Anytime Dal recipe

Couldn’t think of a more innovative name.

Mom wanted me to make some quick dal yesterday, and I came up with a concoction that quite pleased here. It is simple fast, and goes pretty well with both rice and rotis. It is also ideal for the time when we have our vrat (don’t know how to define this) when we are off garlic and onions.

Ingredients:

Lentils
Tur dal – 1 cup (cooked and mashed well)

Veggies
Tomato – 2 to 3
Ginger: 1 inch approx
Coriander (Cilantro) – A few sprigs
Chillies (capsicum) – to taste
Shimla mirch/Bell pepper: 1-2 cut fine

Spices
Salt –to taste
Amchur powder (dry mango powder) – 1 tsp. You can add a dash of lemon juice in the end if you don’t have this. We need something for the sourness.
Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
Jeera (Cumin) powder – 1 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Jeera seeds – 1 tsp
Mustard seeds (optional) – 1 tsp
Hing/Asafoetida (optional) – 1 pinch
Methi/Fenugreek seeds (optional) – 1 pinch

Vegetable oil – 1 – 2 tbsp

Procedure

Cut the bell pepper into fine pieces.
Grind tomatoes, coriander, ginger, and chillies in a blender to a fine paste.

Heat oil on a low to medium flame in a wok (kadai). Add the mustard and jeera seeds. After they stop spluttering, add the fenugreek seeds and asafetida. After ten seconds, add the capsicum and fry till they are done. Add a little salt to make the capsicum cook faster. Add the tomato paste and cook for around a minute. Add the dal, powders, and salt and cook for around three to five minutes stirring well. Add extra water if necessary. Top it off with a tablespoon of ghee (clarified butter) or just plain butter.

Methi Dal recipe

There are many variations for this recipe but I like this one the best because it brings out the methi flavor very well.

Ingredients:

Tur Dal: half cup
Methi (fenugreek) leaves: half bunch

Masala:
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp jeera
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ajwain
1 tsp amchur powder
Red chilli powder to taste
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp sugar
A pinch of Asafoetida
3 tbsp oil

Dal: Soak the dal in water for half an hour. Cook in a pressure cooker till done and mash well.

Wash the methi leaves well and chop fine.

Heat the oil in a kadai and when hot, add the mustard seeds. After they stop spluttering, add the jeera, ajwain, and asafoetida. Stir for some time till you get the aroma. Add the methi leaves and stir fry for a couple of minutes taking care not to burn the leaves. Add the dal, mix well. If the consistency is too thick, add water to set it right. Add the salt, sugar, amchur powder, coriander powder, and red chilli powder. Cook for five minutes on low flame.

Optionally, add a tablespoon of ghee.

Serve hot with rotis or rice.