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Steamed Spinach Dumpling – An Appetizer and A Yougurt Delicacy

9 April 2011 39 Comments

steamed spinach snack

Every time I make this Spinach and yogurt delicacy, it brings back the memory of my grandmother and her earthy kitchen. I would have cooked the same recipe umpteen number of times but could never come close to the one which she used to make. The earthen pot, fire wood stove, yogurt made from the fresh milk from backyard and those experienced hands are the secret ingredients which brings the flavors missing in mine 🙂 My gas stove and the stainless steel vessels could never emulate the same lest I shift to the olden days of cooking.

This yogurt recipe which is also called as Kadhi is a very common dish in many houses in North & West India, also adds up to a great soup. Normally cooked with only the curd & chickpea flour as the main ingredients, Gatte or steamed chickpea flour rolls are often added for extra punch.

I added Spinach to the dough for making the rolls and got a scrumptious snack and the ubiquitous Gatte or steamed dumplings too for the Kadhi from the same rolls.

Healthy Steamed Spinach Snack

Spinach & chickpea flour with spices

Ingredients for the Dumplings;

(serves 4)

  • 2 cups of Spinach leaves
  • 2 cups of Chickpea flour/Besan
  • 1 cup Yogurt/curd
  • 1/2 tsp. Turmeric powder
  • 2 tsp. Red chillies powder
  • 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
  • 1 tsp. coriander powder
  • 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste (optional)
  • Salt as desired
  • Water as required
Healthy Steamed Spinach Snack

Delicate spinach logs..ready for a steam.

Method: Wash and shred the spinach leaves thoroughly. Shred the leaves finely. Take a large vessel and add the chickpea flour and all the dry ingredients into it. Add the shredded spinach & the yogurt into the dry ingredients and mix well. Make a solid dough, add extra teaspoon of water if you are not able to bind all ingredients into a dough.

Healthy Steamed Spinach Snack

Steamed and sliced spinach rolls

Make 5-6 small rolls using the same dough. There are 3 ways to steam these rolls:

  1. Heat water in a large vessel and add these rolls in it. When the rolls start floating on the water, they are done.
  2. Pour 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker and keep a small but broad bowl in it. Grease a plate which can fit into the pressure cooker. Keep all the spinach rolls on the plate and lower it into the pressure cooker. Steam for about 6-7 minutes on high pressure without vent.
  3. Steam the rolls in microwave mode for about 3-4 minutes on high.
Healthy Steamed Spinach Snack

For a quick snack!

Take out the steamed rolls and let them cool. Cut the spinach rolls into half inch slices and keep them separately.

Seasoning the appetizers

Ingredients;

  • 2 tsp. sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp. mustard seeds
  • 2 tsp grated coconut
  • 1 green chilly
  • 2 tsp. of oil
  • A pinch of asafoetida/Hing
  • a few curry leaves
  • 1 tsp. of lemon juice

Method: Heat oil in a wok and add crackle the mustard seeds. Add the sesame and curry leaves fry for a minute.  Add asafoetida and spit green chilly.

Healthy Steamed Spinach Snack

Seasoned spinach appetizers!

Arrange the steamed spinach slices in serving dish and pour the hot seasoning over it. Garnish with freshly grated coconut.

Steamed Spinach Dumplings in Yogurt Gravy

spinach gatte in yogurt curry

A makeover!

Use the same recipe (link given below) for making the yogurt Kadhi and add the dumplings in the last boil. Serve the Spinach dumplings in Yogurt Kadhi hot with plain rice, Khichdi or chapattis.

Lentils made easy – A Few Refreshing Yogurt Recipes

 

spinach gatte in yogurt curry

Scrumptious yogurt curry!

Notes:

  1. Avoid spinach and make plain steamed dumplings instead.
  2. Deep fry the steamed spinach dumplings and savor the scrumptious snacks or starters.
  3. These steamed dumplings stay good for a week if refrigerated.
  4. Add the steamed spinach dumplings to the cooked rice to make a delicious pilaf.
  5. These delicacies make a very healthy snack or an appetizing starter.

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39 Comments »

  • vaishali sabnani said:

    wat a lovely way to serve this dish!!really amazing!!

  • Soma said:

    Sanjeeta, this is such a beautifully innovative dish in every way! Lovely way to snack and then make a meal out it!

