Simple dal

Depending on where you travel in India their dal will vary in taste and preparation. You can really let your imagination run wild with this with  recipe by different additions, eg. spinach or peas, peanuts etc.

This is my recipe for a simple dal which is quick and easy to make and uses very few ingredients.

Ingredients:
Toor dal – 2 cups (yellow lentils)
1 tbsp oil (you can use any oil)
I tsp mustard seeds
1 green chilli cut lengthwise ( if you don’t like it spicy you can avoid this)
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
1 small piece of ginger finely chopped
1 medium onion chopped
2 medium tomatoes diced
cilantro for garnish

Spices:
2 tsp Trumeric
salt to taste

Process:

Cook the dal in water or in a pressure cooker, till it is soft and keep aside. (You may want to soak it first for about an hour before boiling it till soft.)

1. In a medium pot heat i tablespoon of oil,
2. drop in the mustard seeds till they spatter
3. Keep your flame on medium after the seeds spatter
4. add the ginger, garlic and stir,
5. add the onions and stir.
6. Add in the turmeric and stir.
7. Fry the onions till they get translucent – about 5 mins on medium high heat.
8. when that is done add the cooked dal,
9. add some water to make it soupy and put in the tomatoes, green chillies and let it come to a boil.

That’s it! just garnish with chopped cilantro and enjoy with rice or naan, or bread.