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Prep time
10 minutes
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Cook time
40 minutes
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Serves
4
Author Notes
This garlicky Spinach Dal is vibrant, healthy and delicious. Made with Toor Dal or Split pea lentils and spinach, this dal is flavored with South Indian tadka or spices sizzled in hot oil. Traditionally made in the pressure cooker, it’s a breeze in the Instant Pot. Dal is served with almost every Indian meal and one never tires of it. It’s a great accompaniment to dishes made with Masala Mama Easy Cooking Sauces.
—MasalaMama
Ingredients
- For the Dal:
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1 cup
Toor Dal (split pigeon pea), rinsed well and strained
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1 teaspoon
salt
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1 teaspoon
Madras curry powder by Masala Mama
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1-2
Thai green chilis or 1 Serrano or ½ jalapeño, chopped (optional, for additional heat)
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4 ounces
spinach (about 2 cups chopped)
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1
lime, cut into wedges
- For the Tadka:
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1 tablespoon
ghee, coconut, or olive oil
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1 teaspoon
whole cumin seeds
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½ teaspoons
brown mustard seeds
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3-4
medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced
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10-12
fresh curry leaves (optional, but recommend if available)
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2
whole red chiles (optional)
Directions
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In the Instant pot add: the lentils, salt, Masala Mama Madras curry powder,, and green chili if using. Add 2½ cups of water. Lock the instant pot lid in place and move the steam release valve to sealing. Select Manual/pressure cook and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes.
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When cooking is complete, turn the Instant Pot off and allow steam to release naturally for 5 minutes before carefully turning the valve to Vent.
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Meanwhile, make the tadka: heat ghee or oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot and shimmering (it’s very important that the ghee or oil is hot) add one after the other in this order: mustard seeds, then the cumin seeds and finally the garlic, curry leaves and whole red chilies. The spices should pop almost immediately. Let it sizzle until you see the spices getting darker and garlic begins to get a hint of color, 30-60 seconds.
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Remove the Instant pot lid, add the chopped spinach and mix well. Cook until the spinach is soft, about 5 minutes. Add water if too thick.
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Add the tadka to the cooked dal and stir. Adjust salt to taste and serve hot with lime wedges on the side.
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