Go Back
Print

Chana daal with fresh spinach

Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Yield 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup chana daal, soaked for two hours
  • 3-1/2 cups water (850ml)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons tamarind paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1/8 teaspoon black mustard seeds
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 handful fresh spinach leaves, finely sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Boil 1-1/2 cups water and salt in a pan.
  2. Add the soaked (and drained) chana daal, cover the pan and cook over a medium flame for 30 minutes.
  3. Add cayenne, turmeric, cumin, coriander, sugar and tamarind paste. Stir well and allow to simmer, uncovered, for another hour or more. Stir regularly and add boiling water as needed as the daal cooks and thickens. It will be thicker on the bottom than it looks on top, so don’t neglect stirring! The longer it cooks, the more creamy it will get.
  4. When daal has finished cooking, heat vegetable oil over low heat and add mustard seeds and garlic.
  5. When hot, add the oil mixture to the simmering pot of daal and mix.
  6. Add spinach and keep covered for two minutes while the daal continues to simmer. Cook uncovered for five more minutes.