10 Delicious Bathua Leaf Dishes to Savor This Winter Season
Bathua leaves, scientifically known as Chenopodium album, are a humble yet powerful winter leafy green that have been cherished in Indian cuisine for generations. Packed with essential nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and B6, these leaves offer a significant boost to overall health. Their high fiber content aids in improving digestion, preventing constipation, and promoting gut health. Additionally, bathua leaves are renowned for their detoxifying properties, which help cleanse the blood and enhance skin health, making them a must-have during the chilly months.
As winter sets in, incorporating bathua leaves into your diet can be both delicious and beneficial. Here, we have curated a list of 10 interesting and flavorful dishes that you can easily prepare with bathua leaves to enjoy throughout the season.
1. Bathua ka Saag
This traditional dish is rich in fiber and bursting with flavor. It is prepared with a tempering of mustard oil, panch phoran, and garlic cloves, resulting in a dry side dish that pairs perfectly with roti, dal, or rice.
2. Bathua ka Pakoda
A crispy and deep-fried snack, these pakodas are made by dunking bathua leaves in a spicy gram flour paste, coating them well, and frying to golden perfection. They are an ideal accompaniment to a hot cup of chai and some tangy chutney.
3. Bathua Paratha
One of the most popular dishes featuring bathua leaves, this paratha is made by blanching the leaves, blending them into a puree, and kneading the dough with it along with a pinch of salt and ajwain seeds. Roll out the parathas and cook them using oil or ghee for a wholesome meal.
4. Bathua ka Raita
To prepare this refreshing side dish, blanch the bathua leaves and blend them into a puree. Cook the puree in a tempering of ghee and jeera, then mix it into sweetened curd. Whisk well and serve with paratha or rice for a delightful combination.
5. Bathua ki Sabzi
This is a hearty gravy curry that uses blanched bathua leaves cooked in a rich tomato curry along with fried potatoes. It makes for a perfect meal when served with steamed rice, a dollop of ghee, and dhaniya ki chutney.
6. Bathua ka Cutlet
A healthy snack option, these cutlets are made by boiling and mashing seasonal vegetables into a spicy stuffing along with bathua leaves. The mixture is then stuffed between bread slices and deep-fried to perfection, offering a crispy and nutritious treat.
7. Bathua ki Kadhi
For this comforting dish, prepare the regular kadhi with besan, curd, and spices, then add bathua pakodis to it. Simmer until the pakodis turn tender, and enjoy this kadhi with rice and a drizzle of ghee on top.
8. Bathua ka Cheela
This makes for a filling breakfast option. Mix gram flour, curd, and sooji with a portion of bathua puree, then cook the batter on a tawa to create a crepe-like dish. Serve it with chutney on the side for a delicious start to your day.
9. Bathua ki Poori
Similar to parathas, you can make pooris by kneading a salty dough using bathua puree. Deep-fry the pooris in oil or ghee until they puff up, resulting in a crispy and flavorful bread that pairs well with any curry.
10. Bathua Dal
This curry is made with toor or masoor dal, cooked with chopped bathua leaves in a tempering of ghee, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, and garlic. It is a nutritious and comforting dish that can be enjoyed with rice or roti.
Incorporating these dishes into your winter diet not only adds variety to your meals but also harnesses the health benefits of bathua leaves. From snacks to main courses, there is something for everyone to enjoy during this season.
