Himachali Palak Dal
Veg
Vegan
Toor or moong dal cooked with a generous quantity of fresh spinach, tempered in mustard oil with cumin, dried chillies, and garlic — a daily Himachali combination that pairs the earthiness of mountain-grown lentils with the iron-richness of valley spinach.
Cuisines
Himachali
Kumaoni
Best for
Lunch
Dinner
Build a full meal around Himachali Palak Dal
Get a matched combo of sides and accents
Recipe
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 25 min
Total: 40 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
|
1 cup | Moong Dal , yellow |
|
2 cups | Spinach , chopped |
|
1 medium | Onion , finely chopped |
|
2 cloves | Garlic , minced |
|
1 inch | Ginger , grated |
|
1 small | Tomato , chopped |
|
1 teaspoon | Cumin , seeds |
|
1 teaspoon | Turmeric powder |
|
1 teaspoon | Red chili powder |
|
1 teaspoon | Coriander powder |
|
2 tablespoons | Ghee |
|
— | Salt , to taste |
|
3 cups | Water |
|
— | Cilantro , fresh, for garnish |
Instructions
- 1 Rinse the yellow moong dal thoroughly and soak it in water for 15 minutes.
- 2 Heat ghee in a pressure cooker over medium heat.
- 3 Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
- 4 Add chopped onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.
- 5 Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, and sauté for another minute.
- 6 Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft.
- 7 Mix in turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder, and cook for a minute.
- 8 Drain the soaked dal and add it to the cooker along with chopped spinach leaves.
- 9 Pour in 3 cups of water and add salt to taste.
- 10 Close the lid of the pressure cooker and cook for 3-4 whistles on medium heat.
- 11 Allow the pressure to release naturally, then open the lid and stir the dal.
- 12 Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.
Tips
For a richer flavor, you can add a pinch of asafoetida (hing) along with the cumin seeds.