Spinach Yogurt Dip-Sabse Borani (Afghani)

I have been searching for veggies to inspire me here in Thiruvananthapuram. Visited one of the places that houses a few but was not at all impressed with the choices. I wanted a venue that reminded me of Chennai where I spent at least three days a week buying veggies and fruits that whistle back at me when I walk around! Immediately, we make eye-contact, a brief body scan if they are fresh to accompany me back home and later into our tummies.

It's a meditative journey chalking out the menu and the health benefits for the family. I love to camouflage most of those which my boys do not like...I become aggressive in my search and in my kitchen to ensure that what they don't like goes into their system (Evil Mommy, Evil Grin)

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The quest for lovely greens came to an end here in my capital city when my sister took me to one of the places she haunts (The Spring, Nanthencode) I think it caters to a foreign audience because it's got loads of stuff that I wouldn't find in a normal Malayali home for any meal! So this is exclusively for those who live abroad and go through a nostalgic urge whenever they come down for their holidays. I also feel a few hotels nearby would have a field day here. The first time I went there I wasn't impressed as most of the veggies were slightly under the weather...they looked pale, malnourished and unimpressive.( I am not even thinking Organic here)

Went out with the husband the other day and I returned like Santa Claus sans the huge sack!!! The shelves were refreshed and stocked well!!! Even found a father scolding his child in Hindi for popping a grape into his mouth...C'mon what does the kid know? But the dad was right, we don't eat anything off shelves without paying for it...later I did find the toddler manning one of those cashier's tills...ha ha! It was  dear sight to behold! Kids are so adventurous and creative. Such spontaneity and innocence! Seriously, why do we ever grow up????????????? I could see the kid's father and grandfather losing their cool and getting mad at the toddler but the young girl at the counter went about her work with the kid seated in her chair and not a chiding word did she utter to the child! Wow! Laudable indeed!

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Coming back to the beautiful Spinach we brought back home-it was seated under the name tag-Bombay Palak. Honestly, I have never seen this before, perhaps in glossy food magazines but never on the counters back home. A few of my friends suggested they could be Delhi Palak, Swiss Chards, Spinach Beet, Silver beet...I really am not sure but if any of you readers positively know what this bunch is, do leave behind a word.

Just look at those beauties!!! Nature's bounties I swear!!!

 The stems/stalks were removed, the leaves were rolled and chopped finely and set aside to go into three separate recipes. An onion and two to three pods of garlic were finely chopped as well.

 The curd was hung! (GULP) Some cold -blooded death situations in the kitchen. Left out for an hour in a muslin cloth; I used a fine mesh sieve as I did not have a muslin cloth here.

 In a sauce pan in a tbsp. of oil I added the finely diced onion, the garlic, a few pepper corns and let the onion sort of caramelize...Once they do, add in the chopped spinach and let it wilt in the heat and cook. Once it comes together, add adequate salt keeping in mind we are going to use the sour curd so we have to balance that out! Oh how I hate the curd in Kerala-it is really tangy! The recipe does not call for cumin powder, but I added a bit. The combined veggie is then added to the hung curd.

 Ta Da! the dip is ready to be scooped with your breads or rotis! Sabse Borani! Exotic name, simple dish that is easy to whip up indeed!

 This spinach was used again in another dish along with boiled potatoes and finely diced onions and garlic, a tsp. of cumin seeds, a bit of turmeric, salt, cumin powder and pepper powder. Makes for a nice side dish with plain rice or rotis!

They were also added to the dough when I was kneading them for my rotis. There have been many evil mommy days gone by where I have packed this consciously as lunch boxes for my boys when they were in school. I guess they thought the greens were cilantro. They never complained!

Whoever said that, "Three is a crowd!" has to be mocked at!!! See... I concocted three beautiful recipes and another one will follow suit/updated here with creamy macaroni!