6 non-vegetarian saag recipes to prepare at home

Winter is the perfect season to enjoy wholesome and flavoursome saag dishes. This dish is said to be rich in iron, vitamins, and antioxidants and helps boost immunity while providing warmth. Rich in fibre, saag also aids digestion, though it can be paired well with diverse ingredients. Traditional saag dishes are made with comforting flavours, giving it a nutritious, warm, and hearty choice when fighting the cold and looking for energy. Mostly, saag is enjoyed with certain vegetables like paneer, matar and sometimes lentils to increase the flavour of a dish. However, it's much more than that as saag can be clubbed with different kinds of meats to make non-vegetarian saag recipes. The goodness of greens, coupled with the richness of the meat, makes non-vegetarian saag recipes comforting and nutritious. Here are 6 delicious recipes to try at home. (Images courtesy: iStock)

This North Indian recipe cooks chicken in a luscious spinach-based gravy. Begin by blanching spinach, mustard greens, and fenugreek leaves, then blend them into a paste. Saute onions, ginger-garlic paste, and spices like cumin, turmeric, and garam masala. Then add chicken pieces and cook until it is tender. Mix in the blended greens and simmer. Serve with naan or steamed rice.

This is a strong dish with tender lamb simmered in a spinach-based gravy. Lamb can be marinated in yoghurt, ginger, and garlic. Onions, tomatoes, and spices like coriander, cinnamon, and cloves can be cooked in a pot. The lamb can then be added and cooked until browned. Boiled spinach can be blended and mixed into the curry, letting it simmer until the lamb is tender. It can be garnished with cream and served with roti or paratha.

This Bengali-inspired dish combines mustard greens with fish for a tangy, flavourful treat. Blend mustard greens, spinach, and green chillies into a smooth paste. Fry marinated fish pieces in mustard oil and set aside. In the same oil, cook the saag paste with nigella seeds and turmeric. Add the fish back to the pan, letting it simmer until the flavours meld together. Serve with steamed rice.

This is a classic mutton curry made rich with saag, the favourite winter dish. Pressure cook mutton along with onions, garlic, bay leaves, cumin, and chilli powder. Blanch the spinach, mustard greens, and fenugreek leaves. Grind them. Now add the cooked mutton with the saag puree, allowing it to get cooked till the gravy gets thickened. Garnish with fresh cream or butter and serve with jeera rice or tandoori roti.

This unusual recipe cooks prawns in spinach gravy. Clean and marinate prawns with salt, turmeric, and chilli powder. Blanch spinach and grind it with green chillies. Saute onions, garlic, and tomatoes along with spices such as curry leaves, cumin, and coriander. Add the prawns and cook until they turn pink, then mix in the spinach paste. Simmer for a few minutes and serve with steamed rice.

Duck meat’s rich flavour pairs beautifully with earthy saag. Marinate duck pieces with ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, and mustard oil. Blanch a mix of spinach, mustard greens, and kale, then puree them. Saute onions, garlic, and tomatoes with whole spices like cardamom and cloves. Add the duck and cook until tender. Stir in the saag and cook until the flavours combine. Serve with bajra roti or rice.(Image courtesy: Canva)

• Blanch and blend the greens to retain their vibrant colour and texture.
• Cook meat thoroughly before adding the saag to ensure a well-balanced flavour.
• Use mustard oil for authentic taste in dishes like fish and duck saag.
  These non-vegetarian saag recipes are a fantastic way to enjoy the season’s bounty of greens while relishing hearty, protein-rich meals. Prepare them at home and elevate your winter menu!