  • Latha said:

    What a colorful and healthy snack….looks gorgeous and delish.

  • sharmi said:

    lovely dumpling and a nice idea! something like muthiyas! will try them soon!

  • Nithya said:

    Oh my god. This is super interesting. I love the idea totally. You always make me say WOW for your dishes. Something too new to me, of course I have tried kadhi few times but adding spinach and steaming it is like a classic idea 🙂 Will surely give it a try 🙂

    Have a great vacation. Enjoy with your family 🙂

  • Shri said:

    It looks wonderful and delicious, Sanjeeta!!

  • Pachecopatty said:

    This is such a unique dish, love all the ingredients and especially the color;-)

  • Kathy Gori said:

    Another fabulous recipe!!

  • Raj @ Flip Cookbook said:

    I really shouldn’t look at your blog when I’m hungry.. 😀 Great recipe! Thanks for sharing.

  • Angie's Recipes said:

    I love those spinach bites :-)) Very healthy and delicious!

  • Tanvi@Sinfully Spicy said:

    Yum.This is so similar to rajasthani gatte sans the spinach & ofcourse the curry.Quite a healthy way to snack.

  • peachkins said:

    this looks like something I would like!

  • Priya Mahadevan said:

    How beautifully explained and photographed! This is a wonderful recipe and I am bookmarking to try it …

  • Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen said:

    What an interesting appetizer! I bet it tastes amazing. 🙂

  • Joanne said:

    What deliciously healthy dumplings! I love that you get a dose of veggies in every bite!

  • santosh said:

    healthy and without oil dumpling

  • anncoo said:

    Love the first picture! Looks so beautiful and sounds healthy too.

  • Maria @ Scandifoodie said:

    I love this recipe! I’ll definitely want to try this soon!

  • marla said:

    These sound amazing! Love the addition of chickpea flour.

  • rebecca said:

    this looks tasty and so soft new to me thanks for traveling with me

    Rebecca

  • Sommer@ASpicyPerspective said:

    What lovely color!

  • lisaiscooking said:

    The dumplings look like a healthy and delicious snack, and they look great in the gravy too!

  • sweetlife said:

    so healthy and comforting, a perfect recipe,, thanks for sharing!!

    sweetlife

  • Reeni said:

    I love spinach and everything else in these! They look delicious and bring such great memories for you!

  • sharmi said:

    Hey Sanjeeta, I made these today and they came out really well! thanks for the recipe:)

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    So glad that you liked the Spinach dumplings, Sharmi 🙂

  • Jayasri Ravi said:

    wow, this is lovely , I make something like this but completely in a different way!, someday I will post mine, and try yours soon!, hope my kids will like it!

  • biny anoop said:

    hey thats gud …we make something like this….but after steaming we roast the coconut sesame seeds and then add the cut pieces to this and let it roast for a while…..but either way it tastes gud

  • Mom Chef said:

    ooh !! drool worthy !! 🙂
    Sanjeetha : I am seriously beginning to think which one of your recipes I should start with :)!

  • foodwanderings said:

    This is incredible. I love how it is not fried and very healthy! Love the round discs you cut. I am now hungry looking at these stemaed spinach dumplings and can imagine the wonderfi taste and consistency!

  • foodwanderings said:

    meant wonderful:)

  • Kristen said:

    What an interesting dish! So new to me!

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    @Kristen, thanks for visiting and writing your views. Hope you cook and enjoy the dish.

  • Ananda Rajashekar said:

    last pic is lovely love that bowl!

  • archana said:

    very healthy dish…we make with methi leaves and grated bottle gourd (makes very soft)… can add both leafy vegetables…we call it Muthia ..the same way….:)

  • Bhavana said:

    Hi Sanjeetha,

    They look really lovely and appetising…have just put some on the gas stove…:)

    Just wanted to check as im new to your lovely blog…are these the standard cup measurements…as in 1 cup is the std. 250 ml cup?

    Im sorry for bothering you with such naive questions but i really follow the recipe measurements to the T and so the question 🙂

    Warm Regards,
    Bhavana

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    @Bhavana, Yes its standard measurement.

  • Swang said:

    Great recipe! Q- I just have to steam them right? No need to put the whistle on the cooker? 🙂

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    @Swang, yes, without the whistle. Similar to steaming Idlies in pressure cooker.

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