This homemade sag aloo is super easy to make in the slow cooker, and this recipe uses a special method to add extra depth of flavor with no additional effort. Sag aloo is a healthy and economical vegan dish, and an essential part of any Indian meal!
I don’t know about you, but sag aloo is a fairly essential component of my perfect Indian meal. What I love about this hands-off slow cooker method is that your sag aloo can cook effortlessly in the hours leading up to dinner time, so if you’re making it as a side dish you have all your attention to give to the main course. Or, if you’re having the sag aloo as the main dish, it’s just a very easy dinner.
For all their brilliance, slow cookers do have their limitations. Slow cooker curries can lack depth and authenticity, unless the onions, garlic and spices are fried before being transferred to the slow cooker. This process is essential to getting the right flavor. I wasn’t prepared to compromise on that and throw everything in raw, although some recipes do suggest doing so, I knew it wouldn’t have the taste I’m after. Equally, I rather begrudge pre-cooking when I’m making a slow cooker recipe! Luckily, I’ve found the best of both worlds.
To start this sag aloo off, you’ll put the onions, garlic, spices and raw potato in the slow cooker for 60 to 90 minutes in a little bit of oil, without any other liquids. On a high heat, it will crisp and fry within the slow cooker and those flavors will develop just as they should. You’ll stir it a couple times to prevent sticking. Then you add the liquid ingredients, and the potatoes will cook through.
Still a lazy option, but without any compromise! The flavor in this dish is incredible, if I do say so myself.
If you have an instant pot, feel free to use it here? You can achieve the same result by using the sauté mode and then the slow cooker mode.
I personally love to serve this alongside a tomato based dish such as this easy paneer curry, but it would also work as a main dish with some naan bread and rice!
Slow Cooker Saag Aloo
Ingredients
- 2 small onions, or 1 very large, chopped
- 5 medium potatoes, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 tsp chopped ginger
- 1 mild green chili, de-seeded and sliced
- 2 tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp mild chili powder
- 2 Tbsp of olive oil
- 60 ml (0.25 cups) vegetable stock
- 250 g (9 oz) baby plum or cherry tomatoes
- 300 g (10 oz) fresh spinach
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Set your slow cooker to high, and pour in a couple tablespoons of olive oil while you prep your ingredients. This will allow the oil to pre-heat a little bit.
- Add the potatoes, onions, chili, ginger, garlic and spices to the slow cooker. Stir through to coat everything with the spices and oil.
- Allow to cook for 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours, stirring a couple times throughout. The spices will become fragrant and the ginger, chili and garlic will start to cook and crisp. (If you know your slow cooker’s heat is on the higher side, you might wish to turn the setting to Low for this portion.)
- Add the remaining ingredients (the spinach, vegetable stock, tomatoes and spinach). The spinach will quickly start to wilt so be sure to give it a stir to get everything mixed together once that starts to happen.
- Leave cooking for another 2 to 3 hours, until the potatoes are tender.
I love a good slow cooker meal… especially if its Indian!
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This recipe sounds delish. I do not have a slow cooker, would cook as normal.
This recipe sounds delish. I do not have a slow cooker, would cook as normal.
This recipe sounds delish. I do not have a slow cooker, would cook as normal.
What a beautiful dish! I love aloo saag, but have only ever eating it at restaurants. I love that this version is for the slow cooker. Can’t wait to try it!
just love the combination of spinach and potato…
I made it as suggested in my new slow cooker and it was lovely. However, I turned it to low after about half an hour of adding the spinach as it was cooking too quickly on high.
So glad you enjoyed it! Yeah slow cooker models seem to really vary with their heat settings. I will add a note to suggest turning to low if you know your slow cooker’s high setting is fairly hot.
Thanks for this recipe! If cooking in the instant pot, do I saute the onions, spices and potatoes only for a few minutes and then add the spinach/stock and cook for 2 – 3 hours? Or should I saute the onions/spices.potatoes and then slow cook on low for an hour before adding the spinach/stock for another 2 hours?
The first option! If you’re sauteeing the onions, spices and potatoes first you can then immediately add the spinach / stock and cook for 2-3 hours.