Aloo Methi is a delicious Indian stir fry made using potatoes, fresh fenugreek leaves, and spices. It is a super healthy side dish to serve with roti or steamed rice and dal.
It is vegan and can be easily made gluten-free.
You can also try some of my other favorite methi combinations – Gajar Methi, Lahsooni Methi Paneer, Methi Keema, Baingan Methi, Kashmiri Methi Chaman, and Methi Matar Malai.
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About This Recipe
Aloo methi is an Indian dry side dish made using potatoes (aloo, alu) and fresh fenugreek leaves (methi). This stir fry is made in every Indian household for their everyday meals.
Earlier, fresh methi was available only in the winters and so aloo methi was a typical winter delicacy in North Indian homes. But now, with the changes in the agricultural practices, methi is available year-round and so you can make this sabji whenever you want to.
This stir fry tastes slightly bitter, tangy, and spicy. Fenugreek leaves have a slightly bitter taste and that is reflected in this sabji as well. The recipe is super easy to make and comes together in under 30 minutes.
It is naturally vegan and can be easily made gluten-free.
Ingredients
You will find all the ingredients to make alu methi in an Indian grocery store.
Potatoes – In my house, aloo methi is always made using baby potatoes but you can use any potatoes that are available to you. If using regular potatoes, then cut them into 1-inch cubes.
You can choose to keep the skin on or peel them using a vegetable peeler.
This dish can be made using raw or boiled potatoes. I prefer using raw potatoes as they get nice and golden brown and hold their shape without getting mushy.
You can also substitute potatoes with cauliflower, soya granules, or carrots.
Fenugreek Leaves – Use fresh fenugreek leaves to make this stir fry. You can use frozen leaves too. If both fresh and frozen leaves are not available, then you can use dried fenugreek leaves to make this sabji.
Spices – You will need basic spice powders like coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, dry mango powder, and garam masala powder.
Oil – I recommend mustard oil to make this sabji but you can use any cooking oil that you prefer.
Other Ingredients – Other than the above-mentioned ingredients, you will also need green chilies, garlic, cumin seeds, asafoetida (hing), and dry red chilies.
You can adjust the amount of chilies according to your taste. If making aloo methi for kids, you can skip it too.
If you want to make the sabji gluten-free, then skip adding asafetida. All the other ingredients are gluten-free.
How To Make Aloo Methi
Preparation
Start by cleaning the methi leaves. We need 225 grams of cleaned leaves.
Pluck the leaves from the stem. Thick stems are usually bitter and thus they need to be discarded. Also, discard yellow and wilted methi leaves.
Dip the leaves in a large pot filled with water for a few minutes and rub them gently. The dirt will settle down at the bottom of the pot. Gently remove the leaves from the top and repeat this process 2-3 times until the water runs clear. You can also add a teaspoon of baking soda or vinegar to the water to get rid of pesticides if any.
Chop the leaves roughly and then use them to make the sabzi. There is no need to finely chop the leaves as they will wilt once cooked.
Note – You can pluck the methi leaves from the stem, wrap the leaves in a newspaper and keep the bundle in a box in the refrigerator for 5-6 days. Just wash and chop when ready to make the stir fry.
Wash 1 pound (500 g) baby potatoes and peel them using a knife or a vegetable peeler. If using regular potatoes, peel and cut them into 1-inch cubes. Keep the cut potatoes soaked in water until ready to use to avoid their oxidation.
You can choose to keep the potatoes skin on if you wish to.
Aloo Methi Recipe
Heat 3 tablespoon oil in a non-stick pan or a well-seasoned cast-iron pan over medium-high heat.
Note – I like to make this stir fry using mustard oil. If using mustard oil, then heat it until it starts to fume. This step will help to get rid of the pungent smell and taste of the mustard oil. Switch off the heat and let the oil cool down slightly.
Note – If using a regular pan, you will need more oil so that the potatoes don’t stick to the pan and become mushy.
