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Vegan Baked Chana Saag
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/8 teaspoons fenugreek seeds, (or use 1/2 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves and add with onion)
- 1 clove, optional
- 1 or 2 bay leaves
- 1 dried red chili, broken or use 1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes
- 3/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 inch ginger minced
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 ounces frozen spinach or chopped, (defrost if using frozen)
- 4 ounces chopped greens such as fresh chard,,mustard greens or other baby greens, or use more spinach
- 8 ounce tomato puree, (or unseasoned tomato sauce)
- 15 oz can coconut milk, full fat or light or other non-dairy milk of choice, thicker cashew milk or oat milk work well
- 15- ounce can chickpeas drained or 1.5 cups cooked
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pepper flakes,, lemon juice, and cilantro for garnish
Steps
- Spread the oil evenly in a 9×11 or similarly sized baking dish. Add the cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, clove and bay leaves and mix.
- Put in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (205 degrees Celsius) for 6-8 minutes, or until the cumin smells fragrant. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Take the dish out and mix in the red chilies. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, ground coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper and a generous pinch of salt and mix thoroughly. Add a few splashes of water and mix if the spices do not stick to the onion.
- Return to the oven for 11-15 minutes, or until the onion is translucent.
- Remove from the oven and mix in the spinach, greens, tomato puree, chickpeas, salt and coconut milk thoroughly.
- Fresh greens take a minute to mix in and become covered with sauce. Coat them with the sauce so they do not become crispy, then cover with parchment.
- Return to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring once during baking so all the greens cook evenly.
- Take out, taste and adjust the salt and spices, mixing them in. Garnish and serve over rice, naan or flatbread. For a creamier result, mix in 2-3 tablespoons non dairy yogurt while still hot. For a flavor variation, add 1 teaspoon garam masala or Kashmiri garam masala or 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi) while still hot.