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Green Spinach Coconut Curry

1 hr + 5 min

Main

Packed with spinach, two types of hearty legumes, and a lot of spices, this bright green curry is as delicious as it looks!

Servings

Total

1 hr + 5 min

Prep

20 min

Cook

45 min

Free from

Soy symbol

soy

Peanut symbol

peanut

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Sesame symbol

sesame

Gluten symbol

gluten

Ingredients

  • 6 cups (1440 mL)
    boiling water
  • ½ cup (100 g)
    dry chana dal, soaked overnight, drained
  • ½ cup (107 g)
    dry mung beans, soaked overnight, drained
  • 1 cup (200 g)
    uncooked white rice
  • 1 Tbsp (15 mL)
    vegetable oil
  • 2
    medium onions, chopped
  • 4
    garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp (5 g)
    fresh ginger, minced
  • 1
    red hot chili pepper, minced
  • 1 Tbsp (16 g)
    tomato paste
  • 1 tsp (2 g)
    ground cumin
  • 1 tsp (2 g)
    ground coriander
  • 1 tsp (2 g)
  • ½ tsp
    ground turmeric
  • ½ tsp
    salt
  • 1
    medium tomato, chopped
  • 4 cups (120 g)
    fresh spinach, for blending
  • 1⅔ cups (399 mL)
    canned full-fat coconut milk
  • 4 cups (120 g)
    fresh spinach, chopped
  • ½
    lemon, juiced

Directions

  1. Fill a large pot with water and add the drained chana dal. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 20 minutes.
  2. Then add the drained mung beans to the same pot and let it cook uncovered for another 15 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the package instructions.
  4. Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil, onions, garlic, and ginger. Cook for 4 - 5 minutes.
  5. Then add in the chili, tomato paste, and spices. Cook for 1 - 2 minutes.
  6. Then add the chopped tomato and turn the heat to low.
  7. Once the legumes are cooked, first remove ⅓ cup (80 mL) of the cooking liquid and transfer this to a blender. Then pour the legumes into a strainer to drain off the remaining liquid.
  8. Add the spinach to the blender as well, and blend on high until smooth.
  9. Add the blended spinach to the pan, together with the cooked chana dal, mung beans, and coconut milk.
  10. Return the heat to medium-high. Add the chopped spinach to the pan, cooking until wilted.
  11. Just before serving, add in the lemon juice and stir. Enjoy!

Storage

Let us know what you think

Watch it step-by-step!

Plate method

The Plate Method is a visual tool that helps us ensure our dietary needs are on track. Touch the image below to see how this recipe measures up.

Grains & Starches 18%

uncooked white rice

Proteins 17%

dry chana dal

dry mung beans

Fruits & Veggies 65%

medium onion

garlic clove

fresh ginger

red hot chili pepper

tomato paste

medium tomato

fresh spinach

fresh spinach

lemon

Calcium
No significant sources of calcium
Fat

vegetable oil

canned full-fat coconut milk

Nutrition info

Focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. For specific nutrition needs due to a medical condition, consult a dietitian or physician. While we strive to provide accurate nutritional information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. See our disclaimer for details.

Show nutrition info  

More for the eyes

Process image of Green Spinach Coconut Curry Process image of Green Spinach Coconut Curry Process image of Green Spinach Coconut Curry Process image of Green Spinach Coconut Curry Process image of Green Spinach Coconut Curry Process image of Green Spinach Coconut Curry

Discussion & Rating

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Floriana Muzzigoni - Sept. 18, 2024, 9:57 p.m.

Perfect ❤️


Bindiya Ganatra - July 31, 2024, 9:31 a.m.

I didn’t have channa dal and moong dal soaked overnight, so I used 2 cans of chickpeas instead of channa dal, and 1 block of firm tofu (blended well in my Vitamix) instead of moong dal. I’m not a fan of tofu’s taste and texture, which is why I blended it. If you don’t have a Vitamix, I’d recommend using silken tofu. Since I’m not fond of spinach either, I blended fresh spinach leaves with my canned coconut milk.

I accidentally used jalapeño diced tomatoes (canned) instead of plain ones because that’s what I had at home. I also blended the diced tomatoes with coconut milk and spinach. In fact, I blended EVERYTHING (cooked onions, garlic, grated fresh ginger) except for the canned chickpeas.

I used 2 Serrano peppers instead of 1. My serving size was much larger than Sadia’s 4 servings—I ended up with a huge pot full of chickpeas and green gravy (from the blended spinach). I purposely made a large batch so I could freeze it.