Once the oil is hot, add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, ¼ teaspoon asafetida, 2 teaspoon chopped garlic, 3-4 green chilies (slit into half), and 2-3 dry red chilies (remove the stalk) and saute for 15-20 seconds.
Add 2 teaspoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, and salt to taste. Cook for 3-4 seconds.
Add the potatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes.
Add 2-3 tablespoon of water and cover the pan with a lid. Reduce the heat to low and let the potatoes cook until they are tender (15-20 minutes). Stir once or twice while cooking. Add some more water if the masala is drying.
Now add the chopped methi leaves and mix well. Cover the pan again and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium heat.
Add ½ teaspoon dry mango powder and ½ teaspoon garam masala powder and mix well.
Serve hot with roti and dal or parathas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make a variation of this sabji by using boiled and cubed potatoes instead of raw potatoes. The process will be quicker when boiled potatoes are used. Just make sure to use a non-stick pan so that the potatoes don’t stick to the pan and become mushy while tossing with the spices and methi leaves.
If you are using Kasuri methi, cook the sabzi as per the instruction. Once the potatoes are properly cooked along with the spices, add Kasuri methi at the end and give it a mix. Add 1 cup Kasuri methi for 250 g of fresh methi.
If the methi leaves are very bitter, then mix the chopped methi with 2 teaspoon salt and let rest for 10 minutes. Now squeeze it in between your palms and discard the liquid. Use it now, the bitterness will be reduced a lot.
You can also add a little sugar or jaggery to balance the bitterness of methi in the sabzi.
To make instant pot aloo methi, press SAUTE and add oil to the pot. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, asafoetida, chopped garlic, green chilies (slit into half), and dry red chilies (remove the stalk) and saute for 15-20 seconds. Add coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt to taste and cook for 3-4 seconds. Add potatoes and ¼ cup of water. Close the lid of the pot and press PRESSURE COOK. Set the timer to 4 minutes at HIGH PRESSURE. Once the timer goes off, do an instant pressure release and open the lid. Press SAUTE again and add the methi leaves and cook for 4-5 minutes. Add dry mango powder and garam masala and serve.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve aloo methi with crispy and hot Tawa Parathas or Laccha Parathas, but you can serve it with other Indian bread such as Phulka, Missi Roti, Makki Ki Roti, Bajre Ki Roti, etc.
It also tastes great with the simple combination of Dal and Steamed rice or Kadhi Khichdi.
I like to serve it with Bathua Ka Raita, Dal Tadka, and Phulka for a yummy winter meal.
If you have some leftover sabzi, you can stuff it in between bread or tortillas to make a delicious sandwich or a wrap for your breakfast or tea-time snack.
Storage Suggestions
Aloo Methi will last in the fridge for about 2-3 days when stored in an airtight container.
When you want to serve it again, reheat it in a pan on the stove or in a microwave-safe bowl. If you think it has become a little dry, then you can sprinkle a little water while reheating.
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Recipe Card
Aloo Methi Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons cooking oil (I like to use mustard oil.)
- ½ teaspoon cumin seed
- ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing)
- 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
- 3-4 green chilies (slit into halves)
- 2-3 whole dry red chilies (stalks removed)
- 2 teaspoons coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- salt to taste
- 1 pound peeled baby potatoes (500 g, or regular potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 8 ounces fresh methi leaves (225 g, washed and chopped)
- ½ teaspoon dry mango powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
Instructions
- Heat oil in a non-stick or a well seasoned cast iron pan over medium-high heat.
- When the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, asafetida, garlic, green chilies, and dry red chilies and saute for 15-20 seconds.
- Add coriander powder, turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, and salt. Cook for 3-4 seconds.
- Add the potatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add 2-3 tablespoon of water and cover the pan and let the potatoes cook on low heat until they are tender (15-20 minutes). Stir once or twice while cooking. Add some more water if the masala is drying.
- Now add the methi leaves and mix well. Cover the pan again and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium flame.
- Add dry mango powder and garam masala powder and mix well.
- Serve hot with roti and dal or parathas.
