Palak Chana : Spinach Gram dal curry

Now, this is my favorite work. To combine two healthy ingredients and cook something which is lip smacking and healthy too. This palak Chana subzi is being cooked two ways, either dry or curry. This time I have cooked it as a curry. Its tasty either ways. A Maharashtrian delight, tweaked to boost the health value! The smoothness and colour of palak combine well with the texture of Chana dal. While palak adds vitamin A to this dish, chana dal adds nutrients like calcium, iron, folic acid, zinc and fiber.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup chana dal 

2. 1 cup spinach leaves , washed and chopped 

3. 1 onion, chopped 

4. 1 tomato, chopped

5. 1 tsp salt, red chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin seeds each

6. 1/2 tsp garam masala 

7. 2 tbsp curd, beaten

8. 2 tsp ginger garlic green chilies paste 

9. 1 tsp oil

10. 2 dried red chilies

Method:

1. Pressure cook Chana dal and palak with salt and turmeric with 2 cups of water for 1 whistle. Dont over cook. Open the cooker when pressure ease off. 

2. In pan, heat oil . Splutter cumin seeds and red dried chilies. 

3. Fry onions till brown. Add ginger garlic paste and stir. 

4. Add tomatoes and spices. Cook covered for 2-3 min till tender. Keep the flame low.

5. Now, slowly add beaten curd while stirring the Masala on low flame. 

7. Cook covered for 3-4 min till curd gets dried up with masala and forms a paste. 

8. Add the cooked chana dal palak and cook uncovered till it gets mix well with the masala. It wont take more than 2-3 min. Serve hot , garnishing with garam masala . Serves well with rice and chapathi both. 

Good to Know :

Chana dal is high in fiber and help to lower cholesterol. Apart from having a great taste, it also has a very low glycemic index, which is important for those with diabetes. Chana dal can be a good food for people with diabetes because it has a low glycemic index.Its a helpful source of zinc, folate, calcium and protein, low in fat and good for digestion.