Spinach with lentils| Palak dal |Palakura pappu

 UPDATED POST WITH NEW PICTURES ON 13/12/16

Dal's /lentils are rich sources of plant protein,so I make it a weekly twice affair on our dining menu.Alhamdulillah I have a Dal loving family ,my kids enjoy Dal to the extent that they  literally end up  drinking it if it is a sambar or some soupy Dal ,provided that it is not spicy .

Spinach as you all of you know is a power house of nutrients ,besides adding an earthy flavour to Dal adorns it with good colour which makes it even more tempting .

Served as lunch along with baked cauliflower , fryums plain rice ,curd,that was really a  satisfying as well as a nourishing one .

INGREDIENTS

FOR DAL:

• 150 gms toor dal
• 1 C spinach(chopped)
• 1 tomato
• a goose berry size tamarind(optional)
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder /3-4 green chillies
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• coriander leaves 
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp oil 

    TEMPERING:

  

•  1/2 tsp mustard seeds
•  1/2 tsp cumin seeds
•  2-3  red chillies
•  hing a pinch 
•  2 sprigs curry leaves
• 2 tbsp oil

METHOD

1. Wash Dal ,chopped spinach .
2. In a pressure cooker add all the ingredients except salt mentioned under Dal .
3.  Add water 2 inch above the Dal level  and pressure cook on high for 1 whistle and on medium heat for 4 - 5 whistles  or until the dal is soft .
4. Allow the pressure to leave on its own .
5. using a lentil masher  mash dal until creamy.
6. Now add salt and water as per your need .
7. In a tadka pan add the list under tempering allow it to crackle and pour it over dal and close the lid  so that the aroma of tadka infuses in dal .
8. Serve with rice or chapati .  

old pic of the post

..............................HAPPY COOKING