5 traditional Palak dishes, 5 reasons to have it

The good old humble Palak or spinach has often attracted unwarranted hate for being somewhat bland and 'boring'. However, this superfood is packed with nutrients, and paired with the right ingredients, it is not only tasty, but can be the real conversation starter at your next house party. Let's take a look at some lip-smacking palak dishes....

Elevate your regular puri to make it a nutritious and filling one, with this super food. All you need to do is knead some blanched palak into the dough, add your spices, roll it out like a regular puri, fry (or air fry) and voila! Goes well with aloo sabzi, matar paneer and even the good old achaar. (pickle) A perfect treat for a Sunday brunch.

This one is a favorite at weekend lunches, and even potlucks. This is also relatively easy to make, and all you need to do is blanch and puree the spinach before adding it in the yoghurt+besan base of the kadhi. There are many variations of the dish though, and one can also make palak ke pakode and add them to the kadhi. Serve on a bed of hot rice.

A restaurant favorite, this one is a staple at most vegetarian weddings. While some like to fry the paneer before adding it to the spinach puree, the healthier version is to take some firm paneer, cut it into cubes, and directly add it to the puree. Let it simmer for a few minutes with spices, and it is done. Goes well with naan, chapati, paratha and even rice! Add some fresh cream as garnish to make it fancy.

Picky eaters at home? Make this spinach based hara bhara kebab masked along with the more 'popular' veggies like potato and peas. Simply make a mixture of your favourite (boiled) veggies, add in the blanched spinach, spices, a binding ingredient (bread crumbs or cornflour), and pan fry it with a little oil. You can add some cashews for seasoning, and serve with mint chutney.

Ailments like cold, fever or seasonal allergies bogging you down? This healthy, low calorie palak soup is a saviour. Simply chop up some palak, and saute it with some onions, garlic, curry leaves and spices. Add some besan to thicken the batter, and use vegetable stock instead of water if possible, to make the soup more flavorful. You can also add veggies like carrot and beans to up the nutritional quotient. Serve with warm toasted bread, with a little butter.

Improves your digestive health - Palak is high in fibre, and can help with digestion, and facilitates healthy bowel movements. It can also help with stomach issues like ulcers and colitis, apart from helping maintain a healthy gut.

Want strong bones even in old age? Fortified with calcium and Vitamin D, Palak can help with bone health. A healthy diet containing enough greens can help you prevent those nagging pains later on in life.

There is a reason our mothers told us to "eat our greens" while growing up. Containing antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, spinach can improve eye health, though it cannot reverse any degenerative condition of the eye.

Spinach can regulate your blood pressure, that in turn can better your heart health. It is a great tool for keeping you full without overeating, helping you avoid cholestrol and other ailments.

Apart from these, spinach also helps control your glucose, is hydrating, and contains iron, vitamins A and K, and potassium.