|Place of origin||North India region of the Indian subcontinent|
|Associated national cuisine||India|
|Main ingredients||Mustard leaves|
Sarson ka saag (as it is known in Urdu/Haryanvi or Sarson da saag in Punjabi or Sareyan Da Saag in Dogri) is a popular vegetarian dish from the northern region of the Indian subcontinent. It is made from mustard greens (sarson) and spices such as ginger and garlic. It is often served with Makki ki roti. Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti is closely associated with Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab and is considered a special dish in entire North India. It is eaten especially in the winter season.
Sarson Ka Saag literally translates to leafy vegetable preparation of mustard. The word Sarson is derived from Sanskrit word Sarśapa, the Sanskrit word for mustard. The Dogri word Sareyan is derived from the same Sanskrit root, and the word Saag is derived from Sanskrit word Śāka (Shaak) meaning greens or leafy vegetable.
The dish is regarded as the traditional way to prepare saag and is usually served with Makki ki roti or Bajra ki roti or even wheat roti. It can be topped with either makkhan (butter) or more traditionally with ghee (clarified butter). Some spinach (Palak) may be added to enhance colour and thicken the dish, though this may alter the flavour.
Mustard is a winter and spring delicacy, and its relative abundance in North India has made it one of the most popular dishes in the region, as mustard has been grown in the India for millennia.
..Dogra cuisine such as Pathores, Makki ki Roti and Sarson ka Saag, Keurs...
Himachali specialities include Siddu....Makki ki Roti & Sarson Ka Saag
Some locally available green vegetables in Haryana are Channa Saag, Sarson Saag, Bathua in winter...
Winter vegetables of Gurgaon (Haryana) include a wide range of vegetables such as (a) root crops like radish, turnip, carrot; (b) leafy cole crops, like palak, methi and sarson ka saag
Sarson ka Saag te Makki ki Roti is a signature delicacy of Punjab.
...traditional Punjabi delicacy of Makki Di Roti and Sarson Da Saag...
Another well-known Punjabi dish is mustard greens, sarson ka saag, served with corn bread (makki ki roti) on special occasions.... An authentic version could use as much as a cup of butter! Sarson Ka Saag (Punjabi-style Greens)
Makki ki Roti, Sarson da Saag and white butter gives you the real flavor of Punjab.
Punjabi cuisine has become world-leader in the field.... "Sarso ka saag" and "makki di roti" are examples of well-known and very famous dishes.
p. 40: "They could recall regional fares, e.g., in Punjab the 'Makki Ki Roti' and 'Sarson Ka Saag' is world famous food." p. 216: "But it is quite interesting to note that the local food of Punjab, which is famous around the world viz., 'Makki Ki Roti' and 'Sarson Ka Saag' ...." p. 258: "Makki Ki Roti and Sarson Ka Saag is a world famous dish of Punjab...."
Mustard is cultivated extensively in north India.
In the winter months in Punjab, a richly spiced puree of mustard greens is eaten, accompanied with roti made of ground maize and a knob of fresh, soft, crumbly gur. The classic combination is called sarson ka saag and makki ki roti. Mustard has been grown in Punjab for millennia and its oil-rich seed is an important commercial crop.