Palak Soup

Palak (Spinach) has maximum nutrition benefits; which is a wonderful green-leafy vegetable often recognized as one of the functional foods for its nutritional, antioxidants and anti-cancer constituents.  Its tender, crispy, dark-green leaves are favorite ingredients of chefs all around the planet.  It is believed that regular consumption of spinach in the diet helps prevent osteoporosis (weakness of bones), iron-deficiency anemia. Besides, it is believed to protect the body from cardiovascular diseases and cancers of colon and prostate.

Apart from using spinach in curries, salads & stir-fries, here is my soup recipe using simple ingredients.

 Ingredients used in this recipe are - 2 bunches of coarsely chopped spinach (palak) leaves, 4-5 teaspoons of toor dal, 2 tsps. of canola oil, 1 chopped onion, 1 tsp. grated ginger, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 tsp. corn flour, salt & pepper powder to taste, 1/2 tsp. cumin powder, pinch of cardamom, clove & cinnamon powders.

Method - Wash & coarsely chop spinach leaves, pressure cook with toor dal until tender.  Heat oil in a pan, fry onions, ginger, cumin, cardamom, clove & cinnamon powders.  Allow it to cool and blend with cooked spinach & dal.  Pour this blended mixture back to pan, add other ingredients - salt, pepper, milk & corn flour paste and simmer for few minutes, serve hot.