Lasooni Dal Palak

Ingredients:

1 small cup tur dal/red gram dal/kandi pappu

2 cups chopped and tightly packed palakura/palak/spinach

1 onion, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

2 green chillis, slit lengthwise

3 garlic cloves, finely sliced, saute in ghee till lightly browned and keep aside

1/2 tsp finely chopped ginger

1/2 tsp red chilli pwd

big pinch turmeric pwd

salt to taste

1 1/2 cups water, approx

For seasoning/poppu/tadka:

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tbsp ghee

1 In a pressure cooker, add 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water and tuvar dal and pressure cook upto 3 whistles. If cooking over stove top, cook till the dal is almost cooked.
2 Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed vessel, add cumin seeds and as they splutter, add garlic and ginger and stir fry for few seconds. Add the chopped onions and saute for 3-4 mts.
3 Add red chilli pwd and turmeric pwd and combine. Add the chopped palak and saute for 4 mts. Add chopped tomato and saute for another 3 mts.
4 Add the pressure cooked dal along with salt and combine. Cook on slow to medium flame for 8-10 mts without lid or till you get the consistency of your choice. Garnish with sauteed garlic slices.
5 Serve with rotis or white rice.