Spinach dal - Spinach with moong dal

Spinach dal is a healthy dish prepared with the goodness of spinach leaves and moong dal. I have followed the simple recipe of basic dal for this dish. This is an easy way to include spinach in our diet. It goes well as an accompaniment for rice or as a side dish for roti. We can even mix with hot rice and ghee and serve for kids.

Spinach Dal Recipe

Serves  :  3 - 4 people

Ingredients

• Spinach  -  1 bunch
• Moong dal  -  1/2 cup
• Onion  -  1 medium sized, finely chopped
• Tomato  -  1 medium sized, finely chopped
• Green chilly  -  2, slit into half
• Mustard  -  1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds  - 1 tsp
• Asafoetida -  a generous pinch
• Turmeric powder  -  a pinch
• Salt  -  as required
• Water  -  as required
• Oil   -  1 tbsp

Method

• Pressure cook moong dal by adding required water and a pinch of turmeric, till soft. I usually cook it along with rice.
• Remove the spinach leaves from the stalk and clean it well for at least 3 to 4 times, to get rid of the dirt.
• Chop spinach leaves finely and pressure cook for 1 or 2 whistles by adding very little water and salt.
• In a pan, add oil and once it is heated up, add mustard, cumin seeds and asafoetida  in the same order.
• Once they crackle, add onion and green chillies and saute well.
• Once onion turns transparent, add tomato and mix well. 
• Once tomatoes turn mushy, add the cooked spinach and cooked dal. Add salt and water as per the required consistency.
• Cook for 5 minutes and switch off the stove.
• Serve hot as an accompaniment for rice or as a side dish for roti. This goes well with any kuzhambu or rasam varieties(prepared without dal).

Notes

• Add very little water and salt for pressure cooking spinach. Else it will turn watery.
• You can also add finely chopped garlic along with onions for additional flavour.