Spinach and potato cooked together in mustard oil with panch phoron and dried red chilli — the most common everyday vegetable preparation of Odisha households.
Ingredients
300g fresh spinach — washed and roughly chopped
2 medium potatoes — peeled and cubed 2 cm
2 tbsp mustard oil
1/2 tsp panch phoron
2 dried red chillies
1/4 tsp asafoetida
1/4 tsp turmeric
Salt to taste
Method
Heat 2 tbsp mustard oil to smoking. Reduce to medium.
Add panch phoron — all five seeds sizzle together.
Add dried red chillies and asafoetida.
Add potato cubes. Add turmeric. Toss to coat.
Cook on medium for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
Add all the chopped spinach. Toss on high heat. Cover immediately.
Cook covered on medium for 4 minutes. Uncover and toss.
Cook uncovered 4 more minutes until spinach is completely wilted and any moisture has evaporated.
Season with salt. The saga aloo should be dry — not watery.