The ultimate Dal recipe

The ultimate dal recipe...well almost :)

1 Cup Tur Dal
2 big sized onions
1 small capsicum (bell pepper) finely chopped.
3 big tomatoes
1 green chilli (capsicum)
5 cloves garlic
1 inch ginger
A few stalks of coriander (cilantro,dhania)

Dry powders
Amchur (dry mango powder) - 1 tsp
Dhania (coriander) powder - 1 tsp
Jeera (cumin) powder - 1 tsp
Haldi (turmeric) - 1 tsp
Red Chilli powder - to taste
Salt - to taste
Sugar - 1 tsp

3 tbsp oil


Preparing the dal:
Soak the dal for an hour in water. Boil in a pressure cooker till soft. Mash it well.

Preparing the masala:

Puree the tomatoes: Boil the tomatoes till their skins come off. Grind the tomatoes with chopped garlic and ginger in a blender to a soup consistency.

Cut the onions into cubes. Add the green chilli and blend the onions and chilli in a blender to a coarse paste.

Add 3 tbsp of oil in a wok (kadai). Add jeera seeds to the hot oil. When they stop spluttering, add the onion-chilli paste. Heat till the paste turns brown in color. Add the finely chopped capsicum, a little salt and heat on high flame with continuous stirring for around 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for about five minutes. Add the dry powders (except for zeera), salt, and sugar.

Add the prepared masala to the mashed dal, add water to get the consistency you want. Heat the mixture on the stove. Add salt. Remove the container from the fire as soon as it starts boiling.

Roast the cumin (zeera) powder in a frying pan till it turns brown and add it to the dal.

Add a tablespoon of ghee or melted butter (optional)

Garnish with coriander leaves

Serve with rice or rotis.