Dal Palak Or Moongdal Palak – Flavorsofmykitchen

Dal Palak or Spinach Dal (dahl) is a classic, satisfying, healthy, wholesome, and simple to make Indian lentil preparation that is very flavorful and delicious. This Dal Palak recipe is one of our family favorite.

This nourishing proteins and fiber-packed North Indian dish Dal Palak is prepared using lentils, spinach leaves, and basic onion tomato masala. Dal Palak can be served with plain steamed rice, roti or naan.

What is Dal Palak?

Dal Palak, or Palak Dal is one of the popular Indian lentil recipes made by combining the goodness of lentils and fresh spinach leaves — this easy-to-make proteins and fiber-rich dal palak is sure to satiate your tummy and nourish your soul. 

Dal Palak or Indian Lentil & Spinach Curry makes a quick and fuss-free weeknight meal when you don’t have much time to cook and you still want to eat something satisfying and delicious. The only time-taking thing here would be slicing spinach and chopping other veggies. 

To speed up the cooking process, chop the ingredients in advance and then this dal palak dish will be ready in no time. It is a staple in many Indian homes due to its health benefits and nutrients.

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It can be prepared in 20 minutes. I made this in InstantPot. You can make it in pressure cooker as well. This one pot meal is perfect when you have busy day or you don’t want to spend too much time in kitchen.

Plus, Dal Palak is one of such forms of Indian dals that is super healthy and tastes super delicious that even kids would love relishing it without turning their nose up and raising eyebrows. The second tempering of ghee, cumin seeds, , onions, and garlic magnifies the aroma and flavor of this by taking it to the next level.

Ingredients for Dal Palak:

• Dal: Dal Palak or palak dal is made of a any dal. I made this by using only moong dal but you can take mix dal (toor dal, masoor dal, moong dal). Any dal you can take here which is healthy and high in protein.
• Spinach: Spinach is a key ingredient for this dish. Adding spinach to this dal gives extra flavors and nutrition. We will add chopped spinach into this. some people like to add baby spinach without chopping.
• Ghee: I like to tempered my dal with ghee but if you don’t like or if you are vegan, you can add oil too.
• Onion Tomato: When you make any dal onion and tomato always added in dal. Here’s the same step we are doing. Onion tomato will be sautéed in this.
• Spices: Dal palak is a very simple comforting food which require only few spices like turmeric, red chili powder and garam masala and salt.
• Minced Ginger, Garlic and Green Chili: you can either use the past of ginger, chili and garlic or you can add chopped ginger, garlic and green chili too. If you are Jain you can always skip garlic and onion.
• Whole Spices: For whole spices i have used cumin seeds and dry red chili.
• Lemon Juice: squeezing lemon juice when your dal palak done will really give you amazing taste.

How to make Vegan Dal Palak?

This recipe is almost vegan because it uses ghee in second tempering (tadka). To make it entirely vegan, swap ghee with vegan butter or vegetable cooking oil.

How to make No Onion No Garlic Version of Dal Palak?

Dal Palak is an easy recipe that can be made with or without onion and garlic. It would come out super delicious no matter how you choose to make it. 

To make No Onion No Garlic Version of Dal Palak, remove onion and ginger from the ingredients list and follow the same recipe.

How to make Daal Palak ?

Dal Palak is a one pot meal which you can make under 20 minutes. This is an easy and simple lentils dish which can be made in 6 simple steps. Following are the 6 steps needed for cooking dal palak:

Step 1: Chopped spinach and keep it aside.

Step 2: Take 1 cup of moong dal or mix dal (toor dal, masoor dal and moong dal) in a bowl. Wash it and soak it for half and hour. If you are using moong dal you don’t need to soak too.

step 3: In instant pot, turn on the saute button. Add ghee or oil into this along with cumin seeds and dry red chili. Add chopped ginger, garlic and green chili along with chopped onions. Saute them for few minutes or until onion turns little brown.

Step 4 : Add Chopped tomatoes. Let it cook for few minutes. Add spices like turmeric, red chili powder, cumin coriander powder and garam masala.

