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Dahi Dal (Yogurt Lentil Curry With Spinach)

By Chetna Makan

3.8

(14)

A bowl of yogurt lentil curry on rice.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

Sometimes all you need is just a couple of fresh ingredients thrown into a pan of simply seasoned dal to create a warming and comforting dish. The spinach along with a little yogurt makes this soothing yet deeply delicious. Serve it with some bread, or on a pile of steaming hot plain rice—the choice is yours.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    30 minutes

Ingredients

100g (3½ oz.) split moong dal
400ml (14 fl oz.) boiling water
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
1-inch piece piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
7 oz. fresh spinach leaves
2 tablespoons ghee
2 onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon chile powder
3 tablespoons plain yogurt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the moong dal in a pan with the measured boiling water, salt, turmeric and ginger. Bring to the boil, then cover and cook over a low to medium heat for 10 minutes. Add the spinach, cover again and cook for another 5 minutes until the lentils are soft and the spinach has wilted.

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, heat the ghee in a frying pan, add the onions and cook over a low to medium heat for 10 minutes until golden, then stir in the chile powder. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    Step 3

    Once the lentils are ready, blitz to a purée with a hand blender or in a blender or food processor. Return to the pan, if necessary, and bring to the boil. Then take off the heat, add the yogurt and mix well. Transfer the dal to a serving bowl, top with the fried onions and serve.

Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian Cookbook by Chetna Makan
From Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals © 2021 by Chetna Makan. Reprinted with permission by Mitchell Beazley, distributed by Hachette Book Group.Buy the full book from Mitchell Beazley, Amazon, or Bookshop.
TagsDalCurryIndianSouth AsianAsianBean and LegumeVegetableSpinachLeafy GreensOnionRoot VegetableYogurtDairySplit PeaMainDinnerNut FreeGluten FreeVegetarianSimmerSauteBlenderFood ProcessorRamadanCookbooks

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