Palak Dal | Dal Palak | Spinach Dal

Name: Palak Dal | Dal Palak | Spinach Dal
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 28 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1/3 cup masoor dal (split red lentils); 1/3 cup moong dal (split green gram); 1 medium sized bunch of palak (3 cups of chopped palak); 1 onion; 1 tomato; 12 cloves of garlic; 1 tsp cumin seeds; ½ tsp mustard seeds; a pinch of asafoetida; 1 ½ tsp turmeric powder; 1 tsp red chilly powder; 1 tsp cumin coriander powder; ½ tsp garam masala; salt to taste; 1 tbsp oil; 1 tsp chopped garlic; a pinch of asafoetida; 2 dry red chillies; ½ tsp red chilly powder

Vanita's Corner

April 12, 2023

1468

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Palak Dal is a nutritious, comforting dal recipe with the goodness of spinach.

Dal is a staple vegetarian dish in every Indian household. Dal, though simple is versatile enough to be prepared in countless ways. The type of lentils used, the method of preparing dal and the spices used in the dal varies according to the region.

Lentils are generally available in every Indian kitchen due to its long shelf life and comes handy when you run out of vegetables. They are a good source of protein for vegetarians. There’s nothing like a simple dal chawal or varan bhaat when you want to have something comforting.

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Palak Dal

Palak Dal is a simple, delicious dal recipe where dal is cooked with spinach and spices. Dal combined with spinach and spices makes for a hearty, comforting dish. This recipe is a great way to include spinach into your diet. Palak dal pairs excellently with steamed rice. You can also serve it with rotis/chapatis.

You can use any lentils to make this dish. I have used a combination of masoor dal (split red lentils) and moong dal (split green gram).

Why we love Palak Dal

Palak Dal

is delicious and comforting
is simple to prepare
is vegan
is nutritious
is a great way to include spinach in your diet
can be served with rice as well as rotis

List of ingredients

Lentils : I have used masoor dal and moong dal for this recipe. You can use any lentils (tuvar dal, chana dal, or a combination of all dals).

Vegetables : Spinach, Onion and tomato

Herbs and spices : garlic, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida (hing) turmeric powder, green chillies, red chilly powder, cumin coriander powder and garam masala

Salt, oil

Tempering : Garlic, asafoetida (hing), red chilly powder and dry red chillies. Adding a tadka (tempering) is optional. But I would recommend adding a tadka to this dal.

Step-wise recipe with pictures

Wash and soak masoor dal and moong dal for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, drain the water. Transfer soaked dal to a pressure cooker. Add 2 cups of water and cook for 4 to 5 whistles.

Keep cooked dal aside.

In the meantime, chop spinach and keep aside.

Chop onion and keep aside.

Chop tomato and keep aside.

Chop green chillies and garlic. Keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds and asafoetida. When the seeds starts spluttering, add chopped garlic. Saute till the garlic starts changing its colour.

Add chopped onions. Saute till onions become golden brown.

Add chopped green chillies chopped tomatoes. Saute till the tomato turns mushy.

Add chopped palak. Saute and cook for few minutes.

Add turmeric powder, red chilly powder, cumin-coriander powder and garam masala and mix well.

Add cooked dal and mix.

Add salt as per taste. Cover and cook for few minutes.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

For tempering. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a small pan. Add chopped garlic, asafoetida, dry red chillies and red chilly powder.

Pour this tempering into palak dal.

Serve palak dal with steamed rice.

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5 from 1 vote