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Keerai Pappu | Spinach Dal | Andhra Palakura pappu

June 8, 2014 By Vidya Srinivasan 13 Comments

54 shares
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Keerai Pappu | spinach dal | keerai sambar | Andhra Pappu | palakura Pappu | easy spinach dal | palak dal | how to make Andhra pappu with step-by-step pictures and video recipe. Check out the keerai pappu recipe and if you like the video pls SUBSCRIBE to my channel. Keerai Pappu | spinach dal | keerai sambar | Andhra Pappu | palakura Pappu is a delicious dal prepared with spinach, toor dal, moong dal.  With minimal ingredients, this dal is super easy and tastes yum.

What kind of dal can I use for Andhra Pappu?

I have used a combination of toor dal and moong dal instead you can use any one of those two dals. 

Can I make Keerai Pappu in a pressure cooker?

Yes, a few years back I originally posted a pressure version of one-pot keerai pappu. Recently updated Instant pot version and also posted a video recipe which involves cooking dal in the cooker and spinach is boiled in stovetop. If you are looking for a quick recipe on a busy morning go for instant pot and pressure cooker, but if you want to retain the green color of spinach go for the video recipe version.

IMG_1851 Can I can skip shallots and garlic?

For the best flavorful Pappu use shallots and garlic. if you don’t like strong garlic flavor you can reduce the amount of garlic. YOu can use chopped regular onions instead of shallots.

Is this spicy Andhra dal?

Traditionally Andhra Palakura Pappu is spicy but I made a kid-friendly version of spinach dal. I have used red chilli and green chili for flavor but have used them on whole. If you prefer spicy Pappu split chillies and make dal.  

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Preparation:

Soak toor dal and moong dal in hot water for 1 hour

Keerai Pappu (Spinach Dal)

Keerai pappu is a delicious dal prepared with spinach, toor dal, moving dal and spice mix. Busy morning calls for a easy and tasty dal. No stirring put all the ingredient in the pressure cooker/Instant pot , dal is ready.
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Gravy
Cuisine: Indian
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 3
Author: Vidya Srinivasan

Ingredients

  • 150 grams spinach
  • 1/4 cup toor dal
  • 1/4 moong dal
  • 3 cup water
  • 1 tsp sambar powder
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 3 Green chilli
  • Pinch of sugar

To temper:

  • 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • Hing
  • Few fenugreek seeds
  • 3 red chilli
  • 1 tbsp garlic

Instructions

  • Soak both dal for one hour
  • Furthermore Add 1+ 1/2 cup of water, 1/8 tsp of turmeric powder, and pressure cook for 3 whistles
  • Add 1/2 tbsp of ghee to the pan and 1 tbsp of garlic and saute till they turn brown
  • Add onion and green chilli; saute till onions turn translucent
  • Add spinach and mix well
  • Furthermore, add sugar and salt and saute for 1 minute
  • Add cooked dal, sambar powder, 1 + 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 tsp of tamarind paste, and mix well
  • Cook for 5 minutes, mix well in between
  • Add hing, mix well and cook for a minute and turn off the stove
  • In a small tadka pan add ghee and when ghee is hot add mustard seeds, fenugreek seed, cumin seeds, red chilli, and let them splutter
  • Transfer the tadka to the pappu and serve hot

How to make one-pot keerai pappu

    Pressure Cooker:

    • Add ghee to the pressure cooker. When the ghee is hot, add ingredients under "to temper", let them crackle. Add onions and garlic, saute for 1 minute. Add spinach, soaked toor and moong dal, turmeric powder, sambar powder, tamarind, and salt; combine well. Saute for a minute
    • Add water and cook for 3 whistles
    • Once the pressure releases, Serve with white rice or hot Rotis

    Instant Pot:

    • In sauté mode add ghee to the Instant Pot. When the ghee is hot, add the ingredients given under "to temper" let it splutter
    • Add onions and garlic, give a quick stir. Add spinach, soaked toor and moong dal, turmeric powder, sambar powder coriander powder, tamarind, and salt; combine well. Saute for a minute
    • Add water and give a quick stir
    • Change the Instant pot to manual mode and set 18 minutes in high temperature. Open the Instant pot after the pressure is released. Serve with white rice or hot Rotis

    Video

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    Notes

    1. Onion and garlic can be skipped while preparing pappu
    2. Instead of using tamarind you can also add tamarind pulp
    3. Adjust the spice according to your taste bud
    4. Soaking dal helps it cook fast
    Tried this recipe?Mention @traditionallymodernfood or tag #traditionallymodernfood!
     

