughout India to describe dishes made with greens such as spinach, mustard leaves, or fenugreek leaves.
Saag is often used interchangeably with the term “palak,” which refers to spinach dishes. Saag dishes are typically prepared with spices and aromatics and may include additional ingredients such as paneer (Indian cheese), lentils, or meat. However, Saag can include a variety of other leafy greens as well.
Let’s take a look at the spices!
So this simple curry dish uses a few aromatic spices you might not know. So, let’s take a look at them:
Garam Masala
Garam masala is a blend of ground spices, typically including cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, and peppercorns. Garam masala has a warm and spicy flavor with notes of cinnamon and clove. It’s often used to add depth and complexity to a dish rather than being the dominant flavor.
Cumin
Cumin belongs to the parsley family. Cumin has a warm, earthy flavor that is slightly bitter and nutty, with a subtle hint of sweetness. The taste can also be spicy and aromatic, with a slight peppery note. I instantly smell a bowl of yummy chili when I open my spice bottle of cumin!
Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice that is in curry. It is the ingredient that gives curry its vibrant yellow color. So turmeric contains many compounds, but the important one is called curcumin. And curcumin is a compound that has anti-inflammatory and strong anti-oxidant powers.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make this Indian Saag
- Olive Oil
- Butter
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ground Cumin
- Ground Turmeric Powder
- Curry Powder
- Fresh Ginger
- Garam Masala
- Tomato Paste
- Vegetable Stock (you can use Chicken Stock)
- Fresh Cilantro
- Baby Spinach Leaves
- Salt and Pepper
- Garlic Chili Paste (Our favorite is Tuong ot toi Vietnam)
- Greek Yogurt (or heavy cream)
How to Make This Classic Indian Curry Dish
Step 1 – Prep All Your Ingredients
Prep your ingredients by chopping the onions, garlic cloves, and fresh cilantro.
Step 2 – Cook Onions
Heat oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until slightly brown.
Step 3 – Add Garlic and Ginger
Add the minced garlic and cook for a minute. Add the grated ginger and cook for another minute.
Step 4 – Add Spices
Add the cumin, turmeric, curry powder, garam masala, and tomato paste. Stir until combined.
Step 5 – Add Broth
Stir in the broth.
Step 6 – Add Cilantro
Still, on medium heat, stir in the cilantro and chili paste. If you like, you can add red chili powder instead of the paste.
Step 7 – Add Fresh Spinach Leaves
Add the spinach to the mixture. There will be a lot of spinach, so make sure to use a big pot. Keep stirring until the spinach cooks down, about five minutes or so.
Step 8 – Add Yogurt
Stir in the yogurt and mix until it is fully incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste.
Saag Curry Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 onions chopped
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger peeled and grated
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup cilantro chopped
- 14 oz baby spinach
- ½ tsp garlic chili paste optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup Greek yogurt optional
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients by chopping the onions, garlic cloves, and fresh cilantro.
- Heat oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until slightly brown.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for a minute. Add the grated ginger and cook for another minute.
- Add the cumin, turmeric, curry powder, garam masala, and tomato paste. Stir until combined.
- Stir in the broth, cilantro, and chili paste. You can add red chili powder instead of the paste.
- Add the spinach to the mixture. There will be a lot of spinach, so make sure to use a big pot. Keep stirring until the spinach cooks down, about five minutes or so.
- Stir in the yogurt and mix until it is fully incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste, and then let sit a bit before serving.
Nutrition
Storage:
Store in an airtight container for a couple of days in the refrigerator. It’s best to reheat it in the microwave since there isn’t too much sauce in this recipe.
Circling back to the spices, you might be wondering about the difference between Garam Masala and Curry Powder. So let’s see the difference between these two spice blends.
Garam Masala
Garam masala is a blend of ground spices, typically including cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, and peppercorns. Garam masala has a warm and spicy flavor with notes of cinnamon and clove. It’s often used to add depth and complexity to a dish rather than being the dominant flavor.
Curry
On the other hand, Curry is a more complex spice blend that can include a variety of ingredients, depending on the recipe. Common ingredients in curry include cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and chili powder. Curry has a more pronounced flavor with a combination of earthy, spicy, and savory notes.
Tips For Making This Saag Curry Recipe
- Use a big stock pot since the spinach takes up a lot of room in the beginning.
- Prep and measure all your ingredients since once you start cooking the process is quick.
- Tweak the recipe to your preferences. Add more or less of the ingredients.
- Play around with the greens, try using a combination of greens like spinach and collard greens.
- Add protein like chicken thighs, paneer, or tofu.
This dish is more than cooked spinach. The blend of this creamy spinach sauce elevates the spinach into a delicious dish. So I recently made this over the weekend and made a double batch. This way we have leftovers ready for our busy weeknights and our dinner is made. Make a main dish of fish or chicken tikka masala and your tastebuds will thank you.
Happy Cooking!
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