Hariyali Dal / Greens & Lentils Curry

Today's recipe is easy and healthy, comfort side dish made using Dal/Moong dal and Greens combo. Hariyali means "Green" or Green colored, so Hariyali Dal means dal curry with greens n green color. I saw this recipe in a cookery show long back and had tried this many time and now its one of our family fav side dish. This curry goes well with both rice n rotis. I slightly tweaked the recipe to my taste, very healthy n nutritious side dish. For this recipe i used both Spinach and Methi Leaves and also Cilantro for Greens and Moongdal. But its traditionally made using masoor dal. This is so easy to make very healthy n filling Side dish.

Ingredients

1. Moongdal    1/2 cup or less
2. Spinach        1 and 1/2 cup roughly chopped( i used one full bunch)
3. Methi Leaves       1/2 cup
4. Cilantro/Coriander leaves     1/2 cup
5. Ginger    2" piece(julienne) 
6. Garlic     2 fat cloves(finely chopped)
7. Curry leaves     1 sprig
8. Onion     1 medium(finely chopped)
9. Tomato   1 no.(chopped)
10. Red chilli powder     1 tsp
11. Coriander powder    2 tsp
12. Cumin Powder      1/2 tsp
13. Turmeric powder    1/4 tsp
14. Amchur/Dried Mango powder     1/4 tsp
15. Garam Masala Powder    1/4 tsp
16. Salt to taste

To Temper

1. Oil      2-3 tsp
2. Mustard seeds    1/4 tsp
3. Cumin seeds    1/2 tsp
4. Fennel seeds    1/4 tsp
5. Hing    1/4 tsp

Method

• First wash and cook dal with enough water, add pinch of turmeric powder to the dal n cook till its soft n cooked but not mushy.
• Once done drain excess water(u can add it to the curry later) and keep aside.

• Wash and chop spinach roughly and microwave it for 2 minutes, then cool and grind it along with fresh cilantro n pinch of sugar in a blender to a smooth paste n keep aside.
• Wash n pluck methi leaves n keep aside.

• Now heat oil in a kadai/skillet, add the tempering ingredients, first add mustard seeds wait till it splutter then add other ing one by one.
• And then add ginger n garlic stir n add onions and curry leaves and saute till onion turns soft n pink followed by tomatoes saute it till it turns soft n mushy.

• After that add masala powders except amchur n garam masala powder, stir fry for a minute.
• Now add fresh methi leaves stir well and add ground cilantro-spinach paste and combine well.
• And add cooked dal with water, enough salt and bring it to boil.

• Once it starts boiling add amchur n garam masala powder, mix well and simmer for another two minutes.
• That's it..Tasty n healthy Hariyali Dal ready. Serve with rice or rotis.

Notes:
Instead of moongdal u can also use any desired dal - tuvar dal, channa dal, masoor dal etc.
this time i have used more spinach that's y it looks full green n dal is less visible...so if u want use only half bunch or 3/4 of the bunch.
adjust spices to your taste.
adding sugar to the greens will help to maintain the green color.
And also do not boil the curry for long time, just one boil is enough.

Sending this recipe to Priya's Cooking with Seeds - Dal event.