January 3, 2018

Spinach Daal Pithi / Palak Dal Pithi / Bihari Cuisine


Dal Pithi is a traditional Bihari cuisine which is prepared using dal and wheat flour dumplings. In this recipe, I have used Toor dal which can be substituted with Moong dal or Masoor dal. The dough is prepared using wheat flour and shaped into flower shape and further cooked in a dal. This is quite easy to prepare, healthy and filling too. The dal is allowed to boil for 5 - 10 minutes along with turmeric powder and chilli powder. Then, the dumplings are added along with chopped spinach leaves and cooked until done. The tadka is prepared using ghee which enhances the taste and also gives a lovely aroma. The same recipe can also be prepared using pressure cooker in order to save time. In that case, pressure cook it for 2 - 3 whistles and switch off the flame. Since, this recipe goes to my favourite event Shhh Secretly Cooking Challenge, I had used Spinach in dal and milk in wheat flour dumplings as it was my secret ingredients. The same recipe can also be prepared without using any greens. This time, I was paired with a lovely blogger Nisa FD who blogs at flavour-diary.blogspot.com.  Check out her page to get indulge in yummy recipes and also to find out the recipe prepared by the secret ingredients given by me.


Ingredients :

1/2 Cup Toor Dal
3 Cups Water
1/4 Tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 Tsp Red chilli powder
Salt to taste
A bunch of Spinach leaves, chopped
2 Tbsp Ghee
1 Tsp Cumin / Jeera seeds
3 Dry red chillies
1/4 Tsp Red chilli powder

For Dumplings :

1/2 Cup Wheat flour
1/4 Cup Milk + extra if needed ( optional ) (Water can also be used instead of Milk)
Salt to taste
1 Tsp Oil

Method :

Wash and soak the toor dal for 30 minutes.

Drain the water and add turmeric powder followed by chilli powder and salt.

Add the measured water and let it boil for 5 - 10 minutes.

In a mean time, add wheat flour in a bowl along with salt, milk and oil.

Knead well to form a dough and rest it for 5 minutes.

Now, make a small equal sized balls out of it.

Take one ball and roll it into a small circle. ( Can also use cookie cutter to shape it).

Combine the corners and seal it in the middle to form a flower shaped dumplings.

Repeat the process for the remaining dough.

Now add the dumplings to the dal along with spinach leaves and let it cook until the dal and dumplings get cooked well.

Heat ghee in a small pan and add cumin seeds followed by dry red chillies and red chilli powder.

Add it to the dal and serve hot.


Serving Options :

Serve it with Chokha or Roti.











9 comments:

  1. The spinach dal pithi looks so inviting ..loved the vibrant colour too !

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  2. The spinach dal pithi looks so delicious and inviting Priya !

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  3. Bookmarking. I want to try this.

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  4. Delicious.. Love all kinds of dal preparations

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  5. Omg! I'm drooling! The daal looks so very good! :)

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  6. Dal pithi looks so so tempting. The method is similar to dal dokhri but the taste must be so different.

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