Saag-blend with rice( eastern-UP saagpaitha)

Overview:

Green veggies have been my weakness since like forever.. well actually may be from the time I began to like the greens.. Let me strike an analogy.. Its like a child loving candies but despising them as he or she grows old.. and loving something he or she despised as a child..  seriously, how many of you like those sugary candies that much now.. and how many of you have started to like the greens, ones you despised when you were kids..

Anyway, so this one is also a recipe that runs in the family from my mother's side I suppose. Makes use of greens like Spinach, Methi (oregano) and Dill. Its extremely healthy.. look for yourself.. other than the fat from desi ghee, rest all is I guess Iron and chlorophyll from the greens. And as far as the taste is concerned, I am a huge fan of it !! So trust me, its good. Even my 2 year old daughter likes it :)

Serves :4 , Cooking time : 30 mins

Ingredients:

• 400-500 grams fresh Spinach leaves
• 400 grams fresh methi(Oregano leaves)
• 200 grams fresh dill leaves (Soya saaag)
• 5-6 cloves of chopped garlic
• 3X3 inch piece of ginger finely chopped
• 5 green chillies(chopped)
• salt as per taste
• black lentils (100 grams : urad chilka split)  
• 2 tsp desi ghee
• turmeric and red chilli powder (1 tsp each)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds(jeera)
• 1 tsp hing 

Recipe:

1. Clean all the greens thoroughly(separate leaves), wash them separately and chop them. Set aside.
2. Wash the lentils. Put approx 1 cup water in a steam pressure cooker. Add lentils and salt and turmeric.
3. Add the chopped greens that we set aside earlier.
4. Add chopped green chillies and chopped ginger .
5. Cook on high flame and let go atleast 4 whistles off.
6. Turn off heat and let the lentils and greens cook in the steam.
7. In a separate skillet, add desi ghee and heat on high flame. Add cumin seeds, hing powder and chopped garlic. Saute till garlic is reddish brown and crisp in texture.
8. Now add red chilli powder and turn the heat off. Add this tadka to the saag in the steam cooker.

Presentation:

Serve hot in a bowl along with freshly boiled rice or chapatis. I personally like it with rice, that is the UP style. 

PS: I have heard "Amitabh Bachhan" mentioning this in an interview as one of his favorite dishes in childhood times.