Sunday 1 April 2007

Achaari Daal Palak


Ever have one of those evenings when you have no energy to cook? Well, I had one of them-past Friday. I was so drained, all I wanted to do was to curl up on the couch and lie down.

Obviously, this is not an option for me...not on weekdays at least when there are three hungry tummies to feed. I had to cook....and I made this delicious Achaari Daal Palak along with some chapatis.

The addition of Achaar masala to Spinach and Toor daal is wonderful and really brings out the flavors...here is the recipe:



  • 2 bunches Spinach - chopped
  • 1 cup - Toor Daal - cooked
  • 3 cloves - chopped garlic
  • 1 tbsp - Achaar(pickle) masala
  • 1 tbsp -Oil, Fenugreek Seeds, Asafoetida - to temper
  • 1 tbsp- Turmeric Powder
  • Salt, A pinch of Sugar - to taste
Cook the toor daal separately and set aside. Wash the spinach and chop finely. In a pan, heat some oil, add the fenugreek seeds,garlic, turmeric, and asafoetida. When the fenugreek turns pink, add the spinach. Stir for 5 minutes. Now add the cooked toor daal and the pickle masala. you can add more or less, depends on how hot you like it. Add the rest of the spices and give it a stir. Cover and let cook for around ten minutes more. Serve hot with Rotis or Rice and yogurt.

Tip: If you don't have the dry pickle masala at home, use the mixture from a home made or store bought mango, gunda or aamla pickle. Pickle Masala is essentially red chilis, fenugreek, and salt ground together. Sometimes, Yellow Mustard seeds are also used.

For a variation: You can use Dill Leaves or any other greens in place of Spinach.

Upcoming Post Preview: Roasted Chana-Daal Chutney

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

That looks delicious, T! I haven't tried achari masala. WIll look for it in the Indian store next time. Loved the masala soda post from K, too. Had a good laugh about the part where he says "Rahul Sharma does not count!" :)
Hope spring has arrived in Newfoundland!

musical said...

Yummy! How lovely daals can be :).
Achaar masal is just the right ingredient to liven up dull proceedings! Tangy twist to good ole' palak daal. This rocks.

Hugs,
surili.

Mishmash ! said...

Trupti, Can i have some masala soda too along with that achaari Daal palak ?;)

Shn

Latha said...

Sound syummy Trupti. I dont have any pickle masala at home. But I can sure make some pickle masala myself! I think that will even taste better, with the fresh pickle masala. I'm out of spinach (and methi and other greens) at home. Will try it the next time I have some saag at home!
Cheers
LAtha

Menu Today said...

Hi Trupti,
Dal Palak with Acari Masala sounds great. will try once. thanks for sharing.

Praba Ram said...

Hi Trupti -

First time I am leaving a comment, I think. I have visited your blog many times. I have admired everything you have going on here...Nice achari twist on dal palak...I love dal palak...Will certainly try your recipe! thanks!

Manasi said...

Gr8 idea!! One query... can I use the oil from the achar? Do not have the masala @ home......

Coffee said...

I have them all in my kitchen!!!!!! So you know whats gonna be my dinner tonight!!!!! :)

Viji said...

Such a comfort food for me Trupti. I love spinach in any form. Viji

J said...

Hi Trupti! When I read the ingredients, I thought first K doesnot divulge the masala recipe for the soda, then you keep the achaar masala recipe a secret!! Well, you guys did reveal the secret ingredients at the end of your posts :) Hmm, I'll try the dal your way, i do make this, but turns out well only by fluke!!

FH said...

I love Swad Achari masala,will definitely use it for this yummy.
Looks great,I loved K's Soda too and his musing about his "firecracker"!:D

Prajakta said...

Trupti,

You reminded me of the dal my grandma used to make with a little of the usual mango pickle(with the mango pieces too) added to a simple dal with sauteed onions. And can just imagine how delicious this one woul turn out to be. And made me think about the half unused aachar masala packets lying around for so many days...Of course now there wont be any :)

Bong Mom said...

Thats a good one..I always add achaar to dal while I am eating it..never added while cooking though

Sharmi said...

HI Trupti, I make palak like this except for the pickle part. but this is a twist. Looks good!!

cheers
sharmi

l_0oio0_l said...

ive always loved your blog....and both of u K and T.....never failed to mesmerize me with ole home memories with all that delicious recepies and pics.....hahaha being a pure gujju....a patel...a khichadi lover....do enlighten me and others with different blends of khichadi u guyz like and make :-)

Anonymous said...

Trupti,

This seems to be very nice. When are u planning to post Chanadal chutney recipe. I could see it's gone from ur 'Upcoming Recipes' list. I am very much interested in it. Pl. post it whenever u get chance. BTW, I like your blog very much. Daily I visit ur blog. You are putting lots of efforts in maintaining it.
thanks,
ami

swapna susarla said...

Looks awesome trupti..the pickle masala flavor will be delicious..isn't it?

Mandira said...

Wow, simple yet I can taste the achaar mix in the dal, great recipe trupti, will surely try this!

Anonymous said...

Hi Trupti, sounds like you need a little vacation -- all that snow-shoveling has finally taken its toll ;)

Dal with pickle masala sounds wonderful! Thanks for giving the basic spices used, too -- now I can try this without a trip to the store. Hope you're feeling more rested today :)

Anonymous said...

Dal palak I always love it. Sounds delicious trupti :)

Anonymous said...

You know Trupti I always eat mango pickle with Dal..and you have given such a wonderful tip of Achaari Daal Palak..

-Sushma

USHA said...

Hi Trupti,

AchaariDaal palak looks healthy.
I liked Soda verymuch, once i saw in your post, i felt like wanna drink immediately and was asking myhubby to get soda:))

Prema Sundar said...

Hey trupti next time when I do dal palak( i almost do it once a week) let me try with the pickle masala. will definely taste good.thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Wow this is really mouthwatering, have tried pickle masala for yogurt rasam, but with palak i would definately try next time

musical said...

Dear Trupti,

Sending your way some hot soup and lots of warmth. Get well soon dear.

Seema Bhat said...

oh that looks delicious Trupti. Now this is the second recipe of yours among the others that I need to try and that uses achari masala. Got to shop it next time.

Sia said...

dang!!! i forgot to buy that achari masala. just went to indian grocery shop today. thats one simple tasty food T. good one for weekday cooking. just bk from office. damn tired. so made quick bhendi sindhi masala n coconut rasam. will try ur recipe(with frozen spinach) soon:)

TNL said...

Hi Manasi, yes, you can use the oil from the pickle...just don't use a lot or it will be too greasy...

Hi Ami: will post the chutney in my next post... :)

Surili: thanks for the warm wishes...feeling a bit better today..

Thanks all for your lovely comments!

Ranjani said...

ur recipes are really good..
but i'm not commenting here to talk abt ur food this time;) i really like the paintings on ur site ..r they urs ?? today's was kajri by M.Gajjar..i'm assuming u got it from a website ..can u tell me from which site did u get these paintings ..i'm asking bcos i do oil painting & would love to see more of these..

Lotus Reads said...

lol, yes, I always seem to be low on energy when I have to cook...I never feel like that when I have to eat, however.

Thanks for this recipe, Trupti, I do cook dal with palak but maybe I can try using dill leaves the next time.

Jayashree Anil said...

Trupti,
I get tempted to try out a recipe when the ingrediants list is shorrrrrrtt. I feel less spices really brings out the taste; this daal is one of that category.
Absolutly loved it!

Thanks,
J

Nagesh.MVS said...

Very cool and delicious.Can i put some masala on that ?
Work from home India

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