Moong Dal with Palak

                           
                                          

Cooking dal with palak ( spinach) adds to the nutritional value of dal and also helps to incorporate greens into the diet.  It makes a nice change too from making dal the usual way every time. Generally dal is the side dish to which no one gives much importance.  However, with a little imagination and effort it can take centre stage.

Ingredients: 

3/4 cup moong dal dhuli
15-20 leaves spinach
2 onions
1 inch piece ginger
6 cloves garlic
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt to taste
1 tsp turmeric powder
Pinch of asafoetida ( hing)
1 tsp cumin ( jeera)
2 green chillies
2 tbsps oil

Method:   Wash moong dal well and put it to boil with salt and turmeric powder in five cups of water. Cook in pressure cooker till dal is fully cooked.

Wash spinach and  shred roughly.  Peel onions and chop.  Also chop green chillies, ginger and garlic. Heat oil in a pan.  Add hing and jeera.  Add chopped onions and green chillies and cook till onions are translucent.  Now add the chopped ginger and garlic. Cook for half a minute.  Add the spinach. Fry till water from spinach dries up .  Add the cooked dal .  Add lemon juice.  Simmer for 2 minutes and serve hot.

If you want you can also add one chopped tomato.  To give a nice final shape to the dal you can give tadka of ghee and red chilli powder.