Ever since Siri hosted AWED Sri Lanka Recipes event, I got hooked to the cuisine. I had borrowed a book and this is the third recipe I tried from it. A simple palak dal recipe (lentils and spinach) but enhanced in true Sri Lankan way not to mention the addition of the ever-present coconut milk.
The book I had only mentioned dal and I wasn’t sure which dal they were referring to. So I used toor dal. You could also try this with moong dal and get a totally different flavour. Yummy either ways, I am sure.
Sri Lankan Palak Dal /Lentils with Spinach
Preparation time: 40 mins
Serves: 2 to 4What I Used:
1.5 cups toor dal
A big bunch of spinach, chopped (about 4 cups loosely packed)
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 small tomato, chopped fine
2 dried red chillies
2 garlic pods, crushed
A 1″ piece of cinnamon
1/2 tsp cumin seeds / jeera
1.5 cups light coconut milk
Salt to tasteFor tempering:
2 tsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
A few pieces of rampe/ pandan leaves or curry leavesHow to make Palak Dal:
1. The first step is to cook the lentils. Usually I use pressure cooker but for this recipe, its important not to cook them mushy. So, add about 4 cups water to the 1.5 cups toor dal and soak for an hour. Then, keep on a medium fire to cook for about 20-25 mins. The lentils should be cooked yet stay as individual pods.
2. Heat oil and add the ingredients for tempering. Once the mustard seeds start popping, add the cinnamon, chillies, garlic, jeera and onions. Fry until onions turn transparent.
3. Then add the tomatoes and mix well for another minute. Add the chopped spinach now and lower fire. Let it wilt and reduce in size. Keep stirring till the it mixes well with the rest of the added ingredients.
4. Now add the cooked lentils and combine gently. Bring to boil. Reduce fire and add the coconut milk and salt. You can add some chilli powder if you’d like more heat. Simmer for 5 mins and remove from fire.
Serve spinach dal hot with steamed white rice or roti.
I did try dis Daal, am not an expert and it turned great me and my husband enjoyed it.
Happy you enjoyed the Sri Lankan Palak Dal recipe interesting 🙂
Now I should dig my teeth in Sri-lankan dishes too. sound interesting cuisine from our neighbor country.
And yes, I prepare this spinach daal too (with Moong daal).
Nags, yello-n-green combo pics look so beautiful! Good capture. 🙂
Wow lovely tempting photos. Looks so creamy and yumm.
coconut milk in spinach dal? never tried that.. u seem to be knowing lot of srilankan dishes 🙂
I've never used coconut milk in my dal, it must surely add tonnes of flavor. Cinnamon is new too, will surely give it a try this time, I just hope I remember to turn off the stove before the dal turns to a mush 😀
Cooked it and loved it. Thank you 🙂