I love fresh methi (fenugreek) leaves and when I see them at the Indian grocery, I make sure to buy a bunch. This methi chaman recipe has been my favorite for years. Actually this is one of the first recipes I posted in 2007 when I had just started blogging. So this recipe has been on my repertoire ever since.
Restaurant Style Methi Chaman:
Methi Chaman is a Kashmiri recipe that is quite popular dish to order at an Indian restaurant. It is a creamy and lip smacking dish that is pretty easy to make at home. This recipe is from one of the Indian cooking shows that I watched years ago. I jotted it down in my little diary which I still refer from sometimes.
Ingredients
Of course fresh methi leaves are a must for this recipe. Methi leaves have an earthy, hearty flavor that goes really well in this dish. But I have tried this recipe with swiss chard and kale - both of these make excellent substitute for methi leaves. Another important ingredient that adds lots of flavor is dried kasoori methi. Crushing it before using gets the most flavor. Along with methi, spinach is also added to the dish. I always have a bag of baby spinach in my fridge and it is perfect to use in recipes like this. Spice paste made with the below ingredients forms the base of this dish. Cashews add creaminess and richness to the dish.
OnionsCashewsGreen ChiliesGinger and garlic
Paneer is used in 2 forms in this dish - greted and cubed. Grated paneer adds a nice texture to the curry. A splash of heavy cream is added at the very end that makes the dish creamy and decadent.
Instructions
Thoroughly clean and chop methi and spinach leaves.Heat oil in a pan, sauté onions, chilies, cashews, ginger and garlic till onions turn translucent. Remove and when cool grind to a smooth paste.
Heat oil in the pan and sauté the onion paste for 2 minutes. Add tomato puree, coriander powder, red chili powder and cubed paneer. Cook on medium-low flame for about 7-8 minutes.Add the chopped greens, cover and cook till the leaves wilt and don’t smell raw, about 5-6 minutes.Add cream and kasoori methi (crushed with your fingers) and salt. Cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in the grated paneer.Finally add the garam masala, cover to let the flavors mingle and take off the heat after 2 minutes.
How to make Vegan Methi Chaman:
To make methi chaman vegan, substitute paneer with extra firm tofu. You can use both cubed and grated tofu. Skip the heavy cream altogether or add coconut milk or cream to get the rich and decadent texture.
How to serve:
This rich and creamy curry is great to serve with both rice and roti. Here are some of my favorite dishes to serve with this:
Khamiri RotiGujarati RotliCurried Rice with Raisins
