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Dal Palak - Dhaba Style
5 from 10 votes

Dal Palak - Dhaba Style

Dal Palak blends cooked toor dal with finely chopped spinach and a tempering of spices to create a flavorful, comforting lentil curry. The dal is pressure cooked to a soft, creamy texture with turmeric and garlic, while the tempering of cumin, mustard seeds, dried red chilies, and asafoetida adds aroma and depth. Fresh spinach adds color and a mild vegetal note, balancing the spices.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 270 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup toor dal or use yellow moong dal
  • 1 cup spinach tightly packed, wash and chopped into small bits, palak leaves
  • 1 onion chopped, large
  • 1 tomato chopped, large
  • 3 green chilies slit lengthwise (if you want milder spice), or chopped fine with seeds (if you want more spice)
  • 1 tablespoon ginger pieces
  • 1 tablespoon garlic pieces plus 1 teaspoon extra
  • 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
  • 1 tablespoon ghee
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 2 dried red chili
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder (optional)
  • salt to taste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 pinch asafetida

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Rinse dal 2 to 3 times. Soak dal in enough water for about 20 minutes. Pressure cook the soaked dal in enough water with ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder for about 2 to 3 whistles(i.e pressure cook dal for 20 minutes). Note : Pressure cooked dal for mentioned time will give you mushy texture dal and that's how we want it. If you are after slightly gritty textured dal, pressure cook for lesser time probably about 10 to 12 minutes. Pro-Tip : While cooking dal add generous pinch of turmeric powder and 5-6 cloves of garlic.
  2. Pick palak leaves(spinach) and rinse it under water to remove all the dirt from the leaves. Chop it fine as possible, keep aside.
  3. In a wok add 1 tablespoon ghee plus ½ tablespoon oil. Add cumin seeds and will till it turns slightly brown. Add finely chopped garlic and ginger pieces. Saute till the raw smell of ginger garlic goes off.
  4. Next add finely chopped onions and green chilies, cook until onions start to turn brown.
  5. Add finely chopped tomatoes and cook till tomatoes turns soft and release the juices.
  6. Add finely chopped spinach leaves. Cook till spinach is completely cooked.
  7. Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt to taste and mix well. Saute for a minute.Note : You can skip red child powder and just add green chilies like you see in the recipe video. If adding red child powder, note the color of the dal would change. I love yellow-dish dal, so I skipped red chili powder.
  8. Add cooked dal and mix well. Cover and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn off flame.
  9. In another small pan heat remaining ½ tablespoon oil. Add mustard seeds wait till it splutters. Add cumin seeds and wait till it starts to turn brown. Add thin sliced garlic and sauté till garlic turns golden brown. Add asafetida and dried red chilies, let it cook for 20 seconds and turn off flame. Add this tempering to the dal.
  10. Add lemon juice. Stir well.
  11. Serve hot with steamed rice with a dollop of ghee on top. Pure bliss!

Notes

  • Cook dal with turmeric and garlic cloves to enhance flavor and achieve mushy texture typical of dhaba-style dal.
  • Adjust pressure cooking time to control dal creaminess; less time yields a grainier texture.
  • Tempering with browned garlic, mustard seeds, cumin, dried red chilies, and asafoetida adds aroma and taste layers.
  • Serve dal palak immediately hot with steamed rice and a spoonful of ghee for added richness.
  • Modify green chilies quantity according to spice preference.

Nutrition Information

Calories 270kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 36g (12%) Protein 14g (28%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Cholesterol 10mg (3%) Sodium 133mg (6%) Potassium 596mg (13%) Fiber 17g (68%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 1066IU (21%) Vitamin C 13mg (14%) Calcium 49mg (5%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 270

% Daily Value*

Calories 270kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Protein 14g 28%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 10mg 3%
Sodium 133mg 6%
Potassium 596mg 13%
Fiber 17g 68%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 1066IU 21%
Vitamin C 13mg 14%
Calcium 49mg 5%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.