Healthy Sai Bhaji Recipe – Sindhi Food
Sai Bhaji is a traditional Sindhi Cuisine dish pronounced as “Sai Bajee” in Sindhi. This simple recipe includes dal, palak, dill leaves, and other vegetables. At least once a week, Sai bhaji is made in every Sindhi house. It can be eaten both during summer and winter. In Sindhi, Sai means green, and bhaji means vegetables; thus, Sai Bhaji indicates the ingredients (green leafy vegetables) used to prepare this dish.
Most Sindhi houses make Sai Bhaji, especially on the third day of Diwali; Many Sindhis believe that preparing a dish with at least seven vegetables on this auspicious day is good. If you will ask any Sindhi person about their favorite Sindhi dish, without any second thought – Sai Bhaji will be their response
Sai Bhaji is a protein-packed dish with a high source of nutrition as it has a mix of nutritious green vegetables. Palak, fenugreek leaves, and chana dal are healthy and help manage blood sugar levels.
This mixed vegetable palak – Sai Bhaji recipe is a main course dish. It can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner with yellow rice called Pela Chokha (in Sindhi) or Onion Pulao, Roti, and accompaniment with Boondi Raita and Papad. People also enjoy this bhaji with Sindhi Bhuga chawal (chokha in Sindhi).
I made this Sai Bhaji recipe without onion and garlic, but you can add them as it enhances the taste.
Table of Contents
Recipe Video
Recipe Card
Healthy Sai Bhaji Recipe – Sindhi Food(Updated)
Ingredients
- 3 bunches Spinach
- 1 bunch Dill leaves
- ¼ cup Chana Dal
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 2 Green Chilies
- ½ inch Ginger
- 1 Potato
- ¼ cup Elephant Yam chopped
- ¼ cup Eggplant chopped
- ¼ cup White Pumpkin chopped
- ¼ cup Cluster beans chopped
- 3 Tomato chopped
- 2 tbsp Kasuri Methi
- ¼ tsp Asafoetida
- ¼ tsp Turmeric Powder
- ½ tbsp Coriander Powder
- ½ tbsp Red Chilli Powder
- 2 tbsp Ghee optional
- 8 piece Lotus stem boiled or tin ones
- 1¼ cup Water
- Salt as per taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, take ¼ cup chana dal and add water.
- Wash and soak the chana dal for 15 minutes.
- In a cooker, add 2 tbsp oil, two chopped green chilies, ½ inch chopped ginger, ¼ tsp asafoetida, and soaked chana dal. Mix all the ingredients well.
- Add one potato cut into cubes, ¼ cup elephant yam cut into cubes, ¼ cup eggplant cut into cubes, ¼ cup white pumpkin cut into cubes, and ¼ cup cluster beans cut into small pieces. Mix all the ingredients well.
- Add three tomatoes cut into small pieces, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tbsp coriander powder, and ½ tbsp red chili powder, and mix it well.
- Add 2 tbsp kasuri methi, one bunch of dill leaves finely chopped, and three bunches of spinach finely chopped. Mix all the ingredients well.
- Add salt as per taste and mix it well again.
- Now add 1 cup water (water should be enough to cover all the vegetables), mix it well, and cover the lid.
- Cook on a medium flame until four whistles, then switch off the gas flame. Allow the cooker to cool down.
- Once the steam is released naturally, open the lid.
- Now with the back of a spatula, mash all the vegetables.
- Please add little water if you need it. And with the wooden beater, mash all the vegetables well. The sabji should be semi-thick and not very thick.
- Now light the gas flame and add 8 to 10 pieces of boiled lotus stem.
- Add 2 tbsp of ghee and mix it well.
- Cover it with a lid and simmer for 2 minutes.
- The sai bhaji is ready to serve.
- The sai bhaji can be served with onion pulao or regular yellow rice, chapati, roti, and accompaniment with boondi raita and papad.
Notes
- You can always use fresh fenugreek leaves.
- Use 1 cup of fresh fenugreek leaves instead of dry Kasuri methi. But I like the taste of dry methi better than fresh ones.
- You can adjust the consistency of the gravy as per your choice
- If you want to make this recipe with onion and garlic, add 2 tbsp oil in a cooker, add two chopped onions, and cook until they turn brown. Add some chopped garlic and cook for a minute. Then follow the same process as above.
