Dal - As We Like It!!

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 cup split red gram, washed and soaked in 3 cups water for an hour
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 big tomato, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 inch gingerroot, peeled and minced
• 2 green chilies, deseeded and slit
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon oil
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 pinch asafetida powder
• 2/3 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed
• 2 sprigs curry leaves
• 1 chicken stock cubes or 1 vegetable stock cube
• 1/2 an onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/4 teaspoon coriander powder
• 3 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (to garnish)
• 2 teaspoons lime juice

Recipe

• 1 boil the dal in the water it soaks in with the next 8 ingredients, in a vessel or pressure cooker till cooked (my pressure cooker takes 1 whistle to cook the dal) in the meanwhile keep the rest of the ingredients ready.
• 2 when the dal is cooked heat a tblsp of oil in a kadai/ vessel add the asafetida and the mustard, cumin and curry leaves in quick succession.
• 3 add the garlic as soon as the mustard splutters.
• 4 then add the onion slices and fry till light brown.
• 5 then add the stock cube and saute.
• 6 when you get the aromas add the chopped tomato and then the spice powders.
• 7 add the cooked dal and stir to mix well.
• 8 when heated through add the lime juice.
• 9 (one tsp at a time taste and add some more if you feel like it you can go beyond 2 tsp if your taste buds give you the go ahead) garnish with coriander leaves (we really add a lot of these but i have only put and serve hot over rice).
• 10 try a dry meat dish as an accompaniment.