Indian Cuisine Tutorials: Ingredients - Fenugreek

INDIAN CUISINE TUTORIALS: INGREDIENTS - FENUGREEK
This is Post No. 7 in Indian Cuisine Tutorials series.A new one each day!

Called 'Methi' in several Indian languages like Hindi,Punjabi,Marathi,Urdu and Bengali,fenugreek is used in three forms in the cuisine:
1. Fresh
As shown in the picture below.Fresh fenugreek has small,slightly round leaves.It is mostly used as a vegetable,but may also be used as a herb.The rule of thumb is to always sprinkle fresh fenugreek leaves with salt,keep them aside for some minutes,squeeze out all the water and then use them.This reduces the bitterness of fenugreek.Some famous dishes include Aloo Methi(A famous north Indian preparation!Potatoes are cooked with fenugreek leaves and selected spices such as cumin seeds,asafoetida,whole dried red chilies,coriander powder and turmeric powder.) ,Methi Murgh(A lip-smacking chicken and fenugreek dish!Chopped fenugreek leaves are sauteed in hot oil,cooked with chicken and wonderful flavoring ingredients like cumin,garlic,onions,ginger,green chili and yogurt to make a hearty,comforting curry.) and Methi Paratha.(Shallow fried Indian flat bread with a soft texture but crisp exterior,loaded generously with fresh fenugreek leaves.)

Image Source
Photographer - Dainee Ranaweera

2. Dried
Dried fenugreek is used as a herb,like in Butter Chicken.Often,it is also used as a substitute of fresh fenugreek,particularly when fresh fenugreek is not in season.However,since dried fenugreek has a stronger flavor and is much more aromatic than the fresh variant,its quantity must be reduced when used as a substitute.
3. Fenugreek Seeds
As shown in the below picture.Notice their cuboid shape and yellow color.Fenugreek seeds are called 'Methi Dana' in Hindi,and are a commonly used spice in Indian cooking.The taste is bitter,but they are flavorful and aromatic.Used in Indian pickles,curries and lentil preparations.Fenugreek seeds are an essential part of panch phoran,the Bengali spice mix.

Image Source
Photographer - Sanjay Acharya

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Buy MDH Kasoori Methi(Dried Fenugreek) - 25 Grams

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