They say, “eat your greens”, but a lot of us tend to fret at the sight of leafy vegetables that are brought our way. Most green veggies, including spinach, are a rich source of iron, which is good for bone health and strength. It is considered great for a healthy eyesight too. However, instead of having spinach aka palak ka saag which might not appetise you, why not add the greens to the start of the day itself?
Since breakfast kick starts your day, it should be all things healthy and tasty. To brighten up your mood and energise you for the day, add spinach to your breakfast dosas, pohas, chillas and much more to give your breakfast that extra dose of iron. Here are a few recipes that you should try at home.
1. Spinach Scrambled Eggs
If you’re one of those egg hoggers who cannot skip eggs for breakfast, we wouldn’t tell you to. The creamy and delicious scrambled eggs that you usually devour in the morning will only have an addition of spinach to them. How, you ask? In the process of scrambling, get together some wilted spinach leaves and mix them with the whisked eggs. Cook all this together and enjoy it with a slice of toast.
2. Spinach Neer Dosa
Neer dosa is a Karnataka-style crepe, which is made with water and rice. Neer refers to water in the native language and the dosa is prepared with this simple batter that gives a light and airy dosa. It is quick to make and doesn’t need to be fermented. The dosa batter is mixed with a bright green spinach puree and enjoyed with a side of mint chutney.
3. Spinach Poha Cutlets
Bored of regular poha? Make some crispy poha cutlets instead. Don’t worry because they will have a rich source of iron stuffed in them too. The spinach is wilted and blanched. This is mixed with potatoes, onions, and cilantro. Spruced up with spices like red chilli and turmeric powder, the cutlets are coated with soaked poha. This is shallow-fried and served with some tomato ketchup.
4. Spinach Rava Idli
Idlis are a breakfast staple in South India. The white steamed rice cakes are soft and mushy and usually served with sambhar and coconut chutney. These idlis are made with semolina aka rava and loaded with the nutritional value of spinach. The idlis turn out to be pale green and are super healthy. Not just that, they also keep you full for longer. Softened with the use of yoghurt, these idlis will literally melt in your mouth.
5. Spinach Paratha
The popular Indian flatbread that is commonly eaten for breakfast, paratha can be plain or loaded with flavours. It can be stuffed or made with a lentil dough. In this recipe, it is made with a spinach-flavoured dough. The blanched leaves are kneaded into the dough. This lends a distinct flavour and additional nutrition to the paratha. Roll it out and cook on a tawa until crisp. Serve hot with achaar and a bowl of curd.