The plain chickpeas alone weren’t enough for me, so I added a can of mixed veggies, which included corn, sweet peas, and diced carrots. I also added 1 whole red bell pepper to the onion sauté mix, which eventually got blended with the onions, garlic, coconut milk, diced tomatoes, etc. Additionally, I included black pepper, which Sadia doesn’t have in her recipe, but I wanted to boost my body’s absorption of turmeric.

To add more texture, I’m considering oven-roasting some cauliflower florets with oil, garlic powder, and maybe dipping them in coconut flour. The chickpeas and mixed veggies didn’t provide enough chewiness, so I think the cauliflower will help with that.

Sadia’s recipe already has a nice chewing texture because she used channa dal, moong dal, and kept the spinach leaves whole, whereas I blended my spinach, so my method lacked chewiness. I’ll roast and add cauliflower tomorrow—hopefully, it tastes good 🥰.

Always a big fan of Sadia’s recipes.

Bindiya Ganatra - July 31, 2024, 9:37 a.m.

I forgot to mention I added nutritional yeast and ground flaxseeds. I ended up adding too much water when I was sautéing the garlic/ginger /onion. Plus the can of diced tomatoes added lots of liquid to my cooking pot. I used flaxseed instead of cornstarch to soak up all the liquid. Typically people use corn starch / arrowroot powder as thickening agent, but I used ground flaxseed because it has omega-3s and it has WAY more nutritional content than cornstarch / arrowroot powder.

Sadia, since you’re the nutritionist, please let me know if I made the right choice by adding black pepper to increase turmeric absorption & using ground flaxseed instead of cornstarch / arrowroot powder?

Please let me know Sadia. It’ll mean a lot to me if you can approve my edits to your recipe 😊

In this way, other PUL fans who read this comment can also learn from this. Thanks in advance, Sadia 🥰

PUL small logo PUL Team - Aug. 18, 2024, 12:08 p.m.

Hey Bindiya! You're spot on about the black pepper boosting turmeric absorption—that’s a great addition! Your edits sound fantastic, and I’m sure other PUL fans will find them helpful too. Keep experimenting—I love hearing about it! 😊


Adianet Correa - July 26, 2024, 8:47 p.m.

The flavour were great. Mine was a bit watery but it was my fault. I will definitely add this recipe to my list of go to dinners.


Gillian L - April 24, 2024, 3:29 a.m.

Really good! But add salt


Ewa - April 21, 2024, 6:04 a.m.

if using dry chickpeas, how much should I use? Probably less, since, I think, they swell up more than the chana dal? Thank you.

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 22, 2024, 7:48 p.m.

Hey there, Ewa, we haven't tested it so we can't say for certain, though we suspect to replace the dry chana dal with dry chickpeas, you can use about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of dry chickpeas for four servings 😊


Bhakti - March 13, 2024, 4:15 a.m.

❤️ love


Ambra - March 2, 2024, 3:52 p.m.

A staple in our house! I cook this when i have a lot of spinach! I buy mung beans and chana dal specifically fot this recipe and it never disappoints us ☺️


Elyse - Feb. 24, 2024, 5:47 a.m.

Really great flavor and feels so nourishing and filling! I sometimes feel daunted by cooking with dry legumes (does anyone else feel that way?:) but this recipe felt easy to follow and didn’t leave me with any bloat, and I liked that the satiety was sustained.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 25, 2024, 6:39 p.m.

Hey there, Elyse, cooking with dry legumes can indeed feel daunting, but we're delighted to hear that this recipe felt easy to follow and left you feeling nourished without any discomfort. Thank you for sharing your experience!


Amélie Labrie - Feb. 13, 2024, 2:09 p.m.

So delicious! The lemon adds a nice touch


Mary - Feb. 10, 2024, 9:04 a.m.

Whenever my husband requests curry for dinner... he means this recipe. It's been my go-to for years now and I've always appreciated how versatile it is.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 10, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

Aww so glad that the spinach coconut curry is being enjoyed, Mary!


Nellie - Jan. 8, 2024, 9:56 a.m.

Hi, I was wondering if I can use pre-cooked chickpeas since I want to make the recipe tonight and can't leave the chana overnight?

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 9, 2024, 7:33 a.m.

Hey there, Nellie, yes you could 😊 You can simply add them to the pot after the mung beans, and adjusting the cooking time for the recipe accordingly. We hope you enjoy your twist on the curry!


