Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji (Spicy Spinach & Sweet Corn Stir-Fry)

Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji

Lil Dumpling is ill! AGAIN! It all started two days before weekend. First it was cold and coughs and now the poor baby has to go through the piercing pain of ear infection! I am not happy. Not at all…

I took leave from work and I stayed away from all social networking sites and all possible instruments (read phone, iPad, laptops etc) that connect to the whole world. Instead, I tried to make Lil Dumpling as comfortable as possible by distracting him from pain and playing with him and reading his favourite books. It all went fine till he went to bed as he woke up every half an hour with high pitched cry and pearls after pearls of tears dropping from his beautiful eyes! My happy go lucky, ever smiling baby was in pain and I hated it! Oh, how I loath it! At last we were fortunate to meet a doctor who was sympathetic to Lil Dumpling’s painful cries and prescribed antibiotics. Fingers crossed, he should recover soon and back to his normal self! ~Fingers crossed~ With his dad by his side, baby sitting today, Lil Dumpling is happy to be at home for sixth day in a row. Last time when I chekced, both my boys seems to be enjoying each others company and it makes me really happy!

Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji

Sleep deprived, groggy and seriously irritated, I was in no mood for cooking. But neither was I in a mood of ordering takeaway food floating in gallons of oil or heating boring food from fridge-freezer! So I dragged my sleepy and uncooperative feet to kitchen to see what I can cook without much fuss. A bunch of half dead palak or spinach started right back at me and begged to be used with in few hours. Since I didn’t had the time nor the will to scrub, wash, peel, dice and cook potatoes for my favourite Aloo Palak, I picked a can of Sweet Corn and decided to cook this simple and Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji.

They say some recipes are born out of boredom and they become family favourites. And this Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji is one of them. While the heat of black peppers, chilli powder, garam masala and fresh green chillies kick the spice note in your mouth, the sweetness and crunch from onion, spinach and sweet corns bring some order and peace to the fiery spices. And the splash of lemon juice just adds the tingling sensation and compliments the spicy and sweet flavours of this Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji. Iron rich, delicious and highly nutritious, this dish of Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji is a winner in all ways!

Look what I found! Pretty Spinach Flowers

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Palak aur Makai ki Subji (Spicy stir fried sweet corn and spinach side dish)
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Serves: 3-4 people
Recipe Level: Easy/Beginner
Spice Level: Medium to Hot
Serving Suggestion: With rice or any Indian flat bread or as a stuffing for sandwich or wraps

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Ingredients:
1 bunch or about 2 packed cups Palak/Spinach, chopped (stems included)
1 cup Sweet Corn, fresh or frozen or canned
1 medium Onion, finely chopped
2 Green Chillies, finely chopped (Adjust acc to taste)
1 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
½ tsp Sugar (Optional but recommended)
Juice from Fresh Lime (Adjust acc to taste)
Salt to taste

Spices Used:
½ tsp Jeera/Cumin Powder
1 tsp Coriander Powder
¼ tsp Haldi/Turmeric Powder
½-1 tsp Red Chilli Powder/Paprika (Adjust acc to taste)
½ tsp Black Pepper Powder (Optional, adjust acc to taste)
½ tsp Garam Masala (Optional, adjust acc to taste)

For Tadka/Tempering:
1 tsp Jeera/Cumin Seeds
A large pinch of Hing/Asafoetida
1 tbsp Oil

Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji

Method:

If using fresh or frozen sweet corn, take them in a microwave safe bowl and add about 2-3 tbsp of water. Add pinch of salt and cook covered on high for 3-5 mins. If using canned sweet corn, simply skip this step.

Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and hing. When cumin seeds start to sizzle and change colour, about one minute, add finely chopped onions and green chillies. Cook till the onions turn translucent, about 1-2 mins.

Next add ginger-garlic paste and cook till the raw smell disappears, about 1 minute.

Mix in chopped spinach greens and tender stems and cook till the leaves are wilted, about 2 mins.

Add turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder, sugar and salt to taste and mix them well.

Next add cooked or canned sweet corn along with the water in which it’s cooked and mix them well. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring in between.

At last add garam masala and black pepper powder, if using, and give it a good mix. Adjust the seasoning and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Turn off the gas and add freshly squeezed lime juice to taste.

Serve this simple, delicious and Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji with rice or any Indian flat bread and enjoy. If you like you can also use it as stuffing for sandwich or wraps/rolls along with some fresh sliced tomatoes, cucumber and crème cheese.

Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji

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Sia’s Notes:

• You can also use this Spicy Palak aur Makai ki Subji as stuffing for sandwich or wraps/rolls along with some fresh sliced tomatoes, cucumber and crème cheese. 
• If cooking for kids, simply reduce the amout of spices used. 

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Reminder:

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