IT’S National Spinach Day on March 26 and a Glasgow restaurant has created a free appetiser for all its customers on the day. 

Sham savera are croquettes of shredded spinach stuffed with spiced paneer and they are packed with Popeye goodness, thanks to the team at North Indian eatery The Dhabba in the Merchant City.

Spinach is low in fat and even lower in cholesterol. It’s also high in niacin and zinc, as well as protein, fibre, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese. 

During World War One, wine fortified with spinach juice was given to French soldiers weakened by haemorrhage.

Dhabba owner Navdeep Basi said: “Spinach is an important ingredient in North India and we already offer it in our palak paneer and subzi miloni dishes on our menu as well as our palak dar sauce.

“We decided to create a new dish for National Spinach Day. Sham savera means day and night and that is reflective of how the dish looks - and everyone who dines with us on that date will be given it as a free appetiser.”

Recipe

  • Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let it crackle, then add shredded spinach and cook till dry
  • Add salt, chopped green chillies, chopped, ginger, cumin powder and coriander powder
  • Cook for two minutes till the water in the spinach evaporates and leave it aside to cool
  • Mash and boil potato, add cooled spinach and make a soft dough with conrflour
  • Grate the paneer, add salt, white pepper powder, nutmeg powder and make a soft dough
  • Stuff the paneer mix in the spinach mix and make a croquette
  • Fry in oil on medium heat
  • Serve with tomato chutney