Ramya Aggarwal - Dec. 30, 2023, 8:57 p.m.

Great flavor. I added salt to mine. The lemon addition at the end is yummy. I ate it with brown rice.


Öznur - Dec. 27, 2023, 6:30 p.m.

Made it for three, everyone liked it. :)


Annie - Dec. 6, 2023, 4:36 p.m.

Looks so yummy!!
Definitely on my list to cook!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Dec. 7, 2023, 5:26 p.m.

Hope you love it, Annie!


Geetha Lakshmi - Sept. 12, 2023, 9:40 p.m.

Adding this recipe to my favorites! Delicious 😋


Kate - July 27, 2023, 11:05 p.m.

All of the recipes from this blog I have ever tried were delicious. But I would say that this one was the best. Thank you so much! I’m already looking forward to trying something else :)

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 28, 2023, 2:22 a.m.

Aww you're too kind, Kate! Happy cooking 🤗


Kajol Shah - June 30, 2023, 4:50 p.m.

I made this today. This just superb!
My mom has almost same recipe major difference was adding coconut milk. I so love that taste. Also I added some extra fresh coriander and capsicum.
10/10

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 2, 2023, 9:03 a.m.

Aw so happy to hear, Kajol, thank you 🤗


Lara - June 19, 2023, 10:37 a.m.

Very delicious! I love the little twist at the end with the lemon juice!

Bindiya Ganatra - July 31, 2024, 9:43 a.m.

Sadia has a YouTube video (I can’t remember which one) where she explains that adding lemon juice to your bean/legume/dal serving bowl will increase the absorption of iron from the bean/legume/dal.

Vitamin C from FRESH lemon / lime juice will increase absorption of iron in your bean protein.

Also, it’s important to use fresh lemon / lime juice straight from the fruit instead of the pre-made store bought lemon/lime juice. The store bought one is shelf stable and/or refrigerated - the Vitamin C dies during this process.

Vitamin C is active when it’s freshly squeezed out of lemon/lime.

Also, Sadia further explains to NOT squeeze your lemon / limes directly into the pot where you’re cooking the beans. This is because Vitamin C will burn on the hot stovetop, so you lost your Vit C.

That’s why in every single YouTube video / photo / recipe, you can see Sadia squeezing the fresh lemon/lime on top of the beans in her SERVING BOWL / DISH and NOT the pot where her beans are cooking in.


Danielle - May 8, 2023, 1:18 a.m.

Such a lovely curry! My husband and I did not have mung beans, so we just used chana dal to replace the mung beans. It was our first time soaking the chana dal overnight in water and think it's such a nice trick to cut down on cooking time. Lemon before serving is quite nice!

PUL small logo PUL Team - May 8, 2023, 9:01 p.m.

Mmm sounds lovely, Danielle - thank you 🤗


Samantha - March 26, 2023, 12:36 a.m.

Can I use red lentils in this recipe?

PUL small logo PUL Team - March 26, 2023, 9:49 p.m.

Hey Samantha! Red lentils can get quite mushy when cooked compared to brown or green lentils, but you're welcome to give them a try if you prefer. The curry will be a bit mushier but should still be delicious 😊


Rachael - Feb. 12, 2023, 9:41 a.m.

This is a fantastic recipe. It makes quite a lot so I recommend having some containers to pop spare in the freezer. It cooks from frozen very well too so would be a good meal prep.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 12, 2023, 5:40 p.m.

So lovely to hear, Rachael, thank you so much!


Marie - Feb. 9, 2023, 9:52 p.m.

Your website has been my go to every time I lack some cooking inspiration! Love your recipes! Thanks a lot and love from Belgium

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 9, 2023, 11:18 p.m.

Aw it means so much, Marie, thank you! Lots of love back to Belgium 💛


Zena - Feb. 1, 2023, 7:53 p.m.

I'm extremely grateful for discovering your wonderful page! I appreciate your visually appealing content as well as your detailed knowledge about food consumption, their benefits and the importance of mindfulness. Thank you for changing many lives for the better!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 4, 2023, 3:12 a.m.

Awe, Zena, you're much too kind! We're so happy you joined the PUL community 🥰


Ambra - Dec. 14, 2022, 4:38 p.m.

When i see big packages of fresh spinach at the supermarket, i always think about this recipe and of course i grab one of this to make this delicious meal!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Dec. 14, 2022, 4:47 p.m.

So glad it's being enjoyed, Ambra, it means so much!


Noy - Nov. 13, 2022, 9:04 a.m.



