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