Pala Koora Pappu Chaaru:(Andhra Style)
Also known as: Spinach n Lentil soup. Pala Keerai Paruppu. Palak dhall.This is my favorite Hyderabad Hostel food. The cook used to make it really well. My Mommy never used Palak greens in cooking and she always prefer either masiyal or poriyal. So it was kind of different to me. Later I came to know…they hardly make any sambar and all the veggies are prepared in the similar fashion.

Ingredients:

• Spinach 2 bunches(washed and chopped)
• Thoor dal cooked with salt 1 cup
• Onion chopped 1 cup
• Garlic chopped 6-8 cloves chopped
• Green chilies 3-6 chopped roughly
• Tomato chopped 1-2
• Cumin seeds 1 spoon
• Salt
• Turmeric powder 1/4 spoon
• Oil few spoons.

Method:

1. 1. Heat oil in a heavy skillet. Add cumin seeds. Let them pop and splutter well.
2. 2. Add green chilies,garlic, onions and tomato….fry till onion turns translucent and tomato looses its water content.
3. 3. To this add spinach, cover and cook. May be for 5-8 mins.
4. 4. Add salt and turmeric powder. Fry them till they get blend together with spinach.
5. 5. Add cooked thoor dal(cooked lentils) to this setup….allow them to boil well.
6. This can be served along with plain rice. It can be taken as soup too!