Dhal and Spinach Curry


After making my beef curry, I decided to post a vegetarian curry this time.  Ramadhan is now ending meaning Eid is just around the corner. I love Eid,  here and even in Malaysia. The Eid songs blasting in full volume in the malls, everyone busy shopping for new clothes and then Eid day morning everyone flocking off to the mosque to pray the Eid prayers. So looking forward for Eid.
On Eid day we always have rice, with chicken curry with sides such as a dhal curry and salad. Then there is some desert. Deserts are a must on Eid.

I came across this recipe in a recipe book prepared by an Indian restaurant called Passage through India.  This dhal dish he says is from South India.  I used red lentils as it takes less time to cook.

Recipe : Dhal and Spinach curry : recipe adapted Keerai Kootu recipe from Passage thru India by Chef PS Kadam

3/4 cup red lentils
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 medium onion, sliced
1-2 tomatoes roughly chopped
2 garlic, grated
1/2 tsp grated ginger
2 dried  red chillies roughly chopped
1 tbsp coconut milk powder
1/2 cup water
50 g baby spinach ( or regular spinach leaves or kangkung leaves), chopped or frozen if unavailable
8-10 curry leaves
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp turmeric
1-2  green chillies slit into two lengthwise
salt

Wash your lentils and place in a saucepan. Fill with water till the water level is about 1 1/2 inches above the lentils.  Place on the stovetop and boil till tender, set aside.

In another pan, heat about 2 tbsp oil and add your mustard and cumin seeds. Once they start to pop and crackle add onions,  curry leaves and fry till the onion starts to go soft.  Add garlic, ginger dried chillies and tomatoes, and cook for 1 minute.

Stir in the cooked lentils along with any leftover water in it, and add turmeric, and the green chillies and stir.

Mix the coconut powder with the  1/2 cup water and stir this into the lentil mixture.  Cook over medium heat till the flavours develop about 10 minutes. Add another 1/2 cup water if you feel its too thick ( I like a nice thick dal curry with my flatbread.  Taste and add salt.

Finally, stir in the chopped spinach, cook for 1-2 minutes and switch off.

Comments

  1. I Nammi, I love dhal. Is healthy and delicious. Thank you for sharing :)

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  2. Hi Nammi,
    Your dhal curry looks delicious! We love dhal curries too! Delicious with paratha!
    And I have this book too! Have tried two chicken recipes from it. :)

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  3. Hi Nammi,

    I enjoy eating vegetable with curry and yours looks nice and flavorsome.

    Zoe

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  4. Looks delicious Nammi! I have never seen coconut milk powder here! Didn't know it existed! I will have to hunt some down.

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  5. delicious. We too make dal spinach curry but with ground coconut . This coconut milk sounds very interesting.

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  6. i have not had dhal in a long time! yum!

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