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Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach

Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach is richly aromatic, with warm coriander, cumin, cinnamon, and turmeric rounding out tender lentils and silky spinach. A hint of cayenne and cloves adds gentle heat and depth, making this dish comforting yet lively. Serve it as a hearty side or a light dinner with rice or flatbread on cool evenings.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook1 hr
  • Serves8
  • DifficultyMedium
Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

52 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
60 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
13 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
93 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
1 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

52
Heart Health
74
Metabolic
34
Digestive
32
Inflammatory
40
Performance
51
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Heat oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion in the hot oil until it starts to turn golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the minced garlic to the onion; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more.

  2. 2

    Stir the chicken broth, lentils, 1/2 cup water, crushed garlic, coriander, salt, cumin, chili powder, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf into the onion mixture; bring to a boil. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the lentils are soft, about 35 minutes.

  3. 3

    Put the spinach in a microwave-safe bowl and add 1/4 cup water; heat in the microwave for 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Stir the spinach and continue microwaving until heated through, about 5 minutes more.

  5. 5

    Let the spinach cool, about 5 minutes; drain the water and squeeze out the excess water from the spinach.

  6. 6

    Stir the spinach into the lentils; cover the pan and simmer until heated through, about 10 minutes.

About This Recipe

Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach is a Bangladeshi side dish recipe made with 17 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 15 mins, serves 8, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Broth, Chili Powder, and Dried Bay Leaves. Each serving provides about 125.94 kcal.

Recipe Questions

What is Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach?
It is a Bangladeshi recipe made with 17 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch.
What is Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach made of?
The main ingredients are Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Broth, Chili Powder, Dried Bay Leaves, Garlic. The full list of 17 is above.
How long does it take to make Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach?
About 1 hr 15 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 1 hr to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 125.94 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 6 steps.
Is Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach healthy?
Spiced Indian Lentils with Spinach has an easyChef Pro health score of 52/100. Per serving, it provides 125.94 calories and 5.29 g of protein, or 11% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin A. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 300.48 mg (13% of the Daily Value). It contains Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

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