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    Home » Indian Recipes » Palak Dal | Spinach Dal | Lentil and Spinach Curry

    Palak Dal | Spinach Dal | Lentil and Spinach Curry

    Published: Oct 13, 2021 · Modified: Nov 9, 2021 | This post may contain affiliate links·

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    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Dal Palak aka, Spinach Dal is a flavorful, lightly spiced dal recipe made with lentils and spinach. Served with Basmati rice or with roti (Indian flatbread), it is a one-pot delicious meal, made in under 30 minutes in the Instant Pot or any pressure cooker.

    plate with rice and dal curry
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Step by Step Recipe
    • Expert Tips and Recipe Variations
    • Similar Recipes
    • Palak Dal (Spinach Dal)

    Indian dal is one of the most versatile meals you can make. This humble, home-style Indian lentil dish is hearty, comforting, and is so easy to make. This spinach dal is wholesome, nutritious and we eat it all year through, but it is especially comforting in the Autumn/Winter months.

    Enjoy it steaming hot, with a bowl of Basmati rice or rotis, or even as a side with Naan.

    This palak dal or spinach dal is made with two types of lentils – I have used masoor dal (red lentils) and toor dal (split yellow pigeon peas). A few essential spices are used to add flavor to the dal. This recipe can be made on the stovetop, or with a pressure cooker. I will be sharing the pressure cooker method, which is fuss-free and a one-pot recipe.

    spoon holding dal palak over a bowl of dal

    Ingredients

    all ingredients to make palak dal

    Ingredient Notes

    Spinach leaves (regular or baby spinach)

    Rinsed lentils – Use masoor dal and toor dal in a 1:2 proportion. You can also add moong dal if you want to.

    Whole spices – Cumin, green chilies, dried red chilies

    Spice Powders – Coriander Powder, Kashmiri Red Chili Powder, Turmeric

    Step by Step Recipe

    Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode. Once it is hot, add the oil and cumin seeds. Let the cumin start to sputter.

    Then add the chopped onions, ginger, and garlic and saute for 3-4 minutes until onions are soft.

    collage of images showing dal being made in instant pot

    Add the chopped tomatoes and saute for a minute more. Then add the rinsed lentils to the Instant Pot, along with the green chilies (if using). Add the spices - turmeric, coriander powder, and Kashmiri chili powder.

    Add water and salt.

    collage of steps for adding lentils in instant pot

    Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and Pressure Cook for 7 minutes on High pressure. Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release for 5 minutes and then manually release the pressure (NPR 5 minutes).

    Open the lid of the Instant Pot. The lentils will be cooked.

    collage of images showing lentils pressure cooked in instant pot

    Add the chopped spinach leaves, and mix it well with the cooked lentils. Cover and keep the dal for 2-3 minutes more until the spinach is softened.

    collage of images showing spinach added to pressure cooked lentils

    Optional step - make a 'tadka' or tempering of dried red chilies, mustard seeds, and curry leaves in hot oil or ghee, and pour this into the cooked palak dal. Garnish with a squeeze of lemon juice and chopped coriander leaves.

    Palak dal or lentil curry is now ready to be served! Serve hot with Basmati rice or Naan or Rotis.

    instant pot with cooked dal curry in it

    Expert Tips and Recipe Variations

    Use Moong Dal - You can add moong dal to masoor dal and toor dal, or swap out any of the dals as per your convenience and what you have in the pantry. This is a very versatile recipe, and any combination of toor, masoor and moong dal will work well.

    Use Kale or Chard - Palak dal or spinach dal is made with spinach greens, however, you can substitute the spinach with kale or Swiss chard or any greens of your choice.

    Make it on the Stovetop - You can make Palak Dal on the stovetop if you don't have a pressure cooker. The lentils will take 25-30 minutes to cook on the stovetop.

    Add Tadka - Once the lentils are cooked, heat a small tadka pan (or saucepan) with ghee or vegetable oil. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, asafoetida, dried red chilies, and let them heat up until aromatic. Add this tempering to the cooked palak dal and stir before serving.

    ladle holding palak dal over an instant pot

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    ladle holding palak dal over an instant pot

    Palak Dal (Spinach Dal)

    Shinta
    Dal Palak aka, Spinach Dal is a flavorful, lightly spiced dal recipe made with lentils and spinach. Served with basmati rice or with roti (Indian flatbread), it is a one-pot delicious meal
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 5
    Calories 124 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup Toor Dal
    • ½ cup Masoor Dar
    • 1 tablespoon Ghee or Vegetable Oil
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 2 Green Chilies
    • 1 inch Ginger Minced or finely chopped
    • 2 cloves Garlic Minced or finely chopped
    • 1 Onion Finely Chopped
    • 1 Tomato Finely Chopped
    • 1 teaspoon kashmiri Red Chili Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
    • 2 cups Fresh Spinach Leaves Chopped

    Instructions
     

    • Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode. Once it is hot, add the oil and cumin seeds. Let the cumin start to sputter.
    • Then add the chopped onions, ginger, and garlic and saute for 3-4 minutes until onions are soft.
    • Add the chopped tomatoes and saute for a minute more. Then add the rinsed lentils to the Instant Pot, along with the green chilies (if using). Add the spices - turmeric, coriander powder, and Kashmiri chili powder.
    • Add water and salt.
    • Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and Pressure Cook for 7 minutes on High pressure. Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release for 5 minutes and then manually release the pressure (NPR 5 minutes).
    • Open the lid of the Instant Pot. The lentils will be cooked.
    • Add the chopped spinach leaves, and mix it well with the cooked lentils. Cover and keep the dal for 2-3 minutes more until the spinach is softened.
    • Optional step - make a 'tadka' or tempering of dried red chilies, mustard seeds, and curry leaves in hot oil or ghee, and pour this into the cooked palak dal. Garnish with a squeeze of lemon juice and chopped coriander leaves.
    • Palak dal or lentil curry is now ready to be served! Serve hot with rice or naan or rotis.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 7gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 103mgPotassium: 188mgFiber: 7gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1454IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword Palak Dal, Spinach Dal
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leni says

      October 17, 2021 at 1:09 pm

      Can I use brown lentils and red lentils? I’m German and don’t understand what kind of lentils you are using. Brown and red lentils is what I can get at the store. 🙂 no coconut milk? Looks so creamy in the pictures

      • Shinta says

        October 18, 2021 at 12:24 pm

        hi Leni, 'Toor dal' and 'masoor dal' are usually available in Indian grocery stores in Germany as well. However, you can use certainly brown lentils for this recipe. The taste will vary slightly athough the cooking time remains the same. Enjoy!

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    Shinta Simon

    is always on the lookout for inspiration for her next meal. She shares recipes for family meals, Instant Pot recipes and more

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