This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!
This Instant Pot Spinach Dal(lentil) / Sai Bhaji is a popular lentil/dal recipe from Indian/Sindhi Cuisine. This lentil/dal is a unique blend of spinach and lentil/dal, very nutritious and easy to make recipe.
Sindhi cuisine is known for its rich and nutritional food, and Sindhi Sai Bhaji or Spinach dal(lentil) is one such recipe which is a power pack of wholesome nutrients. Spinach and dal(lentil) give a balance of nutrients to this recipe. “Sai” in Sindhi means “green” and “bhaji” means “vegetables”.
 |
|
|
Traditionally, Spinach dal(lentil) is prepared with greens such as spinach, fenugreek leaves, some dill leaves and channa dal(lentil), tempered with some fresh garlic. Some recipes also use vegetables such as eggplant and potatoes. This spinach dal(lentil) is quite mild in flavors. Dal is slightly mashed to give it a nice creamy texture.
 |
|
Instant Pot Spinach Dal (lentil)/ Sindhi Sai Bhaji
|
Sai bhaji can be served in many ways. You can serve this dal with some Grean Peas Pilaf / Matar Pulao and Garlic Okra fry / Lahsun wali Bhindi. I also like to serve Sai Bhaji with some Tahiri or Sindhi sweet rice and some vegetables such as fried eggplant or Tahriyal Vangan(Sindhi Style fried eggplant). Sai Bhaji goes well with plain white rice too. Enjoy this easy and healthy preparation of Spinach dal(lentil).
 |
|
Instant Pot Spinach Dal (lentil)/ Sindhi Sai Bhaji |
Check out some other recipes:
|
Spinach Channa Dal(lentil) / Sindhi Sai Bhaji
This Instant Pot Spinach Dal(lentil) / Sai Bhaji is a popular lentil/dal recipe from Indian/Sindhi Cuisine. This lentil/dal is a unique blend of spinach and lentil/dal, very nutritious and easy to make recipe. |
|||||
|
Course: Main course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: sindhi sai bhaji, spinach lentil
Diet: Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
Servings: 6
Author: Jyoti Behrani
|
 |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Ingredients:
Fresh Spinach – 2 cups firmly packed OR 12 oz Frozen spinach, chopped
1/2 cup channa dal, soak in warm water for 15 min
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 inch ginger, chopped
6 to 8 cloves garlic / 1 TBSP garlic, chopped
2 green chili chopped (optional)
2 tomatoes chopped
2 TBSP of oil
1 TSP cumin seeds
1/2 TBSP turmeric powder
1 TBSP coriander powder
Salt to taste
1/2 TBSP Lemon juice
For Tempering
1 TBSP ghee
1/2 TBSP cumin seeds
1/8 TSP asafoetida / hing
1 TSP red chili powder (optional)
|
|||||
|
Instructions for Instant Pot Cooking:
Step 1: Turn on Instant Pot to saute mode, add oil, cumin seeds, garlic, onion, saute till light golden color, 3-5 min.
Step 2: Add channa dal, tomatoes, ginger, green chili and dry spices. Saute for a min, add spinach, mix well.
Step 3: Add water to just cover the spinach. I used around 1 cup of water.
Step 4: Turn on Instant Pot to Manual mode for 7 min. Let pressure release naturally, around 10 min.
Step 5: Open Instant Pot, using Hand blender slightly mash the dal. Add lemon juice. Adjust seasoning as per taste.
Step 6: Heat Ghee in fry pan. Add asafoetida, cumin seeds and red chili powder. Pour this tempering over cooked dal. Serve hot with Rice. Enjoy!!
Instructions for Pressure Cooker Cooking:
Step 1: On a high heat, in a pressure cooker, add oil, cumin seeds, garlic, onion, saute till light golden color
Step 2: Add channa dal, tomatoes, ginger, green chili and dry spices for a min, add spinach, mix well.
Step 3: Add water to just cover the spinach. I used around 1 cup of water.
Step 4: Pressure cook after first whistle, lower the heat, and simmer for 7 minutes.
Step 5: Open pressure cooker, using Hand blender slightly mash the dal. Add lemon juice. Adjust seasoning per your taste.
Step 6: Heat Ghee in fry pan. Add asafoetida, cumin seeds and red chili powder. Pour this tempering over cooked dal. Serve hot with Rice. Enjoy!!
|
|||||
|
Note(s): 1. Adjust the spice level as per taste.
2. The consistency of this dal is slightly thick, but you can adjust the consistency by adding more or less water.
3. If using lentil without soaking, add 5 more minutes to the cooking time.
|
|||||
Made Instant Pot Sai Bhaji. Great results! Thanks a lot!
Awesome! I am so glad you liked my recipe 🙂 Thanks for sharing your feedback!