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dal palak - spinach dal
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5 from 1 vote

Red Lentil Dal with Spinach

Dal Palak (or Spinach Dal) is a healthy yet comforting and delicious Indian curry made with red lentils, spinach and spices. 
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Indian
Diet: Gluten Free, Halal, Low Calorie, Vegetarian
Servings: 4 People
Calories: 352kcal
Author: Ayla Clulee

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion (diced)
  • 1 tablespoon ghee
  • 1 tablespoon garlic and ginger paste
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 6-8 curry leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 red chilli (chopped)
  • 2 tomatoes (chopped)
  • 200 ml coconut milk (optional)
  • 400 ml chicken stock or vegetable stock
  • 150 g red lentils
  • 200 g baby spinach
  • ½ bunch coriander (chopped)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Melt the ghee in a pan on medium heat.
  • Sauté onions until brown and stir in the garlic and ginger paste.
  • Add the turmeric, garam masala, freshly ground black pepper, salt and quickly sauté for a minute.
  • Add the tomatoes, red chilli and curry leaves, cook for a few more minutes.
  • Stir in the coconut milk, add the lentils, and the stock.
  • Bring it to a boil and let it simmer on low heat for 40 minutes or until the lentils are softened and thickened the sauce, stir occasionally to make sure it doesn't stick to the pan.
  • Add the spinach, cook for another 5 minutes and check the seasoning.
  • Add some salt if needed and sprinkle the chopped coriander to garnish.

Notes

  • Turn this delicious Dal Palak (Spinach Dal) recipe into a vegan/vegetarian-friendly dish by replacing ghee with oil and using vegetable stock.
  • You can temper the Dal Palak for adding extra flavorings. 
  • Don't overcook the spinach, cooking them for just a few minutes, until they are wilted is enough to avoid them losing their color and nutrition. 
  • The leftovers would keep refrigerated for up to five days and frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 780mg | Potassium: 1119mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5452IU | Vitamin C: 75mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 7mg