Easy Instant Pot Spinach Dal

Instant Pot Spinach dal is a creamy, flavorful, and nutritious Indian dish that combines tender, cooked lentils with fresh spinach leaves and aromatic spices. This dal palak recipe is a thick, delicious, and comforting blend of protein and greens that's perfect for a wholesome and satisfying meal.

Spinach Dal made in an Instant Pot is a delicious and nutritious one-pot dish that combines cooked lentils with fresh spinach leaves, and aromatic Indian spices such as cumin seeds, asafetida. The Instant Pot makes the cooking process quicker and more convenient, while retaining the nutritional value and flavors of the ingredients.

To make Spinach Dal in an Instant Pot, first the onions, garlic, and green chilies are sautéed until fragrant. Next, lentils are pressure-cooked along with water and spices to a soft and mushy consistency. Finally, fresh spinach leaves is added to the dal and simmered till the flavors are incorporated.

The result is a creamy, flavorful, and healthy dish that's perfect for serving with rice or bread. The Dal Palak recipe made in an Instant Pot is a great option for a delicious and nutritious meal on a busy weeknight.

What is Spinach Dal?

Spinach dal, also known as dal palak is a nutritious and flavorful vegetarian Indian dish made with lentils (dal) and spinach. The dish typically consists of boiled and mashed lentils such as toor dal, known as split pigeon peas, masoor dal, or moong dal. Dal is cooked with a mixture of sautéed spinach, onions, garlic, and spices.

Dal palak can be served as a main dish with rice or bread, or as a side dish with other Indian curries. It is a versatile dish that can be prepared in many different ways, with variations in the spices and ingredients used.

Some dal recipes may also include other vegetables such as tomatoes or carrots to add more flavor and texture to the dish. The combination of lentils and spinach provides a great source of protein, fiber, iron, and other important nutrients.

How to make Spinach Dal in Instant Pot?

Making spinach dal in an Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to prepare this delicious dish. Here's a easy palak dal recipe with rice in Instant Pot:

1. Rinse the dal under running water until the water runs clear.
2. Press the 'Sauté' button on the Instant Pot and heat the oil.
3. Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and minced ginger to the pot and sauté until the onions turn translucent. This forms the base of the dish and adds flavor to the dal.
4. Add the chopped tomato and sauté until it turns soft. Tomatoes add a nice tangy flavor to the dish.
5. Add the dal, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and salt. Mix well.
6. Add water and mix well.
7. Close the Instant Pot with the lid and set the valve to the 'Sealing' position.
8. Press the 'Pressure Cook' or 'Manual' button and set the time to 4 minutes on high pressure. The cooking time may vary depending on the type and quality of lentils used.
9. Once the cooking time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes and then release the remaining pressure manually.
10. Open the lid and add chopped spinach and garam masala. Garam masala is a spice blend that adds a warm and complex flavor to the dish.
11. Press the 'Sauté' button and cook for a few more minutes until the spinach is wilted and the dal is thick and creamy.
12. Serve hot with rice or bread. Spinach dal is a complete meal and can be enjoyed as a main course or as a side dish with other Indian curries.

How to make Dal Palak in Pressure Cooker?

Spinach Dal is a delicious and healthy dish that combines lentils and spinach, popular in Indian cuisine. Here's a dal palak recipe in a pressure cooker:

Follow the same recipe as Instant Pot for sautéing the onions, and spices. Then close the lid of the pressure cooker and cook on medium flame for 3-4 whistles. Rest of the recipe is same as Instant Pot.

How to serve?

Spinach Dal is a delicious and nutritious dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions:

• Serve hot with steamed rice: Dal Palak tastes great with steamed rice. You can add a dollop of ghee (clarified butter) on top of the dal for added flavor.
• Serve with roti or naan: Dal Palak can be enjoyed with Indian flatbreads like roti or naan. You can also serve it with parathas or puris.
• Serve as a soup: If you like, you can serve Dal Palak as a soup. Simply add more water or broth to the dal to make it thinner and more soup-like.
• Add some toppings: You can top your Dal Palak with some fried onions, crispy papad, or a squeeze of lemon juice for added flavor and texture.
• Pair with other Indian dishes: Dal Palak can be served as a side dish with other Indian curries like methi chole, jeera aloo, or butter paneer.

Whatever way you choose to serve it, Palak Dahl is a tasty and healthy dish that is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

Variations

There are many variations of the Dal Palak recipe that you can try to add variety to your meals. Here are a few ideas:

• Use different lentils: Instead of masoor dal, you can use other lentils like moong dal (split mung beans), toor dal (red lentils), or chana dal (split chickpeas) to make Palak Dal.
• Add different greens: In addition to spinach, you can use other greens like kale, collard greens, dill or fenugreek leaves (methi) to make the dal. Each green has a unique flavor and nutritional profile.
• Make it creamy: To make the dal creamy, you can add some coconut milk or cream to the recipe. This will give it a rich and indulgent taste.
• Add more vegetables: You can add other vegetables like carrots, potatoes, green beans, lauki, or peas to the dal to make it more hearty and nutritious.
• Make it spicy: If you like spicy food, you can add more green chilies, red chili powder, or black pepper to the dal to give it a kick.
• Make it vegan: To make the dal vegan, you can use oil instead of ghee.
• Use vegetable broth instead of water to add more flavor to the dal.

Common Questions

Is Dal Palak healthy?

Yes, Dal Palak is a very healthy dish. It is high in protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. The lentils provide a good source of plant-based protein, while the spinach is a great source of iron and other nutrients.

Can I make Palak Dal without a pressure cooker?

Yes, you can make Dal Palak on the stovetop in a regular pot. Simply follow the recipe and cook the dal and spinach until they are soft and fully cooked.

Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh?

Yes, you can use frozen spinach instead of fresh. Just be sure to thaw the spinach and drain any excess water before adding it to the dal.

Can I make Dal Palak ahead of time?

Yes, you can make Dal Palak ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 2-3 months.

Can I use other types of lentils instead of masoor dal?

Yes, you can use other types of lentils like moong dal, toor dal, or chana dal to make Dal Palak. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly, as different lentils require different cooking times.

Can I skip the onion and garlic in the recipe?

Yes, you can skip the onion and garlic if you prefer.

Is Dal Palak spicy?

The level of spice in Spinach Dahl can be adjusted to your taste. If you prefer less spice, you can skip the chili powder and use less green chilies. If you like it spicy, you can add more chili powder or chilies to the recipe.

Some more Indian Dal recipes

• Lehsuni Moong Dal
• Sindhi Tidali Dal
• Green Moong Dal
• Sindhi Chana Dal
• Sindhi Makhani Moong Dal

Some more Spinach recipes

• Palak Paratha [Spinach Flatbread]
• Instant Pot Palak Paneer
• Tofu Palak Paratha [Tofu Spinach Flatbread]
• Indian Winter Recipes