Spinach Dal-Aka-špenát čočka.

Hi friends,

After a small break I am posting my next recipe.

The recipe this time is spinach dal- špenát čočka.

The tasty food with simple ingredients.

What you need is

Masoor dal ( červená čočka )                       -150 gms

                                 

Spinach (Listový špenát)                            -100 to 150 gms.

Onions (cibule)                                     - one medium size

Tomato (rajčata )                                   - one small size

Green or dry red chilli (suché červené chilli )  ```       - 1 number.

Garlic (česnek)                                      - 1 pod

Ginger(zázvor)                                       - 1/2 inch

Curry leaves(optional)                                - one string

Mustard seeds(semena hořčice)                       - 1 tsp

Cumin seeds (Rimsky kmin)                           - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder(kurkuma)                            - 1 tsp.

Garam masala powder *                              - ½ tsp

Oil                                                   - 1 tbsp

Before starting to cook –please keep few things ready- as always.

Wash the lentil and keep it aside with some water in it.

Wash the spinach well and drain it in colander.

Finely chop the onions, garlic, ginger, tomato and the green chillies (if you are using it).

Now take the spinach and chop it nicely and keep it aside. Please don’t worry if there is some water in the spinachJ

Now let’s start to cook.

Heat a pan or thick bottomed vessel. Pour oil and when its warm, add the mustard seeds and when it splutters add the cumin seeds and turmeric powder (keep in medium flame ).

Then add the chilli (red or green-whichever you are using). Immediately add the onions, garlic and ginger. Saute it well by adding a pinch of salt.

 

Salt will make the onions cook faster as it helps in evaporating the water from onions.

Then add tomatoes and saute it again .When the tomatoes are slightly cooked –add the chopped spinach and stir it well. Add little salt.

When you see the spinach slightly cooked and when the mixture looks like  paste or mushy-add the soaked lentils.

Add adequate amount of water and salt and cover it with lid and increase the flame to medium high.

Please stir in between as the lentils should not burn.

When its cooked, Mash the lentils with the ladle nicely. Instead you can use the egg whipper and whip it gently till the lentils are not visible prominently.

Avoid electric whipper.

When it’s done fully –

Sprinkle ½ tsp of garam masala for flavor and mix it.

*Its optional –but as it is available in the shops which I mentioned in my earlier blog you can buy it and store it as it enhances the flavorJ

The cocka is ready to serve.

It will go very well with steamed rice.

You can even dilute it a bit and can consume as soup (polévka)-which is so filling and healthy too.

P.S.-Dear friends, you can boil the čočka separately and keep it before hand and add the boiled  čočka after the spinach is cooked.

We Indians use pressure cooker(tlakový hrnec). So instead of pan or thick bottomed vessel. we directly cook in it.

It cooks very fast and saves gas(plyn).

The pressure cooker is easily available at tescoma shopsJ. I use the one from Tescoma.

Bon appetite- Dobrou chuť.

Please look for the yummy dessert in my next column soon by this year endJ