Aloo Methi
A simple and hearty dish that’s packed with a burst of rich and nutty flavours of spices and herbs like coriander, garlic, hing, green chillies, and the delicious softness of stir-fried potatoes, aloo methi is loved almost all across the country. This is a hearty vegetable that’s relished with a hot piping paratha or a fluffy roti.
Out of all the aloo dishes like
aloo matar, chatpata masala aloo,
aloo jeera,
aloo beans,
banarasi dum aloo, tawa aloo,
aloo baingan, aloo bhujia,
aloo gobi, etc., aloo methi sabji always steals the show!
A lot of people make and relish aloo methi sabji in winters, mainly due to the availability of methi leaves in this season, to enjoy as a part of a sunny brunch menu or a cosy and comforting dinner at home. It goes well with ghee rotis, parathas, and flavoured rice also like ghee rice, lemon rice,
jeera rice, etc. Aloo methi is not only delicious but is quite nutritious too.
What are the health benefits of aloo methi?
Aloo methi is packed with several essential nutrients that help in preventing many diseases and disorders and in meeting nutritional deficiencies. Here are some of the most important health benefits of aloo methi sabji:
The methi used in your aloo methi recipe is a proven ingredient of alternative medicine. It is low in calories and rich in nutrients like proteins, carbs, iron, manganese, magnesium, and fibre.
It helps control and prevents type-1 and type-2 diabetes by regulating your blood sugar levels and LDL, which is the bad cholesterol. Methi also helps in improving your body’s insulin function.
Methi is rich in insoluble fibre. This promotes a healthy digestive system and prevents constipation and flatulence.
Spices like turmeric, clove, cumin, etc., used in aloo methi recipes have amazing benefits like improving your digestive processes and preventing gas, constipation, etc.
These spices in aloo methi recipes are rich in iron and help in preventing anaemia and preventing fatigue and shortness of breath.
They also prevent inflammation in the joints, especially for people who are suffering from arthritis.
These spices are essential for improving your cognitive functioning and preventing conditions like short-term memory loss, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.
Ingredients like green chillies in aloo methi recipes are rich in vitamin C. They help in preventing free radicals and improving your immunity. They also keep your skin healthy and prevent premature ageing.
The potatoes in aloo methi recipe are rich in antioxidants like flavonoids, carotenoids, etc. that help in neutralising free radicals that are the reason for diabetes, cancer, and several heart diseases.
Potatoes are rich in resistant starches that help in improving the levels of gut bacteria that in turn benefit your digestive health. They also reduce inflammation in the colon and prevent conditions like ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis.
Potatoes are naturally gluten-free, perfect for people who are sensitive to gluten. They can avoid it’s harmful symptoms like skin rashes, diarrhea, constipation, etc.
Methi is very low in calories and quite filling. This helps in making you feel full and helps avoid overeating. This is very beneficial for people who are watching their calories and weight.
Methi has significant levels of vitamin K. This helps in improving your bone metabolism and your bone strength. This not only helps in preventing conditions like osteoporosis but also heals fractures and other bone injuries faster.
What are some tips for making the best aloo methi every time?
Before we share the easiest recipe for making the most delicious aloo methi ki sabji, here are some pro-tips for you to nail the recipe each time you make it:
To avoid your aalu methi ki sabji becoming bitter, after you chop the methi leaves, place them in a bowl and sprinkle a little salt on them and stir well. Keep it aside for 15-20 minutes. This helps in reducing the bitterness of methi leaves.
A great tip for reducing the bitterness of the veggie is to pluck the leaves properly, not allowing any part of the stem to get into the vegetable.
Cooking the potatoes for long not only makes them crisp but also helps in allowing them to absorb the flavours of the spices and condiments that you use in your aloo methi recipe.
Instead of the regular potato, you can use baby potatoes too.
While the dry aloo methi recipe is mostly enjoyed dry, you can always innovate and try making it gravy with ingredients like malai, besan, etc.
To make your alu methi crispier, fry the aloos instead of pressure-cooking them.
To add more taste, texture, and nutrition to your methi aloo ki sabji, you can add veggies like beans, peas, carrots, cauliflower, etc.
To make aloo methi spicier, you can garnish it with lemon juice.
If fresh methi is not available where you live, you can make use of the dried kasuri methi, which is pretty fragrant itself.
To give an amazing bite to your aloo methi, cook it in mustard oil. This oil gives a very distinct and robust taste to the vegetable.
To keep the nutrition of this very healthy dish intact, avoid overcooking and overheating. This leads to the destruction of nutrients especially vitamin C.
How to make the most delicious aloo methi at home?
We often wonder how to make aloo methi restaurant-style at home! You will be surprised that this two-ingredient veggie is pretty easy to make and doesn’t take more than 20 minutes. Here is the aloo methi sabji recipe:
In a pan, boil potato cubes with a little salt and turmeric. Once they boil, drain and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Let them crackle and add hing.
Saute for 2-3 minutes.
Add chopped ginger, garlic, and chilli. Saute till they are golden brown.
Add chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
Add powdered spices like red chilli powder, cumin, coriander, and chaat masala. Cook it well.
Add chopped methi and saute.
Cook until the methi is mushy.
Add the boiled potato cubes.
Cook for 4-5 minutes.
Serve garnished with coriander leaves.