Spinach Curry

          I am really late at posting this month's challenge for the 'Shhhhh Cooking Secretly' event, I was paired with Amrita Iyer of The Food Samaritan. She had given me spinach and yogurt/curd as the two secret ingredients, there are number of dishes that we can make with this combo, but to do a dish, camouflaging these ingredients was a little tough, especially spinach. I tried something else with them, but then the dish didn't turn up to my satisfaction, so then I finally ended up with this curry. This is a simple, flavorful and delicious curry, I have cooked the spinach in an almond, poppy seeds and yogurt sauce, and it goes very well with rotis, naans and pilafs..

Need To Have

• Chopped Spinach - 3 cups
• Green Capsicum - 1 small or half of a big one, chopped
• Onion - 1 medium, chopped
• Yogurt/ Curd - 1/2 cup
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Red Chilly Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Cumin Seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Garam Masala - 1/2 teaspoon
• Salt to taste

To Grind

• Almonds - 8
• White Poppy Seeds - 1 1/2 tablespoons
• Coriander Powder - 2 teaspoons
• Cumin Seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Green Cardamom - 2
• Garlic - 3 small or 1 large clove
• Ginger - 1" piece

Method

          Soak the almonds and poppy seeds in hot water for about 30 minutes and grind it with the other ingredients given under 'to grind'.

          Heat oil, add the cumin seeds, when it starts spluttering, add the chopped onion and capsicum and saute for about 2 minutes.

         Add the ground paste, chilly and turmeric powders and salt and saute the paste till almost dry, then add the curd/yogurt and saute well till all the moisture is gone.

          Now add the chopped spinach, about 2 cups of water and garam masala, cover and cook till the spinach is cooked. Then remove the lid and cook till the desired consistency ( gravy thickness ), switch off and serve it warm.

Note
If you can't find poppy seeds or don't want to use it, add a few cashews along with the almonds and grind.
Can garnish with some fresh cream and serve.