Palak Chana Dal Recipe (2024)

Published: Dec 9, 2019 | Modified: Sep 8, 2022 by Hina Gujral

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Palak Chana Dal is a wholesome Indian Bengal Gram lentil Curry with spinach. Dal Palak is easy and quick to prepare in a pressure cooker. Be sure to watch the video!

Palak Chana Dal is a popular dal recipe from North India. It is also known as dal palak as ‘palak’ is the Hindi term for spinach.

It is a vegetarian Indian main course dish with Bengal Gram (chana dal) and fresh spinach.

Healthy Benefits Of Palak Chana Dal

Bengal Gram and spinach are the powerhouses of nutrients. Combining these two into a single curry is smart to include the right amount of iron in our everyday diet.

On a busy weekday, we get so much lost in the chaos of life that the nutrient part of any meal is almost neglected.

That is why I always try to include simple yet nutritious dishes like dal palak or chana dal khichdi often in my everyday meal.

Due to improper diet, pregnancy, monthly periods, and many other zillion reasons, we women are mostly iron deficient. What could be a tastier way than this dal palak to regulate our daily iron intake?

Dal Palak Recipe Variations

Lentils: You can use any easy-to-cook lentil to make dal palak. From yellow moong dal, green moon, and pink masoor to pigeon peas, any of these lentils can easily substitute Bengal gram in this healthy palak chana dal recipe.

Greens: If you are in a mood to experiment, combine tender radish leaves, kale or methi leaves, and spinach in the dal. The addition of a variety of greens makes dal even more nutritious.

Vegan: To make vegan dal palak, you must skip ghee to temper the dal. Substitute ghee with any other vegan cooking oil or coconut oil.

Instant Pot: Dal Palak is an instant pot-friendly dish. Or you can use an electric pressure cooker to make it (check recipe notes).

Watch Dal Palak Video

My Tried & True Tips

Ensure you soak the chana dal for at least 15 – 20 minutes before cooking. This ensures even and quick cooking of the lentil.

Do not pressure cook the chana dal for too long and with too much water. It might turn mushy.

Ghee not only provides a flavor to the dal it is also good fat.

Spinach should not be cooked for too long as its nutrients get wasted during the long cooking process. Once leaves turn soft, add the dal.

Serving Suggestion

I LOVE to enjoy chana dal palak with:

Chapati or Roti

Steamed Basmati Rice

Vegetable Pulao or Jeera Rice

Adding toppings like – chopped onion, tomato, fried egg, and coriander transforms this dal into a tasty one-pot meal.

More Indian Dal Recipes

Dal Khichdi

Gahat Ki Dal

Arhar Dal Fry

Panchmel Dal

Moong Dal Chaat

Oats Moong Dal Khichdi

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Palak Chana Dal Recipe

Recipe Video. Palak Chana Dal is a healthy, wholesome, gluten-free Indian style chana dal with spinach. Learn how to make dal palak in a few simple steps.

4.67 from 3 votes

Ingredients

▢ 1 Cup Chana Dal (Bengal Gram)
▢ 1 green chili, sliced
▢ 1 tablespoon grated ginger
▢ 1 inch cinnamon stick
▢ 1 star anise
▢ Salt to taste
▢ 2 tablespoon ghee
▢ 2 whole dry red chilies
▢ 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
▢ 1 Cup finely chopped onion
▢ 2 Cup finely chopped spinach
▢ 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
▢ 1 teaspoon red chilli powder

Instructions

Pressure Cook Dal:

Clean, wash and soak the chana dal in water for 10 – 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, drain water from the soaked dal.
Transfer chana dal to a pressure cooker along with ginger, green chili, cinnamon stick, star anise, salt and 2 cups of water. Stir to mix and close the lid of the pressure cooker.
Pressure cook the dal over low heat till it is soft or al-dente but not mushy. This usually takes 10 minutes. Allow the steam to release naturally from the pressure cooker. Open the lid and check the lentil for doneness.

Prepare Tempering:

Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan.
Add the cumin seeds and dry red chilies. Saute for 10 seconds.
Next, add the chopped onion and fry till they turn light brown.
Add the chopped spinach and spices. Stir to combine and cook for 1 – 2 minutes or till the leaves become soft.
Now add the pressure cooked dal and mix nicely. Cove and cook the day for 5 minutes over low heat.
Serve Palak Chana Dal warm with chapati and mint raita.

Recipe Notes:

Can I Make Dal Palak Vegan?

To make vegan dal palak, all you need to skip ghee for tempering the dal. Substitute ghee with any other vegan cooking oil or coconut oil. Once the ghee is skipped, this dal palak is a 100% vegan curry.

Can I Make Dal Palak in Instant Pot?

Press the sauté button. Add the ghee, and allow it to heat up for a minute. Add the cumin seeds, red chili, onion to the pot. Once they turn brown, add the dal, ginger, and green chili. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, and spices. Give everything a quick stir, then add the water and lentils. Secure the lid, close the pressure valve, and cook for 10 minutes at low pressure. Stir in the spinach leaves. Once the leaves begin to wilt serve with a spoonful of ghee on top.

Nutrition

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