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    Home » Recipes » Entrees

    Palak Dal - Spinach Lentil Soup

    Jump to Recipe

    Palak dal or Spinach Lentil Soup is a popular version of lentil soup that provides a way to add spinach and other greens to your diet. Spinach (palak) is added to this palak dal recipe, because it is a great source of vitamins and minerals. The combination of spinach and lentils make palak dal both rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals such as iron. I love that it's so easy to prepare and takes only a few minutes to setup in an instant pot. You can also have this as soup if you're on a low carb diet or just craving soup.

    This simple and quick Palak Dal - Spinach Lentil Soup recipe was also used as part of Family Meal Ideas - Quick Indian Dinner Recipes 

    Palak Dal – Spinach Lentil Soup
    Jump to:
    • How to Make Instant Pot Palak Dal
    • Recipe

    How to Make Instant Pot Palak Dal

    Palak dal is very easy to prepare in an instant pot. I use moong lentils, but you can use any other lentil like toor dal, arhar dal, masoor dal and chana dal. You may also mix lentils, as you desire. It always tastes great with the right seasoning. The cooking time may vary depending on the type of lentil you use. Below are some guidelines to set the instant pot time for various unsoaked lentils, on high pressure with a natural release (NR).

    • Split Green gram (Moong dal) – 0 minute
    • Red Lentil (Masoor) – 0 minute
    • Split Red gram (Toor dal) – 6 min (only 4 minutes for soaked lentils)
    • Bengal gram (Chana dal) – 5 minutes
    Family Meal Ideas – Quick Indian Dinner Recipes Palak Dal – Spinach Lentil Soup Matar Paneer – Light Everyday Recipe Aloo Shimla Mirch – Bell Pepper Potatoes Stir-Fry Cucumber Raita – Greek Yogurt with Cucumber Avocado Chapati Steamed Rice Vegetable salad

    Ingredients

    • Green gram lentils (yellow mung dal) - 1 cup de-husked/
    • Spinach (palak) - 3 cups chopped
    • Tomato - 2 medium size diced
    • Onion - 1 medium size diced
    • Ginger - ½ inch piece minced/grated
    • Green chilies - 2 or 3 chopped; adjust as per your spice level
    • Lemon juice - 1 tbs
    • Spices
      • Clarified butter (ghee) - 1 tbs
      • Asafoetida (hing) - ⅛ tsp
      • Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1 tsp
      • Salt (namak) - ½ tsp
      • Turmeric powder (haldi) - 1 tsp
      • Red chili powder (laal mirch) - ½ tsp
      • Coriander powder (dhaniya powder) - 1 tbs
      • Garam masala - ½ tsp

    Method

    1. Start the instant pot on SAUTE mode and heat oil in it.
    2. Add asafoetida, cumin seeds, green chili and ginger.
    3. Saute for 30 seconds then add diced onion.
    4. Saute until onions are translucent.
    5. Now add tomatoes and saute until soft and mushy.
    6. Add all the spices except garam masala and lemon juice, mix them and add lentils.
    7. Wash the lentils before adding.
    8. Press CANCEL and close the instant pot lid with vent in sealing position.
    9. Press MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK mode for 0 minutes. pressure release naturally(NR)
    10. When float valves pops down, open the lid and add chopped spinach.
    11. Press SAUTE mode again, let it simmer for approximately 2 minutes or until the dal starts boiling and spinach is mixed with the lentils.
    12. Now switch off the IP, add garam masala and lemon juice.
    13. Spinach dal is ready to be served.

