- 1
Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a pan over medium heat.
- 2
Mix the minced garlic and ginger with chopped onions.
- 3
Saut them gently until the onions soften and shrink slightly, taking 3-4 minutes. Do not let the onions go brown; that would change the flavour profile of the soup.
- 4
The essence of the aromatics has to infuse without losing freshness.
- 5
Add the cleaned and chopped palak in the pan.
- 6
Saut the spinach, which shrinks down within five to seven minutes.
- 7
After it cooks, the spinach loses a tremendous volume.
- 8
Once the mixture wilts completely, remove the pan from the heat source and let it cool completely.
- 9
Once it cools down, transfer the cooked mixture to a mixer jar.
- 10
Adding a little water will help in blending; then grind it into a smooth paste.
- 11
This vibrant green puree will add both colour and nutrition to your palak soup; set the puree aside for later.
- 12
Heat in another two teaspoons of oil along with one tablespoon of butter in a large kadai on low flame.
- 13
Once the butter has melted, add two teaspoons of maida to the pan. Cook on low flame while stirring the maida constantly till it becomes fragrant—about 2-3 minutes.
- 14
If you want to toast it just lightly, draw out the flavour. Do not let the flour get brown.
- 15
After the maida is cooked, add a bay leaf to it and lightly roast it.
- 16
Now add 4 cups of milk gradually while whisking constantly to avoid the formation of lumps.
- 17
Let the mixture cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, till the milk thickens.
- 18
This would take about 10-12 minutes, and you would notice that soup acquires a richer texture with its cooking.
- 19
When the milk has thickened, add prepared palak puree to the pan. Stir everything nicely for a nice blending of spinach with milk.
- 20
Now let the soup simmer for two more minutes so that all flavours absorb into each other.
- 21
Simmer it, then add salt and pepper powder and salt and sugar.
- 22
You're giving the sugar because the taste of the spinach should progress richly in its flavour.
- 23
End it by throwing in a dash of 2 tablespoons of cream for thickness and flavour.
- 24
And now, your creamy palak soup is ready to go to the table.
- 25
Ladle into bowls, drizzle some cream above as a nice finish and sprinkle some extra pepper on top for added flavour.