Dal Palak (Spinach Dal)

Name: Dal Palak (Spinach Dal)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups (300g) red lentils, (split red lentils or split yellow lentils); 4 cups (960 mL) water; ¾ teaspoon ground turmeric; 1 ½ heaping teaspoons kosher salt, (plus more to taste); 1 ½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, (plus more to taste); Spinach Tadka ((recipe follows)); 1 handful (12g) cilantro leaves and tender stems, (chopped); 3 to 4 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil ((see Note 1)); 1 ½ teaspoon black or brown mustard seeds; 1 ½ teaspoon cumin seeds; 1 medium yellow onion, (finely diced); 4 fat or 6 medium garlic cloves, (finely chopped or thinly sliced); 1 ½- inch (4 cm) piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into thin matchsticks; 1 serrano or jalapeño pepper, (finely chopped (optional; see Note 2)); 2 to 5 dried red chile peppers, (torn in half (see Note 3)); 20 fresh curry leaves ((optional but highly recommended, see Note 4)); A couple pinches of asafoetida, ((AKA hing) (optional; omit if GF; see Note 5)); 5 ounces (140g) baby spinach

Instructions

Prep:5minCook:40min

In this comforting dal palak, Indian aromatics, whole spices, and spinach get toasted, then plated over an easy, protein-packed lentil dal. It’s gourmet, restaurant-quality Indian food that’s surprisingly easy to whip up!

Updated at: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:02:29 GMT