Heidi Swanson’s Palak Daal – Recipe Test Drive

This palak daal was a little bland for my tastes, but between Heidi Swanson and I and our little tweaks, it's salvageable and definitely worth eating. It's heartier than you might imagine!

If you read me often, you know that I kinda worship the kitchen that Heidi Swanson cooks in. Her book, Supernatural Cooking, is one of my favorites, and her 101 Cookbooks blog is on my email updates. To date, she’s never let me down. I know I can always count on a good meal when I cook up a Heidi Swanson recipe.

That’s why I’m sitting here, a little broken, by the fact that her recipe for palak daal was just a little bland for my taste. Funny thing is, I think she thought so too. Not only did she add lemon juice (which I also did), looking for more complex flavors than the original recipe offered, but when she heated it up as leftovers, she added coconut milk.

So when I ate the leftovers for lunch today, I tried the coconut milk and a generous shake of cayenne (since I went light last night for Owen) and it definitely was better. However, what I was really craving was that cilantro chutney that you get at Indian restaurants, you know the one — it’s tart and spicy and so cilantro-y … that’s what would have saved this recipe.

There were many things good about it, though, and I grew to appreciate it even more as time went on. My initial thoughts were disappointing, but it was filling and hearty and delightfully not gassy at all, considering it’s chock-full of lentils. Here are some more random thoughts about the recipe:

My mouth was gloriously happy whenever I got a bite with a toasted cumin seed in it, which was often. I love that flavor.
This recipe reminds me a bit of my old crock pot standby, curried chick peas and kale, but not as flavorful.
I’m thinking swirling in a little plain yogurt before serving would add a sourness that will give this dish the complexity it seeks.
I added much more water than the recipe called for, and for my propane gas stovetop, the cooking time was far too long. I think the two had something to do with each other….

Even though this wasn’t my favorite recipe of all time, it’s got it’s merits and with a little dressing up it becomes a satisfying meal … and leftovers.