Spiced Spinach With Yogurt Recipes

MIDDLE EASTERN SPINACH WITH SPICES AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat and add the clove, allspice berries, and coriander seeds or cumin seeds. Heat, shaking the pan, until the spices begin to smell toasty, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool for a few minutes, then grind in a spice mill. Add the cinnamon, and set aside.
• In a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt to a paste, and stir into the yogurt. Set aside.
• Place the baby spinach in a bowl and pour on boiling water to cover. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water, squeeze out excess water, and chop coarsely.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet and add the pine nuts. Cook, stirring, until they begin color (2 to 3 minutes), then remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the spices to the oil. When they begin to sizzle, cook for about 30 seconds and add the spinach, toasted pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the spinach is heated through and coated with the oil and spices, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and spoon the yogurt over the top. This is very nice served with Arabic bread.

INDIAN-SPICED EGGS WITH SPINACH AND TURMERIC YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the yogurt and turmeric in a small bowl, season with salt and set aside. Toast the pitas on a sheet pan in the oven until they're warmed through and beginning to crisp, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic and chile and cook until softened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the garam masala and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds more. Begin adding in the spinach by the handful, tossing it frequently to encourage wilting. Gradually add more as it cooks down, about 6 to 8 minutes total. Season with salt.
• While the spinach cooks, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Crack the eggs into the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the undersides are crispy and the yolk is still runny, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Spread the turmeric yogurt on the toasted pitas and top each with spinach and then a fried egg. Scatter cilantro over the top, if using, and serve.

SPINACH IN YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium heat until it shimmers. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Add spinach, chile, 2 tablespoons water, and 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in yogurt.
• Heat remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook mustard seeds until they begin to pop and/or turn gray, then add cumin seeds and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until cumin seeds brown, about 30 seconds more. Add curry leaves (if using), covering skillet immediately for a few seconds, then stir spice mixture into spinach mixture. Season with salt. Serve warm.

INDIAN-SPICED TOFU WITH WILTED SPINACH AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Press tofu.
• In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add tofu and cook, turning, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate and season with salt.
• Heat remaining oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ginger and spices and cook, stirring, until spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in yogurt. Season with salt and stir in golden tofu. Serve with rice.

MIDDLE EASTERN SPINACH WITH SPICES AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat, and add the clove, allspice berries, and coriander seeds or cumin seeds. Heat, shaking the pan, until the spices begin to smell toasty, about three minutes. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool for a few minutes, then grind in a spice mill. Add the cinnamon, and set aside.
• In a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt to a paste, and stir into the yogurt. Set aside.
• Place the baby spinach in a bowl, and add just enough boiling water to cover. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water, squeeze out excess water, and chop coarsely.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet, and add the pine nuts. Stir until they begin color (two to three minutes), then remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the spices to the oil. When they begin to sizzle, cook for about 30 seconds and add the spinach, toasted pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the spinach is heated through and coated with the oil and spices, two to three minutes. Transfer to a serving dish, and spoon the yogurt over the top.

SPICED SPINACH WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat oil in large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger. Cook 1 minutes. Stir in coriander and cumin.
• Add spinach and cook until just wilted, about 2-3 minutes Remove from heat.
• Stir in yogurt and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.