Dal Palak

A tasty and healthy side dish.

Ingredients :
Palak - 2 bunches
Moong dal - 1 cup
corriander powder : 1/2 tsp
mirchi powder - 1/2 tsp
garam masala - 1/2 tsp
one big onion
one tomato
jeera - 1 tsp
asafoetida


Method:
1. Cook the moong dal in a pressure cooker.
2. Clean the palak and cut them into small pieces. Palak is loaded with nutrients and equally loaded with dust. So be careful to clean them proper.
3. In a bit of oil, fry the jeera. Add finely chopped onions and fry them till they are light brown.
4. Add the finely chopped tomatoes and fry them too.
5. Add the cooked dal and fry for a minute.
6. Add all the masalas and salt. Add a bit of water. Cook till all the masalas blend properly.
7. Add the palak and cook till the palak is done. Salt will bring out the water in the palak. So there is no need to add any extra water.
8. Also, keep checking if the palak is done. Overcooking the palak will destroy the nutrients.

I garnish it will a spoon on ghee and lemon juice. The lemon provides the necessary vitamin C to help absorb the iron in the palak. Generally the iron we eat is not fully absorbed by the body. You need to take additional vitamin c source to aid the absorbtion.