SPINACH (MALABAR CHEERA)

This recipe is usually prepared with Malabar spinach, which is not easy to find in Toronto. My good friend Anitha, showed me how to make a great alternative with frozen spinach.

Ingredients

Mix together

Spinach - 1 300gm box of frozen spinach (no need to defrost)

Fresh grated coconut - 1/3 cup (you can buy a frozen pack of fresh grated coconut in an Indian store)

Green chilli - 1 cut down the centre

Turmeric powder - 1 pinch

Cummin powder - 1/2 tsp

Onions - 1/3 cup, chopped

Salt to taste

Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp

Oil - 1 tbsp

Dry red chillis - 2 (or red pepper flakes)

Curry leaves - 1 tsp, chopped

Basmati rice, washed and drained - 1 tbsp

Assemble the ingredients listed under 'Mix Together' in a bowl.

                                     

Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Mix well together and microwave again on high for 4 minutes.

                                   

Heat the oil. Pop mustard seeds in hot oil. Cover the utensil while mustard seeds are popping (like making popcorn in a pan).

                                       

Turn the heat down. Add the dry red chillis, curry leaves and rice. Stir together. Add the spinach mix. Cook on high for about 5  minutes, stirring constantly so that the spinach does not stick to the bottom of the pan.