Most of the daal/lentils cooked in Indian way is in curry form or lets say liquid state. I have hardly come across any dry or semi dry Indian style dal or lentils; until one day when I visited my friend in Bristol. She cooked Channa Dal with Spinach and served it as a side subji. I was hooked.
Apparently Channa Palak Dal is very popular is many parts of india, just that I had it for the first time. Channa is also known as chole or chickpeas but this isn't that channa. It is chana dal or split bengal gram as known in English. The dish is loaded with iron, minerals, proteins and what not. Palak/spinach gives this dal a green-healthy twist. Other ingredients like garlic, ginger, tomato brings up the taste value too. If you are bored having same staple tuar or moong dal then you have to try this.
Ingredients:1/2 cup channa dal (soaked for atleast 4-5 hours)2 cups palak/spinach1 large tomato, chopped finely4 cloves garlic, grated1 tablespoon ginger paste2 tablespoon oil1/4 teaspoon hing/aseofetida1 tej patta/bay leaf2 whole red chilles1 teaspoon jeera/cumin seeds1/4 teaspoon akka dhaniya/coriander seeds, crushed slightly1/2 teaspoon haldi/turmeric powder1 teaspoon dhaniya/ coriander powderRed chilli powder, to tasteSalt to taste1 teaspoon ghee1 teaspoon kasuri methiMethod:In a kadai heat oil. When oil is hot, add hing, jeera, tej patta, whole red chilies and coriender seeds. Saute for 5 seconds. Turn the flame to low.Now add chopped garlic and ginger paste. Saute for 1 minute.Add chopped tomato. Mix in salt, haldi, red chilli powder and coriender powder. Add half cup of water. Mix. Cover and cook for 5 minutes ot till tomatoes are soft.Add channa dal now. Add 1 glass of water. Cook covered. On a low flame let the daal cook. Keep an eye on water quantity-you do not want dal to be over cooked or turn mashy.Add in palak. Mix. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. You know dal is cooked when you press a grain between your thumb and finger it should mash easily.Mix in ghee and kasturi methi before you serve.Notes:If you forgot to soak the channa dal, I would suggest to boil it separately in an open for at least 20 minutes.
