Shahi Palak Makai Malai (Spinach and corn in rich gravy with nuts)

I was craving for some Methi Matar Malai the other day. So I peered into the refrigerator. Since it was almost the end of the week, most of it was empty. I could only find fresh spinach and frozen corn. Well, at that point I decided to put my creative hat on and this recipe was created. It turned out to be really really yummy and so........ no prizes for guessing - made it's way to my blog :) 

Well here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
Spinach - Fresh 2 bunches chopped, Corn - frozen or fresh ( 1 cup), Onion - 1 medium chopped, Ginger/garlic/chilly paste - 1 tbsp (1/4th inch ginger and 4-5 cloves of garlic, 2-3 green chillies), Oil - 4-5 tsp, Kasuri Methi - 1/2 tsp crushed, Fennel seeds - 1 tsp, cumin seeds - 1 tsp, turmeric powder - 1 tsp, red chilli powder - 1 tsp, sugar - 1 tsp, salt - as per taste, coriander powder - 2-3 tsp, garam masala - 1/2 tsp, cashews - 3 tbsp (ground to paste) + some cashews- to garnish, raisins - 8-10, heavy cream - 1/2 cup, milk powder - 4-5 tbsp.

Method: Boil the frozen corn for 5-8 mins till tender, (fresh corn will require less cooking time), wash and chop spinach leaves, soak and grind cashews to paste. Add heavy cream and milk powder to the mixture and stir and keep aside. Take oil in a pan, add fennel seeds, cumin seeds, and chopped onion. Fry till onion is golden brown. Then add turmeric powder and red chilli powder, coriander powder and saute for 1 min and add boiled corn, chopped spinach and sugar and cover and cook till the spinach is wilted and soft (3-4 minutes). Then add the cashew paste mixed with heavy cream and milk powder.  Add raisins and cook for a minute. Add garam masala and salt to taste. Cover and cook for 3-4 mins on medium heat. At the end add crushed kasuri methi and cook for 2-3 additional minutes. Garnish with cashews at the end. Yummy Shahi Palak Makai Malai (Spinach and corn in rich gravy) is ready. Enjoy with Chapati or as a side dish with rice.

Till my next post, take care everyone!