Alternative names | Sarsan da saag/Sareyan da saag (Punjabi) |
---|---|
Course | Main course |
Place of origin | Northern Indian subcontinent |
Associated cuisine | Pakistan, India, Punjabi[1] |
Main ingredients | Mustard leaves |
Sarson ka saag, also known as sarsa ka saag, is a dish of mustard greens cooked with spices. It originated in the north of the Indian subcontinent and is popular throughout the region.[2][3][4][5][6]
The dish is known as sarson ka saag in Hindi, sarson da saag (or sareyan da saag in Punjabi,[7][4][8] sarsav nu shaak in Gujarati,[9] and sariso saag in Maithili.[10]
Sarson, sarhon, sareyan, etc. derive from the Sanskrit word sarṣapa "mustard.[11] Saag/shaak derives from the Sanskrit word śāka "greens; vegetable leaves".[12]
Mustard is widely grown in the region for the plant's leaves, seeds and seed oil. It is harvested in winter and spring, making sarson ka saag a popular warming dish in the cooler months.[13][14][15]
There are many recipes for the dish, usually cooking the leaves in oil or clarified butter (ghee)[16] with spices such as garlic, ginger and chilli. Other spices used vary according to region and taste.
The dish is often served with bread such as makki ki roti or bajra ki roti.[17]