Dal Palak is a quick and easy Vegan Dal loaded with the goodness of spinach. The best use of fresh or frozen spinach and this spinach dal recipe works great with rice or bread.
Dal and rice is one of the very recipes that I make often. It is very convenient, especially on the weekday nights.
The boys love the different dal combinations and I am also convinced that they get their fair share of protein and vegetables. Dal Palak is one of our favorites. I use frozen or fresh spinach in the recipe and they work equally well.
All we need is some steaming hot rice with a dollop of fresh ghee to go with the spinach dal.
Traditionally, this Dhal palak, or any dal recipe for that matter is seasoned with ghee. If vegan, you can skip the ghee and use the oil of your choice. I personally like using coconut oil for the spinach dal recipe but any cooking oil should work.
This week I am doing easy dinner recipes for the Blogging Marathon. This Dal Palak is my third recipe in the series. Check out my Spicy Thai Peanut Noodles and the Zucchini Pesto Pasta recipes that I made for the last 2 days.
Ingredients
Check the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact measurements and printable recipe.
- Lentil - I have used Yellow Moong dal or split moong dal for the spinach dal recipe. You could use multiple lentils or any other kind like Toor dal or Masoor dal as well.
- Spinach - Fresh or frozen, both would work for the dal palak recipe. I have used fresh spinach today.
- Other vegetables - We need Onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, and green chilies along with some lemon juice.
- Spices - We use cumin seeds, cinnamon, and cloves. We also use turmeric powder in the recipe. We need oil and salt. If not a vegan, try using ghee for the final seasoning.
Step-by-step process
- Wash the Moong dal and cook with enough water. I usually used to cook the dal in a pressure cooker. But for the past few times, I have been cooking moong dal in a saucepan and I am in love with the flavor. If cooking over the flame, add enough water to the dal and bring it to a 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 to a pan and when heated, add cumin seeds, cinnamon, and cloves. Fry it for a minute. (1)
- Then add the chopped onion and green chilies. (2)
- Once the onions are fried, add the turmeric powder and ginger garlic paste. (3)
- Sauté for a minute and then add the tomatoes along with salt. Cook until the tomatoes are mushy. (4)
- At this stage add the spinach and mix well (5). Let it cook for about 10 mins or until the spinach is tender (6).
- Now add the cooked dal (7). 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 (8).
- Optional – Just before turning off the flame, we could do a quick tadka / seasoning with a little oil or ghee, cumin seeds, and red chili powder for more flavor. (9&10)
- Turn off the flame and just before serving add some lime juice.
- Serve the Dal Palak with rotis, pulkas or rice!
Dal Palak | Spinach Dal Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cup Palak / spinach chopped
- ¾ cup Moong dal /Yellow split lentil
- 1 Onion large , chopped
- 3 Tomato chopped
- 4 Green chilies slit lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon Red chili powder optional
- 1 inch Cinnamon
- 4 Cloves
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon Ginger garlic paste
- to taste Salt
- 1 tablespoon Lemon 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.
- Optional – Just before turning off the flame, we could do a quick tadka / seasoning with a little oil , cumin seeds and red chili powder for more flavor.
- Turn off the flame and just before serving add some lime juice.
- Serve the Dhal Palak with rotis, pulkas or rice!
Radha says
Dal is my comfort food. You have done this exactly like how I do most of the time. Perfect!
Sandhya says
Thanks Radha!
Andrea Metlika says
This looks and sounds fabulous! Love all the flavors in this.
Sandhya says
Thanks Andrea!
Patty at Spoonabilities says
This is such a healthy and delicious, and easy, comforting meal! We all love it with rice!
Sandhya says
Thanks a lot!
Saif says
This is a delicious Spinach dal dish. I actually tried this in an Indian restaurant and I love it. My family is gonna love this recipe too.
Sandhya says
Thanks a lot!
Sharon says
This is a delicious and simple dal recipe that is full of good for you ingredients.
Sandhya says
Thanks Sharon! It is a simple recipe.
Maria says
New to me, never tried this before. But I really can't wait to try this with my husband <3 this looks good! I'm sure he's gonna love it!
Sandhya says
Thanks Maria! Hope he likes it 🙂
Harini Rupanagudi says
Love palak dal in all its variety. But I have never added cloves and cinnamon. I love onions in my dals while my husband doesn't 🙂
Suma Gandlur says
Rice and dal is my comfort food as well. The addition of spices must make this palak dal flavorful and I am loving your version.
Roger says
I played with this recipe a few times before I was really happy. However is it at all possible to produce these recipes in metric ie grams, as finding out what cup measurements are is so difficult. Thanks I I really like your website with real Indian foods.