Palak Puri / Spinach Puri is a deep-fried bread that is served with curry and vegetables or eaten as a snack. Palak means Spinach and Puri means Flatbread. This is a crispy vegan recipe.
Puri is an Indian flatbread made using wheat flour or all-purpose flour that is deep-fried in oil. Puris are an integral part of the Indian festive menu, accompanied especially by potato sabzi, stir-fried vegetables and curries. In India, you will find various versions of puris made using vegetables like beetroots, fenugreek, potato, spinach, or even with fruits such as mangoes. This type of puris not only tastes good but also enhances the nutritional value of the meal.
Ingredients2 cups spinach leaves
2 cups wheat flour
2 tablespoon fine semolina (sooji)
4 green chillies
1 inch ginger
3-4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4th teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain)
1 tablespoon oil for kneading the dough
Salt to taste
Pinch of Sugar
Water to Knead the Dough
Oil for frying the puris
Method
To Make Spinach Puri- Clean the spinach leaves under running water, use only the leaves and discard the stems.
- Roughly chop the leaves or tear with hands
- Now in a wide saucepan, add water and let it come to a boil. Add roughly chopped spinach leaves, using spatula immersed them completely into the boiling water
- Let the leaves cook in this boiling water for 3 minutes. Now, transfer the spinach leaves immediately in cold iced water.
- Adding blanched spinach leaves in ice water prevents spinach from cooking further and helps retain its luscious green colour.
- Keep the spinach leaves in the ice water for a minute. After a minute, drain the water.
- In a blender, add the blanched spinach leaves along with an inch of ginger, 3-4 cloves of garlic, green chillies and blend to a fine puree. Use water only if required.
- Spinach Puree for making puri is ready.
How To Knead the Dough- In a mixing bowl, add wheat flour, semolina, spinach puree followed by the rest of the ingredients except water.
- Mix all the ingredients well and start kneading the dough by adding a small amount of water at a time. Knead a stiff dough.
- Drizzle little oil over the kneaded dough. Cover and let it rest for about 20 minutes.
- After resting the dough for 20 minutes, knead the dough once again to make it smooth.
- Divide the dough into small portions. Shape each portion into a small ball.
- Now apply oil to the rolling board and flatten the ball of dough and roll into a small disc of medium thickness.
- Meanwhile, heat oil for frying the puris on medium flame.
- Once the oil is sufficiently hot, slide the prepared puri into the hot oil.
- Press the puri gently using a spatula till the puri puff ups.
- Fry the puri from both sides. Transfer the fried puris on an absorbent paper to drain excess oil.
- Simple and easy puffed Spinach Puris are ready.
- Serve them hot with curry or dry vegetables or have them as a snack along with tea or coffee.