Masoor Palak Dal with Curry-Spiced Cheese & Date Chutney

Masoor Palak Dal

with Curry-Spiced Cheese & Date Chutney

30 MIN
4 Servings
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From the Test Kitchen

Masoor palak dal, a creamy red lentil stew made with spinach, is the perfect, hearty meal for winter. We’re cooking ours with coconut milk and garnishing it with cilantro. We’re also pairing it with a seared farmer’s cheese (which keeps its shape, even in a hot pan) and a warm, sweet side of homemade chutney. Featuring Medjool dates (the luscious fruit of the date palm), the chutney’s tart sweetness perfectly balances the meal’s rich, savory flavors.

Get Cooking
  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    690 Cals (est.)
fresh
ingredients
Masoor Palak Dal with Curry-Spiced Cheese & Date Chutney
Title
  • 1 lb Farmer's Cheese
  • 1 cup Red Lentils
  • 1 13.5-Ounce Can Light Coconut Milk
  • 5 oz Baby Spinach
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 1 Lime
  • 1 2-Inch Piece Ginger
  • 1 large bunch Cilantro
  • 3 Medjool Dates
  • 1 Tbsp Curry Powder
  • 1 Tbsp Coconut Dal Spice Blend (Sweet Paprika, Cumin Seeds, Ground Cardamom, Nigella Seeds & Brown Mustard Seeds)
  • ¼ cup Tamarind Concentrate
time-saving
tips & techniques
step-by-step
instructions
Cook Along Triangle Created with Sketch.
Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Slice the cheese lengthwise into 8 equal-sized pieces. Peel and mince the garlic and ginger. Using your hands, remove and discard the pits of the dates; roughly chop the dates. Quarter the lime. Pick the cilantro leaves off the stems; discard the stems.

Start the dal:
2 Start the dal:

In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium until hot. Add the garlic, ginger and spice blend; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened and fragrant. Transfer half the cooked garlic and ginger to a bowl; set aside. Add the lentils to the pot of remaining garlic, ginger and spice blend. Cook, stirring occasionally, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until slightly toasted. Add 2 cups of water; heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and the liquid is slightly reduced in volume.

Make the date chutney:
3 Make the date chutney:

While the lentils simmer, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), combine the dates, ½ cup of water, a pinch of the curry powder and the reserved garlic and ginger. Cook on medium-high, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes, or until the liquid is slightly reduced in volume. Stir in the tamarind concentrate; cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving dish. Wash and dry the pan.

Finish the dal:
4 Finish the dal:

Add the spinach to the pot of lentils and stir to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the spinach has wilted. Add the coconut milk (shaking the can before opening). Simmer, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, or until the liquid is slightly reduced in volume. (Be careful not to boil the mixture, as the coconut milk may separate.) Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving dish.

Cook the cheese:
5 Cook the cheese:

While the dal finishes cooking, pat the cheese dry with paper towels; season on both sides with salt, pepper and the remaining curry powder. In the same pan used to make the date chutney, heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned cheese and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until browned and crispy. Transfer to a serving dish.

Serve your dish:
6 Serve your dish:

Garnish the cooked cheese with the lime wedges and ¾ of the cilantro. Garnish the finished dal with the remaining cilantro. Serve the cheese with the date chutney on the side. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

Masoor Palak Dal

Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Slice the cheese lengthwise into 8 equal-sized pieces. Peel and mince the garlic and ginger. Using your hands, remove and discard the pits of the dates; roughly chop the dates. Quarter the lime. Pick the cilantro leaves off the stems; discard the stems.

2 Start the dal:

In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium until hot. Add the garlic, ginger and spice blend; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened and fragrant. Transfer half the cooked garlic and ginger to a bowl; set aside. Add the lentils to the pot of remaining garlic, ginger and spice blend. Cook, stirring occasionally, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until slightly toasted. Add 2 cups of water; heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and the liquid is slightly reduced in volume.

Start the dal:
Make the date chutney:
11" PFOA-Free CTX Nonstick Pan
3 Make the date chutney:

While the lentils simmer, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), combine the dates, ½ cup of water, a pinch of the curry powder and the reserved garlic and ginger. Cook on medium-high, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes, or until the liquid is slightly reduced in volume. Stir in the tamarind concentrate; cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving dish. Wash and dry the pan.

4 Finish the dal:

Add the spinach to the pot of lentils and stir to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the spinach has wilted. Add the coconut milk (shaking the can before opening). Simmer, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, or until the liquid is slightly reduced in volume. (Be careful not to boil the mixture, as the coconut milk may separate.) Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving dish.

Finish the dal:
Cook the cheese:
5 Cook the cheese:

While the dal finishes cooking, pat the cheese dry with paper towels; season on both sides with salt, pepper and the remaining curry powder. In the same pan used to make the date chutney, heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned cheese and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until browned and crispy. Transfer to a serving dish.

6 Serve your dish:

Garnish the cooked cheese with the lime wedges and ¾ of the cilantro. Garnish the finished dal with the remaining cilantro. Serve the cheese with the date chutney on the side. Enjoy!

Serve your dish:
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