Bengali people use various leafy vegetables to make some delicious traditional dishes. Methi begun is one of those awesome leafy vegetable dishes. It is a simple methi saag bhaji with small pieces of brinjal (Simple Bengali style methi saag bhaja recipe). It is very popular not only in rural Bengal but also equally popular among the urban population.
Though in North Indian cuisine, I have noticed people make various delicious dishes like methi aloo etc but those are different from Bengali style methi saag bhaja. It’s a simple dish where methi greens are main ingredients but in case of North Indian methi aloo, methi is used to bring mouthwatering flavor in boiled spicy potatoes.
In case you do not know what is methi saag then I would tell you that it is fresh green leaves of fenugreek plants. Its seeds & dried leaves are used as a spice but its green leaves are often traditionally used as vegetables to make various mouthwatering dishes.
Methi saag bhaji with brinjal (Bengali methi saag bhaja)
This methi begun is nothing but methi saag bhaji (bhaja in Bengali) means fenugreek leaves fry with small pieces of brinjal/eggplant. Methi saag bhaji is also popular in Maharashtra but the taste of that methi saag bhaji is different. This one is a perfect Bengali traditional dish what is often cooked at my home since years during winter.
Did you ever try anything similar to this dish? If you are vegetarian or you enjoy leafy vegetable then you will definitely enjoy this methi begun with plain rice. This dish may be rarely served at any restaurant but it is a common dish at a common Bengali household.
Methi begun (methi saag bhaja in Bengali) recipe
- 2 cups finely chopped fenugreek leaves/methi patta
- 1 medium size brinjal/eggplant, cut into small pieces
- 1.5 teaspoons kalonji /kalo jeera
- 2 green chillies
- Salt as needed
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Add oil in a cooking pan & heat, add kalonji & green chillies, saute till nice aroma comes out
- Then add small pieces of brinjal/eggplant/begun and cook till next 3-4 mins
- Now add finely chopped fenugreek leaves, spread salt and cook till leaves cooked perfecly
- Serve this with plain rice
Have you ever tried methi saag bhaja? It is delicious & very easy to cook also. In case you use to have this at home regularly then please share your opinion about this dish.
Very good simple recipe! This is actually bengali recipe. However, I would add a little bit of turmeric powder and I personally like adding some fresh chopped garlic.