    Recipe

    Palak Dal – Spinach Lentil Soup
    5 from 9 votes

    Palak Dal - Spinach Lentil Soup

    A very simple and health recipe packed with plant based protiens, iron, vitamins and minerals from two main ingredients lentil and spinach.  
    Review Print Pin Share
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Natural Release30 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 283kcal
    Author: Rupali Agarwal

    Ingredients

    • 225 gm Green gram lentils 1 cup de-husked/yellow mung dal
    • 150 gm Spinach chopped Palak: 3 cups
    • 300 gm Tomato 2 medium diced
    • 200 gm Onion 1 medium diced
    • 10 gm Ginger ½ inch minced/grated
    • 2 gm Green chilies 2-3 adjust as per your spice level, chopped
    • 1 tbs Lemon juice

    Spices

    • 1 tbs Ghee oil
    • ⅛ teaspoon Asafetida hing
    • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds jeera
    • ½ teaspoon Salt namak
    • 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder haldi
    • ½ teaspoon Red chili powder laal mirch
    • 1 tbs Coriander powder dhaniya powder
    • ½ teaspoon Garam masala

    Instructions

    • Start the instant pot on SAUTE mode and heat oil in it.
    • Add asafetida, cumin seeds, green chili and ginger.
    • Saute for 30 seconds then add diced onion.
    • Saute until onions are translucent.
    • Now add tomatoes and saute until soft and mushy.
    • Add all the spices except garam masal and lemon juice, mix them and add lentils.
    • Wash the lentils before adding.
    • Press CANCEL and close the instant pot lid with vent in sealing position.
    • Press MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK mode for 0 minutes.
    •  pressure release naturaly(NR)
    • When float valves pops down, open the lid and add chopped spinach. Press SAUTE mode again, let it simmer for approximately 2 minutes or until the dal starts boiling and spinach is mixed with the lentils.
    • Now switch off the IP, add garam masala and lemon juice.
    • Spinach dal is ready to be served.
    Nutrition Facts
    Palak Dal - Spinach Lentil Soup
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 283 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 2g13%
    Cholesterol 9mg3%
    Sodium 339mg15%
    Potassium 1050mg30%
    Carbohydrates 44g15%
    Fiber 20g83%
    Sugar 5g6%
    Protein 17g34%
    Vitamin A 4290IU86%
    Vitamin C 31mg38%
    Calcium 98mg10%
    Iron 6.4mg36%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @enhanceyourpalate on Instagram and hashtag it #enhanceyourpalate

    Other recipes that were used in this same casual meal idea:

    • Aloo Shimla Mirch - Bell Pepper Potatoes Stir-Fry
    • Matar Paneer - Light Everyday Recipe
    • Cucumber Raita - Greek Yogurt with Cucumber
    • Avocado Spinach Chapati (Roti)
    • How to Get Perfect Steamed Rice
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vasantha says

      July 04, 2021 at 10:51 am

      5 stars
      Tried the recipe.Very good one.Enjoyed a lot

      Reply
    2. Rupali Agarwal says

      February 21, 2021 at 4:09 pm

      Hello Shilpa, You were correct, I missed the step of addint 3 cups of water after adding the washed lentils. I have updated the recipe. Thank you for leaving the comment and helping me correct it. Best regards – Rupali

      Reply
    3. Lori says

      February 21, 2021 at 2:11 pm

      Did I miss it, or is there not instructions on when to add the ghee or the liquid to make it soup?

      Reply
      • Rupali Agarwal says

        February 21, 2021 at 4:09 pm

        Thank you Lori. You were correct, i missed the step of addint 3 cups of water after adding the washed lentils. I have updated the recipe. Thank you for leaving the comment and helping me correct it. Best regards - Rupali

        Reply
    4. Aditi says

      September 30, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      Is it a typing error, or is it possible to pressure cook in instapot for 0 mins?

      Reply
      • Rupali Agarwal says

        October 02, 2020 at 2:07 pm

        Yes, you can pressure cook for zero minutes. Some lentils don't take long to cook. - Rupali

        Reply
    5. Sudha Karan says

      August 02, 2019 at 5:08 am

      5 stars
      Nice

      Reply
    6. Shuba says

      August 02, 2019 at 1:51 am

      Healthy and Tasty Recipe..

      Reply
      • Rupali Agarwal says

        August 03, 2019 at 12:03 pm

        Thank you! Hope you give it a try ?

        Reply
    7. Sudha Karan says

      August 02, 2019 at 1:05 am

      5 stars
      Good One!..

      Reply
    5 from 9 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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