Dhal Palak | Spinach Cooked In Lentil Curry

Dhal palak is a very simple traditional side dish that makes an excellent side dish. It has spinach cooked in lentil curry. It is a typical comfort food for busy days which can also be had as is as a soup.

This is yet another recipe that is filled with protein. If you are trying to get greens into your diet, this is the Recipe to go for. This dhal has mild flavors and is perfect for weeknight dinners to serve with rice or roti’s!!

Preparation time – 10 mins
Cooking time – 40 mins
Difficulty level – easy

Ingredients to make Dhal Palak – Serves 4

• Palak/spinach – 1 cup (chopped)
• Moong dal/Yellow split lentil/green gram dal – ¾ cup
• Onion – 1 (chopped)
• Tomato – 3 (chopped)
• Green chilies – 4 (slit lengthwise)
• Oil/ghee – 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
• Cinnamon – 1 stick
• Cloves – 4
• Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
• Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
• Salt – to taste
• Lime juice – 1 tbsp

Procedure –

• Wash the Moong dal and cook with enough water. I usually used to cook the dal in the pressure cooker. But for the past few times, I have been cooking moong dal in a sauce pan and I am in live with the flavor in gives out. If cooking over the flame, add enough water to the dal and bring it to boil. Then bring the heat to medium and cook for about 20 mins, until the dal is cooked and tender.

• Wash the spinach and chop it finely. If using frozen spinach thaw it in the microwave and keep aside.

• Add oil/ghee in a pan and when heated, add cumin seeds, cinnamon and cloves. Fry it for a minute.

• Then add the onions, turmeric powder and green chilies.

• Once the onions are fried, add the ginger garlic paste. Sauté for a minute and then add the tomatoes along with salt. Cook until the tomatoes are mushy.

• At this stage add the spinach and mix well. Let it cook for about 10 mins or until the spinach is tender.

• Now add the cooked dal. If needed, add water to bring the dal to the required consistency. Let it come to a boil and then simmer for about 10 mins.

• Turn off the flame and just before serving add some lime juice.

• Serve the Dhal Palak with rotis, pulkas or rice!

Variations to Dhal Palak –

• Instead of just moong dal, a combination of tuvar dal and moong dal could be used. Also this can be made just with tuvar dal.

Similar Dhal Recipes

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Dhal Palak | Spinach Cooked In Lentil Curry

Dhal palak is a very simple traditional side dish that makes an excellent side dish. It has spinach cooked in lentil curry. It is a typical comfort food for busy days which can also be had as is as a soup.

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Course: dinner, Lunch Box Recipes, Side Dishes

Cuisine: Indian, North Indian

Diet: Vegetarian

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 215kcal

Author: Sandhya Ramakrishnan

Equipment

• ▢
  pan
• ▢
  bowl
• ▢
  spatula

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup Palak/spinach chopped
• ▢ ¾ cup Moong dal/Yellow split lentil/green gram dal
• ▢ 1 Onion chopped
• ▢ 3 Tomato chopped
• ▢ 4 Green chilies slit lengthwise
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Oil/ghee
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
• ▢ 1 stick Cinnamon
• ▢ 4 Cloves
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Ginger garlic paste
• ▢ to taste Salt
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Lime juice

Instructions

• Wash the Moong dal and cook with enough water. I usually used to cook the dal in the pressure cooker. But for the past few times, I have been cooking moong dal in a sauce pan and I am in live with the flavor in gives out. If cooking over the flame, add enough water to the dal and bring it to boil. Then bring the heat to medium and cook for about 20 mins, until the dal is cooked and tender.
• Wash the spinach and chop it finely. If using frozen spinach thaw it in the microwave and keep aside.
• Add oil/ghee in a pan and when heated, add cumin seeds, cinnamon and cloves. Fry it for a minute.
• Then add the onions, turmeric powder and green chilies.
• Once the onions are fried, add the ginger garlic paste. Sauté for a minute and then add the tomatoes along with salt. Cook until the tomatoes are mushy.
• At this stage add the spinach and mix well. Let it cook for about 10 mins or until the spinach is tender.
• Now add the cooked dal. If needed, add water to bring the dal to the required consistency. Let it come to a boil and then simmer for about 10 mins.
• Turn off the flame and just before serving add some lime juice.
• Serve the Dhal Palak with rotis, pulkas or rice!

Variations –

• Instead of just moong dal, a combination of tuvar dal and moong dal could be used. Also this can be made just with tuvar dal.

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1558IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @Sandhya.Ramakrishnan or tag #MyCookingJourney!