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Monday, May 2, 2011

Methi Malai Mutter


Methi malai mutter figures in my husband's list of most favourite dishes. So when my cousin, Aruna, gave me this recipe I tried it immediately. I have made it several times after that with some minor changes here and there. What I liked best about the recipe is that there's no 'malai' to be added, and the milk gives a creamy texture.

Ingredients:
2 medium onions
4 to 5 garlic cloves
3 to 4 green chillies
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
1 pinch of nutmeg powder (optional)
1 tsp cumin/ jeera powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 bunch (about 2 cups) methi leaves
1 cup coriander leaves
2 tsp maida
2 cups milk (room temp)
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
1/4 tsp sugar
1 tsp lime juice (see note)
Salt to taste
Oil

Method :
Roughly chop onions, garlic and green chillies. Wash and coarsely chop methi leaves and coriander leaves.
Heat oil. Saute onion, garlic and green chillies for a few minutes till onion turns brownish. Allow to cool. Transfer to a blender. Add all the powders and blend into a smooth paste (without water).
In the same pan, heat 1/2 tsp oil and saute methi leaves and coriander leaves for 3 to 4 minutes. Add it to the above paste and blend for 6 to 8 seconds.

[In the original recipe, you roast all the above mentioned ingredients together and blend them together into a smooth paste. However, I like to see little specks of methi and coriander leaves in the curry so I roast them separately and pulse them with the onion paste. If you don't like the taste of tiny methi leaves, blend together into a smooth paste].


Heat 2 tsp oil in a deep-bottomed pan. Add maida and stir till oil and maida mix well, making sure no lumps form. When the mixture changes colour slightly, add the ground paste and roast for a minute. Add milk little by little and mix. [Add 1/4 cup milk at a time, mixing well with each addition]. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes till the mixture boils, keep stirring so that the paste doesn't stick to the bottom.


Add green peas and cook for a few minutes. Add salt to taste, sugar (to remove bitterness of methi) and juice of lemon. [ Note - I actually hesitate to use lemon juice because I'm scared it'll curdle the milk. I mentioned it here since it's included in the original recipe].


Add cubes of fried paneer if desired. Goes well with chapati, tandoori roti, naan or jeera rice.  

Sending this to bookmarked recipes.

24 comments:

  1. Looks like restaurant made.. It is so simple yet looks delicious:)
    Reva

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  2. Very creamy and nice side dish...

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  3. Methi malai mutter looks to be very tasty and colourful. Great preparation.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  4. very inovative...I'll love to try this..

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  5. It figures in my top favourite dishes too! Yum! :D In the beginning, it looks a bit like pesto.

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  6. love the unique flavour of methi with peas and malai.....

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  7. Loved ur version,luks yum...

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  8. one of my fav dishes and ur version looks jolly good!

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  9. Curry looks soo creamy and fantastic..

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  10. I always wanted to try this, but never did. Now, I guess I have the perfect recipe, it looks super tempting :)

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  11. totally bookmarking this incredibly healthy and delicious recipe

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  12. This is new combination....interesting to try!

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  13. very innovative effort and creamy malai.love the combo.

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  14. tried this recipe was soo delicious.. with chapati.. i didnt have methi.,. but i substituted that with spinach.. i also reduced the milk to 1\2 a cup ( didnt want too much of gravy ).. and dint use the sugar at all.. it was really good.. I omitted the lemon juice as i've had experiences of it curdling the milk..but on the whole very healthy! good job!

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  15. Thanks for trying Michelle. The sugar is used incase methi leaves are bitter.

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  16. Thank u... I tried it out... n it was yummy...

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  17. first time in ur space....methi matar malai looks delicious dear....looks absolutely yummy....loved ur clicks ....following ur space...do check out mine in ur free time :)

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  18. wow! looks just like you get it in the restaurants. You have a great space here. Love all your pictures and the step by step pics make it look so simple.

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  19. Great recipe! I have done this several times and each time it has been delicious.

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