Do you know about Malabar or Vine spinach? It’s a nutrient-rich green leafy vegetable that’s commonly used in southern India. If you’re from Karnataka, you might know it as Basale Soppu, which is used in making a variety of dishes. When cooked, this leafy vegetable has a slightly slimy texture, which is why some people don’t enjoy eating it. However, it’s a favorite in our household, so I use it frequently to make this lentil dish.
This recipe is simple and ideal for busy weekdays. It’s also great for meal prep. Using a pressure cooker saves a significant amount of time in the kitchen, making this delicious dish quick and easy to prepare. It pairs well with rice, millets, quinoa, or any kind of dosa, making it perfect for hectic days.
I hope you try this healthy and delicious green leafy dal recipe and enjoy it as much as we do!
Malabar Spinach Dal in a Pressure Cooker
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker https://amzn.to/4mYWo0h
- Small Pan https://amzn.to/4cPAOIp
Ingredients
- 2 bunches Malabar spinach cleaned & roughly chopped (you add stem too)
- 1 1/2 cups toor dal thoroughly rinsed
- 3 cups water
- 1 small red onion chopped
- 1 large tomato chopped
- 1 small lime-sized tamarind
- Green chilies to taste
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 garlic cloves
For tempering/tadka:
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or any cooking oil
- 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- a few curry leaves
- a pinch of hing
Instructions
- Add toor dal, malabar spinach, onion, tomato, green chilies, garlic, tamarind, turmeric powder, and water into the pressure cooker. Pressure cook on medium heat until 5 or 6 whistles. Once the pressure naturally releases, gently mash the cooked ingredients.
- Add salt and adjust consistency if necessary by adding water and allow the dal to simmer for 4-5 minutes (on lowest heat)
- Heat oil in a small pan on medium heat. Add mustard and cumin seeds, and allow them to pop & sizzle. Then add curry leaves and Hing and turn off the heat.
- Pour this seasoning over the dal and mix. Turn off the heat.
- Serve malabar spinach dal with rice/quinoa/millet/dosa, along with a dollop of ghee. Enjoy!
If you tried this recipe, let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment below or tagging a picture of your preparation on Instagram @swaadista
Happy cooking, happy eating!
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