Palak Dal (Spinach lentil stew)

Description

Palak Dal is lentil stew with spinach. It is one of the staple south Indian foods. It is best served with rice.

Servings 8-10, Cooking time: 30 mins

Method

Pressure cook toor dal with 4 cups of water, salt, and turmeric for 4 whistles. ( For cooking without pressure cooker – place dal, water, salt and turmeric and bring it boil until the dal is soft)

Do the following as while the dal is cooking:

Grind/Blend 4 green chilies, 4 cloves of garlic, ¼ tsp jeera (cumin) into paste. In a separate pot mix this green chili paste with tamarind paste, onion, turmeric powder, jeera powder, spinach – mix and stir them well then turn on the stove in medium heat – cover it with lid – cook for 5 minutes

Let off the steam from pressure cooker. Transfer the cooked dal to the cooking pot with the other ingredients stir them well. Let the whole thing cook for another 5-7 mins. Add salt and stir.

For tempering – dry roast 2 red chili, ¼ tsp jeera, ¼ tsp mustard seeds, 12-14 curry leaves and 1/8 tsp hing for 2 mins. Combine this tempered mixture into dal.

Serve the dal with brown rice.

Hint: In some parts of the world (like where we live) curry leaves are not readily available. They are can be skipped if they are not available.