Every year, winter brings along with it loads of fresh veggies and seasonal ingredients that blend wonderfully in our diet, and also help improve our health and overall well-being. The crunchy fresh winter greens - such as palak (spinach) - are very popular during this time. Spinach is a seasonal produce, and is thus easily available and accessible now. It is a storehouse of nutrients - such as protein, fibre, antioxidants, and more - that are essential for our body. Besides, it's super versatile too. From smoothie to sabzi and more, one can make a wide range of food items with just a bunch of spinach in hand.
But check with any Indian home, especially in the northern parts of the country - Punjab, Delhi, UP, and Haryana - and you’ll find that one of the most popular dishes to be prepared using spinach is Palak Paneer. A winter staple, Palak Paneer makes for a wholesome meal when paired with roti, paratha, or naan. But if the latest revelation is to be believed, palak and paneer apparently do not make for a great combination.
Nutritionist Nmami Agarwal, in her latest video posted on Instagram, says that palak and paneer shouldn't be eaten together. Sharing insights on the same, she explains, "There are certain combinations that do not go well together. Healthy eating doesn't mean just eating the right food at the right time. It is also about having it in the right combination."
She further points out how there are certain food combinations that inhibit the nutrient absorption of each other, when eaten together. One such combination is calcium and iron. While paneer is a storehouse of calcium, palak comes loaded with iron. "When eaten together, calcium in paneer inhibits the iron absorption of palak. If you want to make the most of palak, eat Palak Aloo or Palak Corn, instead," she adds
Isn't that quite a revelation? If you want to experiment beyond Palak Paneer, here we have some easy and delicious palak recipes that you can try at home. Are you a fan of the flavoursome combination of palak and garlic? We have found another amazing palak recipe for you that comes with a tinge of garlic. Click here for Lehsuni Palak.