Mamta's Kitchen - A Family Cookbook





Dal

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On 29/06/2010 07:06pm, Savs wrote:

I've never cooked a dal before and I was wondering where to begin. I usually make a chicken curry with rice and for a change i'd like to make a dal to serve along side it. Have you got any suggestions for me to begin with? Or can you let me know which are the most popular ones? I haven't even tasted one so it's all new to me. Your help will be much appreciated.

On 29/06/2010 08:06pm, Andrew wrote:

1/2 cup red lentils

1-1/2 cups hot water

1/4 onion chopped fine

2 garlic cloves chopped

1 inch of ginger root chopped

1 tablespoon tomato puree

1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1 tablespoon oil

juice from half a lemon or lime

1 teaspoon brown or black mustard seeds

tarka

4 tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon garam masala

1/2 teaspoon chilli powder

1/4 teaspoon hing

heat oil. fry mustard seeds until they pop. add onion and fry for 2 minutes. add garlic ginger fenugreek and fry for a few seconds. add lentils tomato puree water turmeric. bring to boil and cook for about 10 or 15 minutes until lentils are done. add a little water to compensate for any evaporation. add lemon juice.

for tarka heat oil and then fry the tarka spices for a few seconds before pouring ontop of the cooked dal.

Something really easy and tasty. there are many recipes for making dal. the above is just one but it produces a nice result.

On 29/06/2010 08:06pm, Andrew wrote:

Oh, and salt to taste. Garnish with a few chopped fresh coriander leaves. :-)

On 29/06/2010 09:06pm, Kavey wrote:

Hi Savs

If you go to the Search page at the top of the site, and enter dal into the box, you'll get lots and lots of dal recipes to try.

Some are Mamta's (mum's) but others are from her family members, friends and also site regulars, who often contribute.

You should be able to find something to suit you!

On 29/06/2010 09:06pm, Savs wrote:

Thanks very much for that Andrew, sounds easy, i'll give it a try. Haven't heard of a spice called hing before though. Is it easy to find?

On 30/06/2010 05:06am, Mamta wrote:

Yes, Hing is easy to find at Indian grocers.

On 30/06/2010 12:06pm, Savs wrote:

I've got asafoetida, thanks for all your replies!

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