Spinach Dal (Dal Palak Recipe)

Name: Spinach Dal (Dal Palak)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups toor dal ((pigeon pea lentils)); 10 oz frozen spinach; 2 tablespoon oil; 1 teaspoon mustard seeds; ½ teaspoon cumin seeds; ½ teaspoon hing (asafetida); 1 sprig curry leaves; 2-3 cloves garlic (chopped); 1 large onion (chopped); 1 large tomato (chopped); 1 teaspoon turmeric powder; 1 green chili (slit); 1½ tsp salt ((adjust as per taste)); 2 tablespoon lemon juice; 6 cups water

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5 from 61 votes

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Spinach dal is a hearty, wholesome, and healthy dal made with spinach and toor dal (arhar dal or pigeon pea). Using an Instant Pot means you can have your one-pot dal ready in just 20 minutes, with minimal prep time. I am also using frozen spinach in this recipe, which means there's no need to spend time cleaning and chopping fresh spinach.

Although not as popular as dal makhani, it remains a common dal in South Indian states such as Karnataka, Andhra, and Tamil Nadu. Also called palak dal, it is gluten-free, vegan, and made using minimal spices.

Why you will love this recipe?

This palak dal recipe has minimal prep time, thanks to frozen spinach. It is ready in 20 minutes when made in an Instant Pot.
This Instant Pot spinach dal can be served as a main dish with rice or bread or as a side dish to a larger meal.
It's also a great option for meal prep, as it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Ingredients

Palak: (Spinach leaves) I used frozen spinach in this recipe. See the tips section below to see how to use fresh spinach.

Toor dal: I make this dish with toor dal or pigeon peas lentil. Moong dal (yellow lentils can also be used).

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

Use different dal: You can use urad dal, yellow moong dal, or masoor dal (red lentils) instead of arhar dal. Make palak chana dal by using Bengal gram (chana dal) or moong dal palak using petite yellow lentils. You can also use a mix of different dal.

Change the spices: This South Indian recipe is popularly called palakura pappu and uses curry leaves and mustard seeds. In North India, spices like red chili powder (or cayenne pepper), coriander powder, garam masala powder, and kasuri methi are used.

Use other leafy greens: Apart from spinach, you can use fenugreek leaves, mustard greens, kale, or collard greens in this recipe. Also, check out this recipe to make palak sambar, a South Indian stew.

Step-by-step instructions

saute onion and add rest of the ingredients.

Step 1: Set the Instant Pot in saute mode and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add cumin seeds, hing, curry leaves, and garlic. Saute for a few seconds (image 1).

Step 2: Add chopped onions and saute for 3-4 minutes (images 2 and 3). Add tuvar dal, frozen spinach, tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt, and green chili (image 4).

Step 3: Add 6 cups of water and give it a good stir. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook mode on high pressure. Pressure cook for 8 minutes (images 5 and 6).

Step 4: Do a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release. Open the lid and add the lemon juice (images 7 and 8).

Dal palak made in Instant Pot. — Healthy and nourishing palak dal made in the Instant Pot

Expert Tips

I am using frozen spinach leaves; however, regular spinach or baby spinach leaves also can be used. For every cup of frozen greens, replace it with 2 cups of fresh greens.

I am using 4 cups of water in one cup toor dal. Adjust the amount of water to get the desired consistency of dal.

For fresh spinach, clean the leaves and roughly chop the leaves. Add the fresh spinach only after pressure cooking the dal. Follow this recipe, but do not add the fresh spinach along with the dal. Once the pressure is released from the Instant Pot, set it to saute mode and add the chopped spinach. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. The rest of the recipe remains the same.

What to serve with dal palak?

For the ultimate comfort food experience, pair this delectable spinach dal with either basmati rice or jeera rice and a side of aloo curry or kurkuri bhindi. It also pairs well with this spicy pan-roasted chow chow.

Alternatively, you can enjoy it as a warm and comforting lentil soup. This lightly spiced dal palak curry is easy to prepare and burst with flavors.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make dal with frozen greens?

Yes. You can use frozen greens to make the dal and they can be used directly without defrosting. Add them along with the rest of the ingredients and pressure cook.

How to make dal with fresh spinach?

To use regular spinach, wash them thoroughly and roughly chop them. Do not add them to the pressure cooker. Once the dal is cooked, add the spinach leaves and simmer for 2-3 minutes until they are cooked.

How to store spinach dal?

You can store any leftover dal in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It also freezes well and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat the next day, add some hot water to the dal and simmer on the stovetop for a few minutes.

Dal palak served with basmati rice on a steel plate.

More recipes using frozen spinach

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