Pasalai Keerai poriyal/ Spinach stir-fry/ Epinard sauté aux noix de coco

One of the most common leafy vegetables found in the markets, almost throughout the year (here in France) is Spinach. Back in my home town, one can very well shop varieties of freshly picked leafy vegetables right at the doorstep as there are road vendors who pass regularly by the streets to sell freshly picked vegetables and greens every morning.



As soon as we hear the road vendors crying out loud ?Keerai,Keerai ?, with a basket perfectly balanced on top of their heads, we rush out to call them and buy whatever variety we needed. The vendor sometimes takes the time to talk, chat & even stop by our house (without being called) each day to ask if we needed any vegetables....those are some of the cherished moments back at home....



Any ways, here in France, my ultimate friend among all other leafy vegetables is obviously Spinach, one because of its availability; secondly, it costs me almost nothing and above all, it?s the favourite green of all at home. There are several ways one can prepare fresh Spinach and this is one such easy and simple way to savour the goodness of Spinach as a side dish and goes this directly to my records.



Ingredients (for 4)/ Ingrédients (pour 4 personnes)



800g fresh spinach/ 800g d?épinards frais

2 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp ghee/ 2 c. à soupe d?huile et 2 c. à. soupe de beurre clarifié

2 onions/ 2 oignons

5 or 6 garlic pods (peeled & crushed) / 5 ou 6 gousses d?ail (pelées et écrasées)

2 or 3 fresh red or green chilies/ 2 ou 3 piments rouges ou verts frais

A bunch of curry leaves / une branche de feuilles de curry

1tsp mustard seeds/ 1 c. à café de graines de moutarde

1tsp split black gram (urad dhal)/ 1 c. à café de graines d?urd cassées

1 tsp cumin seeds/ 1 c. café de grains de cumin

1 pinch of asafetida/ 1 pinçée de poudre d'ase fétide

Salt/ Sel

1 handful of fresh grated coconut / 1 poignée de noix de coco fraiche rapée

Juice of half a lemon/ jus d?un demi citron



Method/La préparation :



Wash the spinach thoroughly (Soak the leaves in a mixture of cold water and some lime juice for about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse several times until the water is clear)

As the spinach leaves shrink after cooking, I leave them whole. You may also chop them roughly if you wish.



Laver les épinards soigneusement (Faire tremper les feuilles dans un mélange d'eau froide et un peu de jus de citron pendant environ 5 minutes. Égoutter et rincer plusieurs fois jusqu'à ce que l'eau devienne claire)

Comme les feuilles d'épinard se rétrécissent après la cuisson, je les laisse entiers. Mais, vous pouvez également les hacher grossièrement si vous le souhaitez.



Peel the onions and chop finely. Remove the stem of the green chilies and leave them whole. ( you may also chop them if you like it hot)

Eplucher les oignons et hacher-les finement. Retirer la tige des piments verts et les laisser entiers. ( vous pouvez aussi les émincer si vous aimez le plat un peu piquant"



Heat the oil and ghee in a large skillet. Splutter the mustard seeds, black gram dhal and the cumin seeds.

Faire chauffer l'huile et le beurre clarifié dans une grande poêle. Faire éclater les graines de moutarde, les graines d?urd cassées et ajouter les graines de cumin.



Add the asafoetida followed by the onions, the curry leaves, crushed garlic and the chilies and fry until the onions become translucent.

Ajouter l'ase fétide, puis les oignons, les feuilles de curry, l'ail écrasé et les piments verts et faire sauter jusqu'à ce que les oignons deviennent translucides.



Add salt (as needed) stir well and add the spinach; Stir-fry for not more than 5 to 10 minutes or until the spinach is cooked.

Ajouter le sel, bien mélanger et ajouter les épinards; Faire sauter pendant 5 à 10 minutes ou jusqu'à ce que l?épinard soit cuit.



Add the grated coconut, stir once again and remove off the flame.

Ajouter la noix de coco râpée. Remuer encore quelques secondes et éteindre le feu.



Serve hot with any of your favourite maincourse and Enjoy !!!! / Servez chaud avec vos plats favoris et Bon Appétit !!!