Spinach dal | Palakura pappu
Spinach dal or palakura Pappu is an easy and delicious recipe made in one pot. Served in the main course with plain rice and a dollop of ghee.
Print Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- Toor dal - 1 cup
- Water - 600 ml
- Spinach - 90 grams or 3 cups loosely packed
- Onion - 64 grams
- Thai green chili -9 chili For mild spice level - 5 chilis
- Garlic - 2 pods medium-sized
- Tamarind paste - 1.5 tbsp or raw tamarind - 20 grams
- Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
- Salt - To taste I added 2.5 tsp
Tadka
- Vegetable Oil - 1 tbsp
- Ghee - 1 tbsp Can be replaced with oil
- Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
- Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
- Dry red chilli -1
- Curry leaves - 4
- Hing or asafoetida - 1/8 tsp
- Chili powder - 1/2 tsp
Instructions
How to cook lentils in an Instant pot:
- Wash the toor dal until it runs clean and soaking them until other ingredients are prepared.
- Meanwhile, Chop the onion, green chili, garlic, and spinach.
- Drain the soaking water then give it a good rinse.
- Add soaked dal, water, turmeric, spinach, onion, garlic, green chili, tamarind on dal or lentils. Don’t mix it.
- Close the lid and set the instant pot on MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK for 8 min.
- When count down is done, quick release and remove the pot which is on top.
- Add salt to dal and mash it with a ladle until the dal is smooth and soft.
How to cook lentils in a regular pressure cooker:
- Wash the toor dal until it runs clean and soaking them until other ingredients are prepared.
- Meanwhile, Chop the onion, green chili, garlic, and spinach.
- Drain the soaking water then give it a good rinse.
- In a pressure cooker add water, turmeric, spinach, onion, garlic, green chili, tamarind on dal or lentils. Don’t mix it.
- Close the lid and cook until 4-5 whistles.
- Open the lid when pressure is gone.
- Add salt to dal and mash it with a ladle until the dal is smooth and soft.
How to make tadka:
- The crackling of spices and change in color indicates the process is completed. It takes only a few seconds so be prepared to move fast.
- Pour oil and ghee in a pan over high heat. When the oil is hot enough, reduce heat to medium.
- Add mustard seeds, when they start to splutter add cumin seeds, red chili, curry leaves, hing, red chili powder.
- Turn off flame and pour this tadka on dal.
Video
Notes
- You can make a pot in pot meal in this recipe I made rice along with dal. Some times I replace rice with eggs, veggies.
- Vegans, replace ghee with another tbsp of oil
- Clean the raw tamarind under water gently and pour 1/4 cup water and microwave for 30 sec. Then squeeze the juice which can be used as a replacement for paste.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 578mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g
Servings: 6
Calories: 252kcal