Palak chana dal recipe – How to make spinach chana dal – Dal recipes

Palak chana dal is a healthy and nutritious dal made with spinach leaves and chana dal.  Palak is rich in iron and chana dal is highly nutritious and equally rich in proteins, calcium, iron and B vitamins.  It is a healthy indian curry which goes well with rice and chapathis.  Spinach gives a nice colour and texture to the dal and turns the dish to a healthy meal.  If you are looking for palak recipes you can also try :

Palak paneer

Palak curry

Palak dhokla

Chana or chole palak

Palak paratha

Palak matar pulao

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Prep Time :  20 mins

Cook Time : 35 mins

Servings : 3 to 4 persons

North Indian cuisine

INGREDIENTS

Chana dal/Bengal gram – 1 cup

Chopped palak leaves – 2 1/2 cups

Onion – 1 (chopped finely)

Cooking oil/ghee – 2 tablespoons

Mustard seeds/rai – 1/2 teaspoon

Cumin seeds/jeera – 1/2 teaspoon

Red chilli powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon

Garam masala – 1 teaspoon

Salt to taste

TO GRIND TO A SMOOTH PASTE

Tomato – 1

Garlic cloves – 5

Green chillies – 2

Ginger/adrak – 1 inch sized small piece

HOW TO MAKE OR PREPARE PALAK CHANA DAL RECIPE

Soak the chana dal in 2  cups of water for 1 to 2 hours.  Add salt and turmeric powder to it and pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles or till the dal is well cooked and becomes soft and mushy.  Mash the dal and keep it aside.  Grind the tomato, garlic cloves, ginger and green chillies with little water to make a smooth paste.

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Keep the tomato mixture aside. Heat ghee/oil in a pan on medium flame. Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter.  Then add cumin seeds and fry for few seconds.

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Add chopped onions and saute till the onions become translucent and turns light brown.  Add chopped spinach leaves and saute for 6-7 minutes till the spinach becomes soft and stops releasing water.

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When the spinach leaves shrink a bit, add the tomato mixture and mix well.

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Add very little water and simmer on a low flame for 2-3 minutes.  Then add coriander powder, red chilli powder, garam masala and salt.  Stir well.

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Add the boiled chana dal and mix well.  Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of water according to the consistency of dal required by you.  Simmer the dal for another 4-5 minutes on a low flame.  Then switch off the flame.

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Serve palak chana dal hot with steamed rice, rotis or phulkas.

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NOTES/TIPS

You can also make this palak dal with tuvar dal or masoor dal, instead of chana dal.

Use ghee for better taste and flavour to the dal.

You can add either spinach leaves or spinach puree as per your choice.

Soaking the chana dal for an hour helps to cook the dal faster

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