Cleaning methi (fenugreek) leaves is a rather unexciting household chore for most home cooks, especially during winters when methi is a daily staple for rotis, parathas, and sabzis that brighten up the kitchen every morning. These small, delicate leaves are very reluctant to let go of their stalks, making the process rather tedious as each leaf has to be carefully detached from its stalk one by one. Traditional home cooks’ techniques normally included either picking each leaf individually or washing repeatedly with plenty of water just as a way to remove the dirt and sand from the leaves. However, there is a very clever trick about washing methi leaves that saves time and effort. With this simple trick, you can strip and wash leaves in a fraction of the time, leaving you more time to enjoy making delicious methi dishes.
Kitchen tool that helps in quick cleaning of methi
With the use of a grater, a slow and messy process becomes a fast and clean task.Take a fistful of methi stalks and bunch them together with one of your hands.Holding the stem ends near the holes of a clean grater and with gentle pressure, pull them down. This should result in the removal of leaves from the stems. The leaves will separate quickly, leaving the stems behind. As you pull, the leaves will simply drop into a bowl or plate below.After stripping, the leaves can either be rinsed with water or submerged in water for a few minutes to remove any dirt. Shake or gently pat dry before cooking.This hack works well with a box grate and a flat grate, as the holes need to be large enough for the leaves to slip through. This method is quick, dries your hands out, and separates the leaves without tearing them.
Common mistakes to avoid when cleaning methi leaves
People often make this messy task harder than it needs to be. There are some things one needs to be careful about while doing the process of cleaning the leaves.
- Avoid plucking one by one
Picking the leaves by hand will be time-consuming and can result in bruising of the leaves.
- Don’t wash before stripping
Washing leaves before removing can make them wet and slippery. This will slow you down.
- Use the right grater size
Leaves are unlikely to go through a grater with small holes, while stems can pass through a grater with larger holes. So, getting a medium-sized grater is required to do this hack.