How to make Sai Bhaji at Home Step by Step Photos
- In a small bowl, take ¼ cup chana dal and add water.
- Wash and soak the chana dal for 15 minutes.
- In a cooker, add 2 tbsp oil, two chopped green chilies, ½ inch chopped ginger, ¼ tsp asafoetida, and soaked chana dal. Mix all the ingredients well.
- Add one potato cut into cubes, ¼ cup elephant yam cut into cubes, ¼ cup eggplant cut into cubes, ¼ cup white pumpkin cut into cubes, and ¼ cup cluster beans cut into small pieces. Mix all the ingredients well.
- Add three tomatoes cut into small pieces, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tbsp coriander powder, and ½ tbsp red chili powder, and mix it well.
- Add 2 tbsp kasuri methi, one bunch of dill leaves finely chopped, and three bunches of spinach finely chopped. Mix all the ingredients well.
- Add salt as per taste and mix it well again.
- Now add 1 cup water (water should be enough to cover all the vegetables), mix it well, and cover the lid.
- Cook on a medium flame until four whistles and then switch off the gas flame. Allow the cooker to cool down.
- Once the steam is released naturally, open the lid.
- Now with the back of spatula, mash all the vegetables.
- Please add little water if you need it. And with the wooden beater, mash all the vegetables well. The sabji should be semi-thick and not very thick.
- Now light the gas flame and add 8 to 10 pieces boiled lotus stem.
- Add 2 tbsp of ghee and mix it well.
- Cover it with a lid and simmer for 2 minutes.
- The sai bhaji is ready to serve.
- The sai bhaji can be served with onion pulao or regular yellow rice, chapati, roti, and accompaniment with boondi raita and papad.
Notes
- You can always use fresh fenugreek leaves.
- Use 1 cup of fresh fenugreek leaves instead of dry Kasuri methi. But I like the taste of dry methi better than fresh ones.
- You can adjust the consistency of the gravy as per your choice
- If you want to make this recipe with onion and garlic, add 2 tbsp oil in a cooker, add two chopped onions, and cook until they turn brown. Add some chopped garlic and cook for a minute. Then follow the same process as above.
FAQs
How to make Sai Bhaji?
This recipe is a straightforward and quick recipe that can be prepared in just 20 minutes in a cooker. Add 2 tbsp oil, green chilies, ginger, and asafoetida in the cooker, and saute it. Then mix all the vegetables, spices, spinach, fenugreek leaves, and dill leaves. Add enough water and cook until the four whistles are over. Mash the vegetables with a spatula or a wooden beater. Finally, add some boiled lotus stem (optional) and 2 tbsp ghee, simmer for a few minutes, and the delicious healthy sai bhaji is ready.
What is Sai Bhaji?
Sai Bhaji is a traditional Sindhi Cuisine dish pronounced as “Sai Bajee” in Sindhi. This simple recipe includes dal, palak, dill leaves, vegetables, and spices. It can be eaten both during summer and winter. In Sindhi, Sai means green, and bhaji means vegetables; thus, Sai Bhaji indicates the ingredients (green leafy vegetables) used to prepare this dish.
What are the ingredients to make Sai Bhaji?
Sai Bhaji recipe is a straightforward and quick recipe prepared in just 20 minutes in the pressure cooker. Add 2 tbsp oil, green chilies, ginger, and asafoetida in the pressure cooker, and saute it. Then add all the vegetables (Elephant Yam, Eggplant, White Pumpkin, Potato, Cluster beans, and tomatoes), spinach, fenugreek leaves, dill leaves, and common spices (Turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder). Add enough water and cook. Mash the vegetables with a hand beater. If you like, you can add boiled lotus stem and little ghee. Simmer for a few minutes and serve hot.
Conclusion
In this Sai Bhaji Recipe, we have shared how to make Sai Bhaji – Sindhi food, the famous and healthy recipe from Sindhi cuisine. A simple recipe prepared with lots of vegetables, dal, and spices in 20 minutes in the cooker. If you have yet to try this delicious dish, watch the video and follow the step-by-step instructions supported by a photo and make it at home. If you like this recipe, please comment and rank us for this recipe. Your suggestion and comments are always welcome and are like a treasure to improve every time.