    Ingredients 

    150 grams spinach

    1/4 cup toor dal

    1/4 moong dal

    3 cup water

    1 tsp sambar powder

    1/4 tsp turmeric powder

    1 tbsp ghee

    1 tbsp chopped garlic

    3 Green chilli 

    Pinch of sugar To temper:

    1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

    1 tsp cumin seeds

    Hing

    Few fenugreek seeds

    3 red chilli

    How to make keerai Pappu with step by step pictures

    • Soak both dal for one hour
    • Furthermore Add 1+ 1/2 cup of water, 1/8 tsp of turmeric powder, and pressure cook for 3 whistles
    • Add 1/2 tbsp of ghee to the pan and 1 tbsp of garlic and saute till they turn brown
    • Add onion and green chilli; saute till onions turn translucent
    • Add spinach and mix well
    • Furthermore, add sugar and salt and saute for 1 minute
    • Add cooked dal, sambar powder, 1 + 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 tsp of tamarind  paste, and mix well
    • Cook for 5 minutes, mix well in between
    • Add hing, mix well and cook for a minute and turn off the stove
    • In a small tadka pan add ghee and when ghee is hot add mustard seeds, fenugreek seed, cumin seeds, red chilli, and let them splutter
    • Transfer the tadka to the pappu and serve hot
    IMG_1816

    How to make one-pot keerai pappu 

    Pressure Cooker:

    • Add ghee to the pressure cooker. When the ghee is hot, add ingredients under “to temper”, let them crackle. Add onions and garlic, saute for 1 minute. Add spinach, soaked toor and moong dal, turmeric powder, sambar powder, tamarind, and salt; combine well. Saute for a minute
    Image
    • Add water and cook for 3 whistles
    Image
    • Once the pressure releases, Serve with white rice or hot Rotis
    IMG_1815

    Instant Pot:

    • In sauté mode add ghee to the Instant Pot. When the ghee is hot, add the ingredients given under “to temper” let it splutter
    • Add onions and garlic, give a quick stir. Add spinach, soaked toor and moong dal, turmeric powder, sambar powder coriander powder, tamarind, and salt; combine well. Saute for a minute
    • Add water and give a quick stir
    kp
    • Change the Instant pot to manual mode and set 18 minutes in high temperature. Open the Instant pot after the pressure is released. Serve  with white rice or hot Rotis
     

    Filed Under: Andhra special recipes, Dal recipes, Instant pot recipes, Pressure cooker recipes, Spinach recipes | Keerai recipes, Toddler Recipes Tagged With: andhra style, dal recipe, dal varieties, Gravy, green vegetable recipe, how to make spinach dal, keerai kootu, keerai pappu, keerai recipe, keerai sambar, kootu, lentil recipe, pappu, Pressure cooker recipe, spinach dal recipe, Spinach kootu, spinach pappu, Tmf, vidya

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lori

      June 9, 2014 at 01:21

      I need some more education on the types of food out there! I have never even heard of several of your ingredients! Wish you could cook me a meal and introduce me to some of these things! 🙂

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        June 9, 2014 at 04:41

        Sure Lori:)Anytime.. I wil b happy to do that:)

        Reply
    2. Anjana @ At The Corner Of Happy & Harried

      June 9, 2014 at 09:20

      Nice, wholesome traditional dish!

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        June 9, 2014 at 09:37

        Thanks Anjana:)

        Reply
    3. acasadisimi

      June 9, 2014 at 10:21

      thanks for the recipe! I will make this cake for my hsband!

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        June 9, 2014 at 11:20

        Simi, Happy to know you liked this dish:) perfect accompaniment with rice or any bread

        Reply
    4. Malar

      June 9, 2014 at 17:37

      I always prepare this with toor dal, your version looks good 🙂

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        June 9, 2014 at 17:41

        Toor Dal goes well with spinach. Wil try ur version sometime. Thanks Malar:)

        Reply
    5. Kelly

      June 9, 2014 at 21:17

      I love spinach dishes and this dal looks like it’s full of flavor with all the wonderful spices 🙂

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        June 9, 2014 at 22:17

        Thanks Kelly:)

        Reply
    6. Ami@NaiveCookCooks

      June 9, 2014 at 22:32

      I love love good spinach dal!! This looks so appetizing!

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        June 9, 2014 at 22:51

        Thanks Ami:)Do try it!!

        Reply
    7. Aarti

      October 5, 2025 at 07:31

      5 stars
      Yummy and authentic andhra pappu taste. After finding this receipt, I don’t miss going to restaurants for andhra pappu 😊

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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