Simple Palak Dal (Spinach Dal Recipe)

Palak Dal is one of the simplest of recipes, at the same time very rich and healthy too. It works very well with both rice and roti. It is a welcome change to the mundane Dal Fry for sure. Not many add tomatoes to this Dal, but I did - because I like the mild sourness it brings to the Dal.

Ingredients:
1)Toor Dal - 1/2 cup
2)Spinach - 1 bunch(chopped, I used the stem as well)
3)Green Chilli - 1(slit)
4)Small Onions or shallots - 4(chopped or slit or whole)
5)Tomato - 1(small, chopped)
6)Whole Red chilli - 2
7)Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
8)Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
9)Asafetida - 1 pinch
10)Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
11)Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp(optional)
12)Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
13)Oil - 1 tsp
14)Ghee - 1/2 tsp

Preparation:
1)Soak Toor Dal for 30 minutes in water.
2)In a pressure cooker, add soaked toor dal with enough water, turmeric powder, asafetida, salt, slit green chilli, shallots and tomatoes. Cook for 4 whistles.
3)Heat oil in a frying pan, add cumin, mustard seeds and whole red chilli - let it splutter.
4)Add chopped spinach, a little salt and cook until it is done.(About 4 to 5 minutes)
5)Now add the content from cooker into the pan and mix well. Let it cook for 2 minutes
6)Add red chilli powder, coriander powder and mix well. Let it cook for 3 minutes.

Add 1/2 tsp of ghee at the end and mix well.