Step 5: Add soaked dal add 1/3 cup water along with salt as per taste. Turn the lid off and turn on the pressure cook button with 15 minutes of set.

Step 6: After 15 minutes open the lid and add chopped spinach. Let is simmer for little bit on soup option and squeeze lemon juice. Serve with Naan or Jeera rice.

What are Pro tips and variations to make the best Dal Palak?

Tip 1. In this recipe, I used Serrano Chilies which are not hot. They enhance the flavor and taste of the dal without making it spicy or hot. If you want hot green chilies, then feel free to use any variety of green chili in this recipe. 

Tip 2. Adjust the spice levels by reducing or increasing the green chilies and red chili powder.

Tip 3. You can reduce or increase the amount of spinach in this recipe.

Tip 4. The ratio of dals (lentils) should be 1:1. 

Tip 5. You can add more or less spinach.

How to make Dal Palak without pressure cooker?

To make Dal Palak without pressure cooker, you need to follow the steps as below:

• Take moong dal or any multi dal, wash them and cook by adding turmeric and salt. To cook dal, you can use any pot or pressure cooker if you have.
• Till the dal is cooked up, chop the onions, tomatoes and spinach.
• In a pan, add some ghee or oil. Add cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds start popping up, add asafetida, minced garlic, ginger and green chilies. Add chopped onions and saute for few minutes.
• When the onions get brown, add chopped tomatoes. Let the tomatoes cook for little bit.
• When tomato cooked well, add chopped spinach. Don’t over cook the spinach. Add spices like turmeric, red chili powder, cumin coriander powder and garam masala.
• Add cooked dal, salt to taste and in last add lemon juice. Let it simmer for few minutes, turn the flame off. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or roti.

Dal Palak Or Moongdal Palak – Flavorsofmykitchen

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Recipe by Shruti Naik Course: MainCuisine: Indian

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Dal Palak or Spinach Dal is a classic, satisfying, healthy, wholesome, and simple to make Indian lentil preparation that is very flavorful and delicious. This Dal Palak recipe is one of our family favorite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup moong dal

• 1/2 cup spinach

• 2 tbsp ghee or oil

• cumin seeds

• 1 tbsp minced garlic

• 1 tbsp ginger chili

• 1 tsp red chili powder

• salt to taste

• 1 tsp cumin coriander powder

• lemon juice.

Directions

• Step 1: Chopped spinach and keep it aside.
• Step 2:Take 1 cup of moong dal or mix dal (toor dal, masoor dal and moong dal) in a bowl. Wash it and soak it for half and hour. If you are using moong dal you don’t need to soak too.
• step 3: In instant pot, turn on the saute button. Add ghee or oil into this along with cumin seeds and dry red chili. Add chopped ginger, garlic and green chili along with chopped onions. Saute them for few minutes or until onion turns little brown.
• Step 4 : Add Chopped tomatoes. Let it cook for few minutes. Add spices like turmeric, red chili powder, cumin coriander powder and garam masala.
• Step 5: Add soaked dal add 1/3 cup water along with salt as per taste. Turn the lid off and turn on the pressure cook button with 15 minutes of set.
• Step 6: After 15 minutes open the lid and add chopped spinach. Let is simmer for little bit on soup option and squeeze lemon juice. Serve with Naan or Jeera rice.
• In Pressure Cooker:
• Take moong dal or any multi dal, wash them and cook by adding turmeric and salt. To cook dal, you can use any pot or pressure cooker if you have.
• Till the dal is cooked up, chop the onions, tomatoes and spinach.
• In a pan, add some ghee or oil. Add cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds start popping up, add asafetida, minced garlic, ginger and green chilies. Add chopped onions and saute for few minutes.
• When the onions get brown, add chopped tomatoes. Let the tomatoes cook for little bit.
• When tomato cooked well, add chopped spinach. Don’t over cook the spinach. Add spices like turmeric, red chili powder, cumin coriander powder and garam masala.
• Add cooked dal, salt to taste and in last add lemon juice. Let it simmer for few minutes, turn the flame off. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or roti.

Recipe Video