Methi Magic: Top Quick And Delicious Methi Recipes

As per recent studies, methi a prominent Indian food ingredient is added to various cuisines to make it rich in dietary fibres and give it a delicious and flavourful taste. Methi is also known as fenugreek leaves and it has a unique fragrance that slightly tastes bitter. Methi recipes include lentils (dal), veggies, parathas, curries and many more. Besides adding flavor and taste, these leaves are also nutritious and perfect for your diet. It may come in forms like methi dana, fresh leaves, dried leaves, and aromatic fenugreek powder. The presence of antioxidants and vital minerals in methi aids in regulating blood sugar levels, menstrual pain relief, and digestion. 

Easy and Instant Methi Recipes 

Knowing the benefits of methi makes it a more attractive ingredient to have in everyday recipes. Here are some easy and nutritious Indian methi recipes to make instantly:

Methi Matar Malai Recipe

It is a creamy and luscious Indian curry that is prepared with methi leaves, malai, and mater. This vegan dish is enriched with cashew nut cream which makes the dish even more palatable. To get started with methi matar malai recipe, follow these steps: 

• Add cashews to the mixer jar and blend it until it turns creamy. 
• Now add roughly chopped onions, green chilies, and ginger-garlic to the cashew paste. 
• Again, blend all of them to make it a smooth and creamy puree by adding milk or water. 

Once the paste is ready, follow these steps to prepare the curry: 

• Heat a pan and roast chickpea flour (Besan) for 30-40 seconds. Transfer it to a bowl and keep it aside. 
• Bring water to boil and then add methi leaves to it. After 2 minutes of boiling, transfer leaves to cold water immediately and rest it for 2 minutes. This process is called blanching and it reduces the bitterness of methi leaves. 
• Heat ghee or oil in a pan with cumin seeds and then add bay leaf. 
• Add the onion paste you made to the pan and cook it for 2 to 3 minutes. 
• Then add the chickpea (Besan) to the pan and mix. 
• Then add green peas, garam masala, and salt according to your taste, and cook it for another 2 to 3 minutes. 
• Once it is stirred well, turn off the flame and serve the hot methi matar malai recipe to your family, friends, or guests. 

Methi Paratha Recipe

The methi paratha recipe is a healthy breakfast or lunch dish that is made of whole wheat flour, methi, and spices. This is a classic loved dish by Indians. To make this recipe, here are the steps: 

• Take a pot and soak some methi leaves in water for 10-15 minutes. 
• Once soaked, add them in a big bowl. Add finely chopped methi leaves, red chili powder, garam masala, wheat flour, oil, turmeric powder, ajwain, and some salt. Mix them all well. 
• Add some water and start kneading till you get the smooth dough. The dough should be tight and firm (not very soft).
• Now, start rolling the paratha and heat it on a tawa or skillet. Use oil or ghee on both sides to have a nice golden color. 
• Serve this delicious methi paratha recipe with curd, pickle, or ketchup. 

Aloo Methi Recipe

Aloo methi recipe is another popular dish among Indians. Some of the ingredients used in it are methi leaves, potatoes, ginger, lime juice, cumin seeds, spices, and chilies.

Here are some steps to prepare it: 

• Heat oil in a pan and add some dried red chilies and cumin seeds to it. 
• Now, add potato cubes and chopped green chilies. 
• Cook and stir for 3-4 minutes. 
• Add coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt to it. 
• Once the potatoes get completely cooked, add chopped methi. 
• Mix everything and serve well. 

Methi Thepla recipe

Methi thepla recipe is made of wholegrain and spices, and it is a Gujarati cuisine. It can be consumed as a breakfast food, snack, or dinner. Here is how you can make it: 

• Take 1 cup of methi leaves and finely chop it. 
• Add wheat flour or bajra flour in a bowl, and 3 to 4 tbsp of gram flour (Besan). 
• Also add turmeric and garam masala, ginger, green chilies, and salt to the mixture. 
• Mix it well and prepare a dough. 
• Roll the dough to a thin thepla. 
• Toast it on the pan, you can use ghee or oil until it gets golden brown spots. 
• Serve hot theplas with curd or ketchup to enjoy the dish. 

Methi Dal Recipe

The methi dal recipe is best served with plain steamed rice, plain paratha, or even roti. It is the quickest and easiest recipe for methi. You can start by taking some dal (chana dal or toor dal) and three tbsp of moong dal (optional). 

• Add them to a pressure cooker and add turmeric, green chilies, and tomatoes. 
• When the dal is on the stove, heat 2 tbsp of oil and add cumin seeds, red chilies, methi leaves, and garlic to it. 
• Salute them for a few minutes and when the dal is ready, pour the stirred mixture into the dal. 
• Finally, add some more methi on top of it to garnish, and serve hot. 

Methi Chapathi or Roti

Methi chapathi roti is an Indian flatbread made with whole wheat flour, spices, and methi leaves. It is best served with chutney, pickle, curd or ketchup. It is one of the best foods for school kids or office goers. 

• Prepare a dough with wheat flour, besan, red chili powder, garam masala, turmeric, ginger garlic, and finely chopped methi leaves. 
• Roll like methi paratha but comparatively thin like roti. 
• Toast them on tawa with ghee or oil until you get golden spots. 
• You can prepare them in any shape you want whether it is a triangle or a circle. 

Conclusion 

Methi leaves are a staple ingredient in every Indian household. There are many health benefits associated with it. All these benefits make methi leaves a wise and flavourful choice for people. Methi recipes like dal recipe, matar malai, and aloo methi are some of the best ways to utilize methi leaves as nutritional supplements for your health. You can pair these dishes with complementary items like curd or chutney, and enjoy the richness of methi leaves.