Spinach with garlic and lentils

Spinach cooked with lentils , flavored with garlic is a nutrition packed side. A healthy stir fry that's rich in protein and iron and tastes very delicious.

 

Ingredients

• 1 Cup packed spinach chopped ( thaw if frozen )
• 1/4 Cup Yellow Moong Dal ( soak dal in regular tap water for 15 minutes)
• 6 Shallots chopped finely
• 1 Teaspoon vegetable Oil / sesame seed oil ( I love sesame seed oil with spinach, however you can use vegetable oil or canola oil)
• 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
• 3 crushed Garlic Cloves
• 2 dried Red Chillies / half teaspoons of red chilli flakes
• a big pinch of Turmeric Powder ( optional)
• Salt as required
• 1 Tablespoon shredded coconut ( optional )
• 1/4 Cup water

Directions

1. In a pan heat 1 Teaspoon oil. When the oil is hot add cumin seeds
2. When they splutter, add crushed garlic cloves and fry until they are crispy. Do not burn garlic
3. Add broken red chilli / red chilli flakes and fry for few seconds
4. Add soaked moong dal and 1/4 cup water and give it a stir
5. Add turmeric powder and season with salt. Let the dal cook for 10 minutes until it is soft. Do not over cook dal, dal should be soft but firm
6. Now add chopped spinach and mix it with dal
7. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of water and let the spinach cook for 5 minutes
8. Then add the shredded coconut and give it a stir, spinach is ready to be served
9. Switch off the flame