Yaya - Aug. 14, 2022, 8:01 p.m.

After making a few of your recipes I really don’t miss meat at all! Everything I made so far taste so good. My husband is the happiest one in the family when I cook one of your recipes. Thank you so much!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Aug. 14, 2022, 9:22 p.m.

Aw it means so much, Yaya, thank you for the glowing review 🌱


Fay - June 22, 2022, 3:18 p.m.

I found your page by accident and I'm so glad that I did. It tasted so good, and I normally dislike mung beans. The only thing I would love to know is, how much is a serving and how many calories 😊

PUL small logo PUL Team - June 22, 2022, 4:27 p.m.

Hey there, Fay, we're so glad you came across the PUL community and the recipe was enjoyed! You can find the approximate nutrition information per serving, around a quarter of this recipe excluding the "serves well with" ideas, by clicking on the green "show nutrition info" button below the recipe. Kindly note that as the disclaimer mentions, this is just an estimate and if you need specific nutrition information due to a medical condition, please consult with a healthcare professional, such as a dietitian or physician 😊


Erin - April 10, 2022, 4:33 a.m.

This recipe is amazing!!! Even my husband, who is a very picky eater, loved it! I will definitely be making this again! Thank you so very much!!!

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 11, 2022, 12:50 a.m.

Oh thank you, Erin, it means so much!


CDG - Feb. 9, 2022, 1:57 a.m.

I have made this dish 3 times so far and it’s a banger for my family. So flavorful, so rich and creamy. I always come back to this recipe for a good meal prep idea. Love this dish.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 9, 2022, 2:07 a.m.

So glad the curry is being enjoyed, CDG, thank you 😃


Chand - Jan. 25, 2022, 12:38 a.m.

This dal recipe has become a part of my regular rotation... I really like all of your recipes, but this has to one of the best tasting curry recipes I have ever had! I´m from India and rice and dal are a staple in my household, and I love this unique combination of the whole moong, chana and spinach!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 27, 2022, 1:55 a.m.

Such a massive compliment, Chand, thank you so much! Sending love to India ❣️


M - Oct. 24, 2021, 2:34 p.m.

This is so so so good. It's really different from the Aloo Matar curry from your site, though - at first I was disappointed because I was expecting it to taste like the Aloo Matar, but after a few moments I just loved it. It's lemony, light and a little spicy. The lemony flavours balance the earthiness of the dal and the spinach perfectly. Such a great recipe! Thank you so much!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Oct. 26, 2021, 4:31 a.m.

Aw we're so happy to hear this, M, thank you for taking the time to share the kind words 😃


Yelena - Sept. 20, 2021, 2:53 p.m.

Lovely simple recipe, and really good with many veggies you can find around the fridge.
Careful with the grains -- if you don't stir them and the water boils down, they can burn on the bottom of the pan ;)


Kanako - Aug. 8, 2021, 8:25 p.m.

I really like all of your recipes, but this turned out a little weird and I don’t understand why? I followed the recipe, used full-fat coconut milk and added A LOT of spices and it still tasted just spinach. I am just confused, still love pick up limes though!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Aug. 8, 2021, 11:33 p.m.

Hey, Kanako, oh sorry to hear this wasn't enjoyed! Thanks so much for sharing the feedback with us. May I ask, did you use fresh spinach or cooked/frozen spinach? If using fresh spinach, I have a few ideas: 1) It could be how much the cup was packed. 2) If the spinach was also a bit older, and not so fresh, the taste could be more strong perhaps. 3) Different varieties of spinach also taste more strongly than others. We used baby spinach, which tends to be a bit milder in taste. 4) Spinach can taste a bit more strong/bitter the longer it's cooked, so try not to overcook it. 5) The lemon can also really help with this dish to mellow out the flavours.

I hope this helps for now, and that you enjoy the recipe if you give it another try. And so glad you're enjoying other PUL recipes in the meantime. Thanks for being here, Kanako 🌻

Kanako - Aug. 10, 2021, 12:43 a.m.

Thanks a lot! I really appreciate your answer and I look forward to try your other future recipes and videos. I am very grateful that I found you on YouTube, we should be thanking you☺️

Bindiya Ganatra - July 31, 2024, 9:49 a.m.

Kanako, I used fresh baby spinach leaves. Instead of adding them to the cooking pot at the end like Sadia does - Instead I put the fresh spinach leaves in blender along with canned coconut milk.

I don’t like frozen spinach. Actually I don’t like spinach in general. Blending it with the coconut milk though - along with the spices in the recipe helped get rid of the cooked spinach smell and taste.

