Spinach Dal: Recipes by Mridula Baljekar

Spinach Dal

Preparation Time:

10 mins

Cooking Time:

20 mins

Ingredients:

Moong Dal (or Toor Dal) - ½ Cup

Spinach chopped - 1 Cup

Ginger grated - 1 tsp

Turmeric Powder - ½ tsp

Water - 2 Cups

Salt to taste

Garam Masala - ¼ tsp

Red Chilli Powder - ¼ tsp

Cumin Seeds - ½ tsp

Pinch of Asafoetida

Whole Red Chillies - 1 or 2

Oil - 1 tbsp

Lemon Juice

Method:

• Wash Dal several times with Water till the Water appears clear.

• Pressure cook Dal, Spinach, Ginger, Turmeric Powder, Salt and Water.

• Wait for the pressure to be released and then open the cooker.

• Keep this on medium heat and add Garam Masala, Red Chilli Powder and mix well. Take it off from heat and add the Lemon Juice.

• Heat Oil in a pan and add Cumin Seeds and wait for it to splutter. Then add Asafoetida and whole Red Chillies and pour this on the Dal.

• Spinach Dal is ready to be served

Crunchy Salad

Preparation Time:

15-minutes.

Cooking Time:

0-minutes

Ingredients:

Pineapple Chunks (fresh or canned) - 1½ cups

Cucumber chopped into cubes - 1

Spring Onions sliced - 3

Red Bell Pepper thinly sliced - 1

Peanuts dry roasted - ½ cup

Roughly chopped Peanuts - a handful

Cilantro (Coriander Leaves) finely chopped - 1 cup

Basil Leaves chopped - ¼ cup

Thai Salad Dressing:

Garlic minced - 2 cloves

Red Chilli de-seeded and minced - 1

Soya Sauce - 1 tbsp

Lemon Juice - 1 tbsp

Brown Sugar - 2 tsp

Method:

• Place all the Salad Dressing ingredients in a cup, mix well and set aside.

• Place Pineapple Chunks, Cucumber cubes, Bell Pepper strips into a large mixing bowl.

• To this add Spring Onions and roasted Peanuts. Next add Cilantro and Basil.

• Now pour the Salad Dressing over this and toss well.

• Serve this by sprinkling chopped Nuts over it and some Lime Wedges by the side.