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Pui shak bhaji
পুঁই শাক ভাজি (pui shak bhaji): Malabar spinach stir-fried with garlic, green chilli and nigella
Pui shak climbs over the tin roofs and fences of village homes all through the monsoon, and its thick, glossy leaves and succulent stems cook down into a soft, slightly silky side dish that people either love or find a little slippery. In most homes it is cooked with small shrimp, or with a fish head, and with chunks of pumpkin or potato; this is the plain vegetarian version, with garlic, green chilli and a pinch of nigella, plus a few cubes of potato for body. It is eaten with hot rice and dal at lunch, especially in July and August when the vine is at its best. Covering the pan is the misstep that makes it watery and slimy; keep it open and let the moisture cook off. Chef's tip: cut the thick stems into short pieces and give them a 3-minute head start before the leaves go in.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb Malabar spinach (pui shak)leaves roughly chopped, stems cut into 3 cm pieces
- 1 small potatopeeled and cut into 1 cm cubes
- 1 ½ tbsp mustard oil
- 1 /2 tsp nigella seeds (kalo jeera)
- 4 cloves garlicchopped
- 1 small onionsliced
- 3 green chilliesslit
- 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric
- 3 /4 tsp salt
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat 1 ½ tbsp mustard oil in a wide pan over a medium heat, add 1 /2 tsp nigella seeds (kalo jeera) and, when it sizzles, 4 cloves garlic, 1 small onion and 3 green chillies; fry for 2 minutes.
2 minStep 2: Add 1 small potato and 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric and fry for 4 minutes, stirring.
4 minStep 3: Add the stems of 1 ⅛ lb Malabar spinach (pui shak) and stir-fry for 3 minutes.
3 minStep 4: Add the leaves and 3 /4 tsp salt and cook uncovered over a medium-high heat for 5–6 minutes, stirring, until the leaves are soft, the potato is tender and the pan is nearly dry. Serve with rice.
6 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 85 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pui shak bhaji take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of potato?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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