Gravy, Sizzling Tastebuds

Methi Matar Malai – low fat version | Easy side dish for Roti and chapatis | North Indian Gravies

I
love fenugreek – in both dried and fresh forms. Thankfully my family does too –
and we are lucky to have access to fresh fenugreek (menthye soppu in kannada, venthaya keerai in tamil, methi bhaji in hindi) through the year. A rich
source of calcium and folic acid, we especially love Methi Rice, Grilled
Methi Bhakri Pizza
, Methi
Kadhi
, Kadai
Methi Matar
, Aloo-Methi
stir fry
 and a rustic Menthe
Kattina saaru
 (fenugreek leaves-dal broth) that mom makes amazingly
well 🙂 :-))

Its
been 50 months since we at Blogging Marathon (BM) family got together. We had a
lovely meet with most of the India-based bloggers last week. 

This
week, as part of BM # 50, we have fenugreek leaves as the theme. First in
this series,  is a low-cal and low fat version of the popular restaurant
dish Methi Matar Malai. Simply translated it means fenugreek and peas simmered
in a rich creamy gravy.  As usual, I knew there would be no takers for
such a creamy dish at home, so used non fatty substitutes for a yummy meal.
Even my FIL who is generally taciturn approved of this dish, and asked for
second helpings. So, thats saying a lot I guess. 

Notes: we made this once with onions and once without. Both were equally tasty. 

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Prep
time
: 15 mins | Cook time : 20 mins | Serves : 4

Methi
matar Malai – low fat version  : Fenugreek leaves and peas in creamy gravy

Serving
suggestions :
Chapati / Roti / Naan or Kulcha

Ingredients:

  • Fresh
    fenugreek – 1.5 cups (packed)
  • Onions
    – 1 medium
  • Green
    chillies – 1 no
  • Fresh
    or frozen peas (I used the former) – 1/2 cup
  • Oil
    – 2 tbsp
  • Jeera
    – cumin seeds 1 tsp (optional)
  • Garam
    masala – 1 tsp
  • Red
    chilli powder – 1/2 TBSP (or to taste)
  • Sugar
    – 1 tsp (optional)
  • Salt
    – to taste
  • Low
    fat milk – 2 cups

Gravy:

  • Onions
    – 1 medium  (or 1/2 large)
  • oil
    – 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon
    stick – 1/2 inch
  • Garlic
    pods – 2 – 3 
  • Ginger
    – 1 inch
  • Green
    chilly – 2 or 3
  • Elaichi
    / cardamom – 1 pod
  • poppy
    seeds- 1 tsp
  • cashew
    nuts – 8 to 10 

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Method:

  1. Wash,
    sort and chop methi leaves finely. Drain well. In a pan, heat oil. splutter
    jeera and saute onions. Add chopped green chillies and methi leaves, fresh peas
    and saute on a low flame for 5-9 mins till they wilt gradually. Cool. 
  2. In
    another pan, heat 1 tsp of oil , and saute all the ingredients of the gravy one
    by one. cool and make a paste with minimal water. 
  3. Add
    this paste back to the sauteed methi leaves and mix well on a low flame till
    raw smell if any disappear.  add salt, garam masala, red chilli powder,
    sugar and half of the milk and let it lightly simmer. Check for taste, add more
    milk if required for a slightly runny gravy.
  4. Serve
    warm with rotis and a green salad

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13 Comments

  1. vaishali sabnani

    Wow one of the most popular dishes this methi malai mutter sure is tempting.

  2. Suma Gandlur

    A tempting side dish. Milk cuts down the calories still lending the creaminess to the dish.

  3. Varada's Kitchen

    Very interesting variation of the creamy original recipe.

  4. thelady8home.com

    Wow. Looks so tempting and inviting. Perfect one to have with chapatis.

    — thelady8home.com

  5. Priya Suresh

    Prefect side dish to enjoy with rotis, am yet to do this delicious side dish.

  6. A Kamalika Krishmy

    Its green and filled with nutrition… can mix it will ghee rice and also have it

  7. Methi malai dal looks tempting. Nicely done.

  8. annuswamy

    This is a one of our all time favourites but we didnt make it too often because of its richness. Adding milk instead of cream is such a good idea! I have tried it with dal makhni also, but never tried with methi malai – now its time to try it!!

  9. I love this dish and would want to make it again..nice one..

  10. I also use milk as a sub for malai 🙂

  11. Nice idea to make a low fat version. Will try this sometime soon Kalyani..

  12. Wow, that curry looks so creamy & delicious. It must have tasted amazing.

  13. Sneha's Recipe

    A superb dish and delicious too.

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