Just my twist to Sadia’s recipe. Hope it helps you out. If you look in the comments above, I wrote in detail about every single substitution I made in this recipe. Hopefully it helps.

And hopefully Sadia approves of my unique changes to her recipe to make it palatable to my tongue.

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 31, 2024, 1:39 p.m.

A lovely twist, Bindiya, thanks for taking the time to share this with us! 🫶✨


Archana - July 26, 2021, 1:03 a.m.

Hi, I want to try this recipe. I was wondering if I can use the usual coconut milk instead of the canned one? Or if I can use the coconut creamer?

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 27, 2021, 6:42 p.m.

Hi Archana, thanks for the question! The canned full-fat coconut milk helps add a creamy base to the curry.

Coconut milk from a carton will have a lower fat amount so you may find the curry too watery and less flavourful. On the other hand, coconut creamer will have more fat so perhaps adding some water to dilute it will help if the curry is too creamy for your liking! Do let us know if you give the recipe a try ☺️


Maria - July 24, 2021, 8:31 p.m.

I absolutely love it!
I make at least once at month during the winter months 🙃


Samantha - July 12, 2021, 6:19 p.m.

I've this a few times already and it is so good. It also freezes decently so great for meal prep. We swap out for light coconut milk to limit the saturated fat content and still enjoy it.

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 16, 2021, 1:48 a.m.

Ooo thanks a bunch for sharing this, Samantha, super helpful!


Abi - July 10, 2021, 9:45 a.m.

This is my go to recipe these days, my husband and I love it completely. Thanks Sadia for coming up with such amazing recipes every time :)

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 15, 2021, 5:40 a.m.

Thank you, Abi, for the continued support and kindness 😃


Paulina - July 10, 2021, 1:17 a.m.

I've never had mungo beans prior to this recipe but I'm a fan now. Perfect for meal prepping as it holds well in the fridge for 5-6 days.


Lora - July 8, 2021, 10:15 p.m.

My husband and I tried this recipe a few months ago and we instantly fell in love with it. It is filling but not dense, and it has the perfect balance of flavors, especially if you add in lemon and cilantro at the end! Highly recommend :)

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 11, 2021, 3:23 p.m.

We're so happy to hear you and your husband enjoyed the curry, Lora! Thank you ✨

Bindiya Ganatra - July 31, 2024, 9:51 a.m.

Lora,
Cilantro is an excellent idea!! I forgot to add that to my recipe. I’ll chop some up and add it to my serving dish when I eat the leftovers tomorrow.

I’m SO THANKFUL you reminded me of the cilantro!!!!


Devika Mukesh - June 8, 2021, 1:32 p.m.

Hi, amazing recipe.
What do you use to calculate the nutrition info?

PUL small logo PUL Team - June 9, 2021, 5:39 a.m.

Thank you, Devika! We mainly estimate the nutritional information based on the displayed ingredients, which we have linked to entries in the USDA database. More information can be found in our Nutritional information disclosure here 🙂


Cris S - June 5, 2021, 4:44 p.m.

This was delicious for about three days!


Alexandra - May 27, 2021, 6:16 p.m.

This is one of my absolute favorite dishes from Pick Up Limes (and I have a lot :)) Thank you so much for your incredible work!
Much love from Germany

PUL small logo PUL Team - May 28, 2021, 2:10 a.m.

So happy to hear, Alexandra! Lots of love back to Germany ✨🤗


Bea - April 27, 2021, 10:04 a.m.

Can you please tell me if I can also freeze this meal. Thanks a million!

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 27, 2021, 4:31 p.m.

Hey Bea! We haven't personally tested it out, but curries like this generally freeze well. We'd recommend letting it cool completely before freezing and storing portions in an airtight container for up to 3 months 😀


Mennan - April 11, 2021, 7:42 p.m.

This recipe became the new speciality in my menu. Me and my partner are enjoying it to the fullest and I cooked it also for my friends and family and they enjoyed it as well. Thank you so much for this!

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 12, 2021, 4:34 a.m.

Thank you, Mennan, for leaving such a lovely review! We're so glad you, your partner, and your family are enjoying this one 😍


Lucy - March 30, 2021, 9:43 a.m.

I made this tonight for myself and hubby and it is amazing! Easy to make and it didnt take long to cook either.

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 3, 2021, 12:17 a.m.

Thank you for sharing, Lucy! So glad the curry was enjoyed 😃