This delicious recipe reminds me of home and my mother’s cooking; it’s comfort food at its best. Of all the Palak recipes, such as Palak Paneer or Palak Gosht (spinach and meat curry) this dry aloo palak curry is my favorite. There are many variations of this spinach & potato curry. The Dhaba-style aloo palak is the rich street food version. The aloo palak gravy, made with creamed spinach is the exact opposite of the dry version of aloo palak. I personally like and stick to this simple homemade version of aloo palak, also popularly(and erroneously) termed saag aloo. This is a nice variation on my easy-aloo-sabzi-potato-curry when you’re in the mood for a change and pairs well with this delicious kali-masoor-ki-daal-brown-lentils recipe.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Easy to source ingredients - Apart from the fenugreek, which can easily be omitted, this aloo palak recipe uses standard spices that can be sourced easily from your local grocery store. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan - This recipe checks all the boxes as far as any diet restrictions are concerned. For the vegan version just substitute with a plant-based yogurt. A delicious way to add spinach to your diet - This Pakistani spinach & potato curry is so full of flavor you won’t even realize you’re eating spinach! Quick & easy recipe - There’s minimal prep involved in this recipe and only 30 minutes of cooking time! That’s hard to beat for a curry! Who wouldn’t want to eat potatoes - I think anything with potatoes is a win! Add to that some healthy spinach and an easy recipe and you will be making this on repeat!
The ingredients
I use simple spices in this recipe, relying heavily on fresh ingredients instead to add the necessary flavor to this Aloo Palak Recipe. Both potatoes and spinach tend to be bland vegetables on their own, so all the extra add-ins help boost the flavor of this delicious curry.
Frozen Chopped Spinach - I use frozen, chopped spinach for my Pakistani spinach & potato curry as it’s the easiest, cheapest, and often more nutritious than the fresh variety. Potatoes - Cubed potatoes, using red potatoes, are my go-to for this recipe. I like to use red potatoes as they hold their shape best. This allows me to stir and saute the curry as I cook without worrying about ending up with mashed potatoes. Frozen Fenugreek Leaves - Frozen fenugreek leaves, also known as kasuri methi, pair beautifully with spinach cooked in any form. These can be sourced from your nearest South Asian Store. Chopped Onion - I always use yellow onions in my curries, these being the most neutral variety, both in terms of flavor, color, and texture. Garlic paste - I like to make my own from scratch but store-bought works just as well. Tomatoes - Roma tomatoes are well known for being plump and juicy, making them the perfect pick for curries. Yogurt - I always like to use full-fat plain yogurt in my curries for a rich and creamy texture. Cumin Seeds - Fresh roasted cumin seeds always add a delicious earthy aroma to vegetables and I love using them in this recipe and others. Turmeric Powder - A small pinch goes a long way with this staple spice which finds its way into almost every Pakistani curry. Red Chili Powder - A definite add-in, this adds the necessary punch to an otherwise bland vegetable mix. Salt - I use regular iodized salt for most of my cooking, but any type is okay.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Substitutions & variations
Spinach - instead of frozen spinach, you can use baby spinach or fresh spinach. Baby spinach is the quicker and easier substitute, but it’s more expensive. Steam your spinach (whichever type you’re using) and then run it through a food processor to make a spinach paste (it will absorb more flavor quicker this way). Potatoes - You can use other waxy potatoes as an alternative. Golden potatoes make a good substitute in case you can’t find red ones. Get a bag of baby potatoes (red or gold) that you can steam in a bag and prep them per instructions.
Change the vegetable quantities - Change the ratio of vegetables per your preference. Add more spinach or double the potatoes! Your Pakistani Spinach & potato curry will still be fantastic!
Step-by-step instructions
My favorite way to eat this Aloo Palak Sabzi is with Naan bread or Tandoori Roti. However, some people like to eat it with basmati rice. Add in the chopped tomatoes next and cook on high for 3-4 minutes till the tomatoes start to release water. Then cover and cook on medium heat. After about 10 minutes, when the tomatoes have melted, uncover, turn the flame back up to high, and add in all the powdered spices.
Expert Tips
Spinach is the star of this recipe! The question is which one should you use? Here’s how I decided which spinach I would use in my curry!
Baby Spinach - Baby Spinach is great for salads and sandwiches due to its crisp, mild almost sweet taste. But in the case of curries, it doesn’t hold up too well. Due to its delicate texture, it tends to get a little slimy when cooked. This added to the fact that it’s more expensive made it a non-option for me. Regular Fresh Spinach - Regular spinach is a cheaper option and its earthier and bolder taste is more suited to curries and cooked dishes. However, I would need a pound of fresh spinach for this recipe. The amount of time it would take to prep and clean that much spinach is tedious. Plus, the quality would have to be super fresh and well-sourced. This led me to the last and final option. Frozen Spinach - Frozen spinach is affordable, it has the perfect taste for curries and is already prepped for use! In addition to this, vegetables picked to be frozen are usually harvested at peak ripeness. This makes them nutritionally dense! All wins in my book!
