Comfort in a bowl - Lahsuni Dal Palak

June 17, 2011

Most  often, its the simple things that brings a smile on our faces. When you get a surprise gift, when your favourite movie comes on tv, watching a lovely sunset and having your mom made food. Now when the last on this simple wish list becomes so difficult when you stay far from home; then you just have to manage with the second best thing. Make it at home, just like mom does and enjoy your comfort food.

Lahsuni daal palak or daal palak is a very common and popular dal in India. It is made with different types of lentils, but most popular are with duli moong dal (green gram) and lal masoor dal. I prefer it with the later and added spinach adds a lovely color, flavour and texture to the daal. Lentils are full of proteins and an essential part of Indian diet. But I still feel that not too much experimentation has been done in its cooking as a dal. I hope to discover newer ways of making this everyday dish in new forms. Till then I will enjoy the simplicity of this healthy daal, which is also served at many five star hotels too.









Ingredients:
Spinach leaves, chopped - 12 -15 leaves

Lal masoor dal (Whole red gram) 3/4 cup







Tomato - 2 medium chopped
Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chilly Powder - 1/4 teaspoon (Or as per liking)
Asafoetida a pinch
Ghee/ Oil 2 tablespoons
Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon
Garlic, chopped 3-4 cloves
Dry red chilly - 1-2 (optional)

Method:
  • Cook moong dal either in pressure cooker or open pan till soft
  • Heat oil in pan, add hing, half of cumin seeds, garlic, green chillies and sauté for one minute, till garlic gets browned.
  • Add tomatoes, salt, turmeric and red chilly powder and cook till the tomatoes are done.  
  • Add spinach and sauté for 2-3 minutes, till spinach gets slightly wilted. 
  • Add dal and mix well. Add water to get the desired consistency.
  • Heat ghee in a small pan and add dry red chilly and rest of cumin seeds. When it splutters, add this tempering to the ready to serve dal for finishing.
Serve hot with rice or roti and some raita and papad on the side to complete the meal.




Sending it as my entry to events - Dish it out - Spinach & Garlic and My Legume Love Affair - 36, started by Susan.


13 comments:

{ Mélange } at: June 17, 2011 at 5:39 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

Sure it's a bowl of comfort and nutrition Anamika.Slurp !!

Nice presentation and what you wrote is true here as well.Simple things brings smile here too..

{ aipi } at: June 17, 2011 at 6:35 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

All I need is some piping hot rice, papad and two big laddleful of that yummy dal and that would be lunch! :)
US Masala

{ Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal } at: June 17, 2011 at 7:32 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

I have to agree, this is indeed comfort in a bowl, add some hot rice and there is heaven in our little kitchen :)

{ Raji } at: June 17, 2011 at 8:08 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

Daal is the ultimate comfort food...yours look great..the pictures are beautiful.

{ Vardhini } at: June 17, 2011 at 9:03 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

Love spinach and dal combo .. comfort food anytime.

Vardhini
Event: Dish it Out - Spinach and Garlic
Event: Healthy Lunchbox Ideas - Broccoli

{ Raksha } at: June 17, 2011 at 9:21 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

great recipe. will try this for sure

{ Priya } at: June 17, 2011 at 9:24 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

Flavourful and comforting spinach dal...simply inviting..

{ Krithi's Kitchen } at: June 17, 2011 at 9:25 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

I too made the dhal palak.. still in drafts...
Earthy, hearty and comforting anytime..

http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
Event: Healing Foods - Banana

{ Saras } at: June 17, 2011 at 10:45 PM said... Best Blogger Tips

Lovely click.. Healthy dish..looks yum

{ Satrupa } at: June 18, 2011 at 1:26 AM said... Best Blogger Tips

Looks delicious ...... luv the serving bowl. Clicks are awesome

{ Torviewtoronto } at: June 19, 2011 at 2:37 AM said... Best Blogger Tips

beautiful and delicious combination we love dal with spinach

{ Rinku Naveen } at: June 19, 2011 at 8:23 AM said... Best Blogger Tips

What a delicious bowl of dal palak! Love that colour.. Nice clicks too..
Happy to follow u..

vanita at: August 17, 2011 at 3:18 AM said... Best Blogger Tips

Hi anamika
Love ur blog and recipes.. and great pics.

Post a Comment