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Andhra Spinach Fry (Palakura Vepudu)

A quick Andhra-style spinach fry with onions and Andhra spice powder. The water evaporates fully during cooking, so this freezes without getting watery: cook once, portion it out, and pull from the freezer whenever you need a ready side dish.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings (~90g cooked)
Calories 69 kcal
Protein4 g
Fiber4 g
Fat2 g
Carbohydrates8 g

Equipment

  • 1 Large skillet or pan wide enough to hold 1 lb of spinach

Ingredients
 

Produce:

  • 1 lb (454 g) baby spinach - 454g, fresh
  • 1 (100 g) onion - thinly sliced

Pantry:

  • 1 tablespoon (14 g) peanut oil
  • 1 teaspoon (6 g) salt - 6g
  • 2 tablespoon (14 g) andhra spice powder - adjust to taste - recipe here

Instructions
 

Cook:

  • Heat 1 tbsp peanut oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add 1 onion and saute for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and translucent.
    Diced red onion pieces sauteing in a black pan with a wooden spatula
  • Add 1 lb baby spinach and 1 tsp salt to the pan. Stir to combine. Cook on medium to high heat, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has wilted and all the water has evaporated. The spinach should look dry, not sitting in liquid. This is the key step for a freezer-friendly result.
    Spinach and onions cooking down in a black pan on the stovetop, steam rising
  • Add 2 tbsp andhra spice powder, mix well to coat the spinach evenly, and turn off the heat. Serve immediately or cool and portion for the fridge or freezer.
    Golden Andhra kura podi spice powder being added on top of wilted spinach in a pan

Video

Notes

Freezer tip: let the spinach fry cool completely, then portion into 90g servings in freezer-safe containers. Reheat in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes straight from frozen. No watery texture because the moisture was cooked off during cooking.
The Andhra spice powder (spice podi) used here is made with roasted peanuts, chana dal, garlic, and cumin. You can also try this recipe with other podi variations or make more of them at home: ThaliMethod Podis.
The spinach will shrink significantly: 1 lb raw (454g) cooks down to about 362g total (90g per serving).
Squeeze lime or lemon juice over the dish before eating. Vitamin C increases how much iron your body absorbs from the spinach.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts
Andhra Spinach Fry (Palakura Vepudu)
Serving Size
 
1 serving (90g cooked)
Amount per Serving
Calories
69
% Daily Value*
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
8
g
3
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Fat
 
2
g
3
%
Potassium
 
694
mg
20
%
Sodium
 
672
mg
29
%
Vitamin D
 
0
µg
0
%
Calcium
 
118
mg
12
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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