We all have heard about mustard and its strong, zesty flavour. The mustard is a kind of spice used to flavour various dishes. What we use as a spice is not all, as mustard greens are loved all over India. Before it flowers, the leaves of the mustard plant are harvested as mustard greens for people to enjoy various delicacies in winter.
Mustard greens are very readily available in every market in the season. It is inexpensive and can easily turn into delicious dishes with simple ingredients. Mustard Greens are usually mixed with other greens, such as spinach, fenugreek, radish, etc.
Mustard greens are very well paired with caramelized onions, and one can find a hint of it in every mustard greens dish. Butter or ghee is also a constant choice for people while making dishes with mustard greens to enhance the taste. It is a staple for many North Indian people with makke ki roti or maize flour flatbreads.
Mustard greens dishes are very heart-warming and indulgent. The grounded flavours from the greens can be easily combined with different kinds of flatbreads and rice. The aroma is unique to the greens; one will feel happy and close to home, embracing these dishes in winter.
1. The Classic Sarso Da Saag
The Classic Sarso da saag is one of the most famous Punjabi dishes, which requires mustard greens and a combination of other leafy vegetables such as spinach and cabbage. Sarson da saag is made keeping in mind the creamy texture while mixing various Greens, adding garlic flavour to it with a hint of bitterness.
Mustard oil is also used for stronger flavours in the dish with ghee and butter. The dish is often served with various kinds of flatbread. The wet yet creamy consistency thicker than gravy serves a heartwarming flavour while soaking up all the dryness from the flatbread, giving a real treat to our taste buds.
2. Mustard Green Paratha
You must have heard about Makke ki Roti, but have you heard about mustard green parathas that are delicious and easy to make? It is not different from any other paratha. Still, it is unique as mustard greens add an uncommon taste to the roti, making a delicious and crunchy combination with the ghee, which melts into your mouth and can go well with any condiments and vegetable curry.
Mustard green paratha is stuffed with lots of garlic and ginger with a pinch of chat masala to make it more spicy and delicious. If you are tired of having aloo paratha and radish paratha daily, you can try mustard green paratha with garlic pickle to treat your taste buds with the goodness of the dish.
3. Mustard Green Pakora
Mustard green pakoras are a unique addition to your daily snack as they will serve as a salty and slightly bitter snack with sweet milk tea. It can also be served with different sides, such as Khichdi, or made into a pakora curry.
Mustard green fritters are easy to make and are ready within 20 minutes, making it a perfect snack to nibble upon. The leaves are boiled to remove the extra bitterness, making it soft, then mixed with heavily seasoned besan mix, deeply fried to warm and crunchy goodness.
4. Sarson Saag Ki Dal
Another popular favorite from Punjab is Sarson Saag Ki Dal. Sarson Saag Ki Dal is made with a combination of different lentils, such as moong and masoor dal, and mixed with the leaves after blanching to give the daal the flavour of mustard leaves.
The dish is tempered with ghee and a blend of spices to make it pop more. It can go perfectly with different kinds of rice or bread. The dal is very simple and can serve as a very homely meal for someone in the winter afternoon.
5. Sarson Saag Bhujia
Mustard green bhujia is a mix of different kinds of greens with mustard, making it into a stir fried rice with a combination of different vegetables such as spring onions and carrots with lots of garlic and ginger. Tomato puree or tomato bits are added to the bhujia to make the bitterness more subtle.
The bhujia is often served as a side with rice and roti. The bhujia has more of a bitter taste, but it still gives a brilliant spicy taste to the meal, overall complementing winter dishes in every home. Sarson Saag Bhujiya can also be made differently by adding lemon juice, making the dish more tangy than bitter.
6. Mustard Green and Spinach Pulao
The mustard green and spinach pulao is definitely one of the most unique dishes you will ever hear of. The sweetness of pulao and the bitterness from mustard green and spinach will elevate the taste you experience while having tangy and savory curries.
The pulao can go well with non-veg and veg items. One can also crunch a papadum in pulao to make it more crispy and fun to eat with different curries. It is a perfect dish that serves as evidence of simple ingredients made into extravagant food.
7. Mustard Green Smoothie
The mustard green smoothie is also popular to drink to increase your green intake and maintain a balanced diet. Mustard Greens are blended with different kinds of greens like spinach and radish leaves which have very nutritional benefits.
The mustard green smoothie is also a very refreshing drink that one can have with seasonal ingredients available at home. It has a certain kick from the mustard and cool tones of spinach to balance the perfectly healthy drink you want.
8. Pesto Sauce Using Mustard Green
Did you know you can make pesto sauce using mustard Greens, too? If you don't like the strong taste of mustard sauce and are looking for alternatives, then you can try out pesto sauce using mustard greens to add a little bit of kick and uniqueness to your pasta dishes.
Pesto sauce using mustard green is very easy to make, and the concentrated flavours, which are very natural and earthy, can instantly touch your heart. It is not too bitter but perfectly well-balanced for a hearty meal or brunch. You can try out this sauce by fusing garlic and ginger flavours to kick and elevate the taste.
9. Mustard Green Soup
Mustard green soup is different from daal as it is not tempered with different kinds of spices, and the consistency is much thinner. The soup is made using the boiling water of mustard greens as the base, adding different vegetable stocks. A little bit of spinach and other greens are also added to balance out the taste with salt and pepper.
The soup can be eaten with different kinds of bread and topped with bread croutons. To elevate the taste, infuse it with different lentil broth. The soup will warm your heart and it will help you digest better. The soup is a true delicacy and justice to mustard green leaves that one should try.