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Dietician Sheela Seharawat

Winters is all about staying indoors, lazy afternoons and yummy homemade delicacies. Our traditions have taught us to eat healthy and use homemade ingredients as much possible, so that the body gets all the necessary supplies of minerals and nutrients that is required to keep us healthy and warm.
There are a lot of Indian spices that have been used since ages to prepare winter foods so that we stay warm and satisfied with a hearty meal. These recipes are always a hit and satisfying when we are preparing meals for our families in the cold months. These months also brings in some fresh and exotic healthy vegetables that we should always try to use to reap its benefits.

Palak Rice with homemade dahi | Easy and healthy rice recipe
A healthy and delicious rice recipe made with palak (spinach), vegetables and Indian spices. Palak or spinach is packed with nutrition and is a very healthy dish, a perfect way to add some greens in your diet. Indian spices are known for its goodies and flavors and keeps us warm during winters.

The recipe below says the rice made out of palak puree, but it can be chopped and puree both, or puree or chopped, whichever way it is convenient for you. In case you like it to be a little spicy, increase the quantity of green chilies.

Preparation time : 15 mins
Cooking time : 15 mins
Total time : 30 mins
Course : Main Course (Staple)
Cuisine : Indian
Serves : 2

Ingredients:
Rice (uncooked) : 1 cup
Oil : 1 tsp
Star anise : ½ piece
Green cardamom : 2 nos.
Cloves : 3 nos.
Cinnamon stick : 1 small
Cumin or shahi jeera : ¼ tsp
Bay leaf : 1 small
Palak / spinach : 2 cups (tightly packed about 100 grams leaves)
Green chilies sliced : 2 to 3
Ginger garlic paste : 1 tsp
Garlic cloves : 2 nos.
Onion sliced : 1 no.
Potato or any veggies : 1 medium
Garam masala : ½ to ¾ tsp
Turmeric : a little
Salt : as needed
Lemon juice : as needed

Instructions:
1. Cook rice, let it cool and keep separately.
2. Wash palak thoroughly in ample water. Drain completely.
3. Put the cleaned palak in a blender and make puree out of it.
4. Heat a pan with oil, add all the specified spices and sauté for a min.
5. Add ginger garlic paste and fry until the raw smell goes out.
6. Add onion and fry until golden. Add veggies and sauté until they are tender. If needed sprinkle some water and cook.
7. Sprinkle garam masala, salt and turmeric.
8. Add the palak puree and sauté until the raw smell goes off.
9. Add the cooked and cooled rice, squeeze in the lemon juice.
10. Mix everything well.
11. Garnish with fried chilies. Serve hot with homemade dahi.