Ever feel like making something quick, healthy, and comforting, but without spending forever in the kitchen? That’s where this Spinach Sabzi comes in.

This dish is light, flavorful, and nourishing, with soft-cooked spinach blended with dal and aromatic tempering. It pairs perfectly with rice or rotis, making it ideal for everyday meals.

And the best part? 

It uses simple pantry ingredients and gets ready quickly while still being packed with nutrition.

Why Spinach Stir Fry Is a Smart Everyday Side Dish

Spinach-based dishes are staples across Indian homes because they’re easy to cook and incredibly nutritious. This version combines tempered spices, dal, and spinach into a comforting, mildly spiced sabzi.

It works well because:

• Quick to prepare on busy days
• Packed with iron, fiber, and plant protein
• Pairs with almost any main dish
• Light yet filling
• Kid-friendly when mildly spiced

If you’re trying to include more greens in everyday cooking, this recipe fits perfectly.

Ingredients Breakdown

• Spinach (Palak): Fresh spinach cooks quickly and blends beautifully with spices, creating a soft, comforting texture while delivering iron and essential vitamins.
• Dal Tempering Base: Urad dal and chana dal in tempering

• Garlic & Curry Leaves: These bring warmth and depth while also aiding digestion.

• Onion & Tomato: They create the flavorful base:

• Onion adds sweetness
• Tomato gives a slight tang and body

• Spice Powders: Turmeric, chilli powder, and coriander powder provide gentle heat and earthy flavour without overpowering the greens.

🌿 Vegan Swap: Recipe is already vegan if oil is used instead of ghee.

How the Spinach Sabzi Comes Together

First, you heat oil in a wide pan and add mustard seeds along with urad dal and chana dal. As they crackle and turn golden, asafoetida goes in for that signature aroma.

Next come crushed garlic, curry leaves, onions, and green chillies. As they sauté, your kitchen fills with comforting home-cooked fragrance. Once onions soften and turn slightly golden, soaked dal and chopped tomatoes join the pan, cooking until everything blends into a soft masala base.

Spice powders are mixed in, followed by freshly chopped spinach. At first, it may look like too much spinach, but within minutes, it wilts down beautifully. Covered and cooked gently, the spinach releases its own moisture and cooks into a soft, flavorful mixture.

Soon, dal and spinach combine into a comforting sabzi that pairs perfectly with rice or rotis.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not overcook spinach. Once wilted and soft, switch off the heat to preserve colour and nutrients.

Problems This Recipe Solves

• Quick weekday vegetable side dish
• Easy way to include leafy greens
• Light meal option for dinner
• Healthy dish for kids and elders

Diet-Friendly Tweaks

• High-Protein Version: Increase the soaked dal quantity or add boiled chickpeas for extra protein.
• Low-Spice Version: Reduce chilli powder and green chillies for kids or sensitive digestion.
• Low-Oil Version: Use minimal oil and cook covered so spinach cooks in its own moisture.

What Goes Along with Spinach Sabzi

This dish pairs beautifully with:

• Steamed rice and ghee
• Rasam rice
• Sambar rice
• Chapati or phulka
• Lemon rice or curd rice

How to Serve

Serve hot with rice and papad or alongside rotis for a simple comforting meal.

For kids, mash slightly so spinach blends smoothly.

Packing Tips for Lunch Box

This sabzi travels well.

Tips for packing:

• Let it cool slightly before packing
• Pair with chapati rolls or rice
• Avoid adding extra water so it doesn’t leak

Common Pitfalls

• Watery Sabzi: Occurs if spinach is overcooked or water is added unnecessarily.
• Bitter Taste: Happens if spinach is too mature or overcooked.
• Mushy Texture: Cook only until spinach wilts; avoid prolonged cooking.

How to Store Spinach Sabzi

How to Store Spinach Stir Fry

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

How to Reheat

How to Reheat Spinach Sabzi

Reheat in a pan on low flame or microwave with a sprinkle of water to maintain moisture.

Other Related Recipes You Might Like:-

• Keerai Vadai (Crispy Spinach Vada) – crunchy fritters made with spinach and spices.
• Palak Rice – nutritious spinach-flavoured rice perfect for lunch boxes.
• Palak Paneer (No Onion, No Garlic) – healthy spinach and paneer gravy with mild spices.
• Aloo Palak Sabzi – comforting potato–spinach stir fry for everyday meals.
• Thotakura Pappu (Andhra Style Dal) – protein-rich dal cooked with leafy greens.
• Cabbage Kootu – mild lentil–vegetable curry that pairs well with stir fries.
• Buttermilk Rasam – light, soothing rasam to complete a healthy meal.

• Temple Style Curd Rice – cooling comfort food to balance greens-based dishes.