Toor Dal Recipe

Toor Dal Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 min (approx)

Serving: 4

Ingredients:

a. 1 cup toor dal – ( check in aisle 1)

b. cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon – (check in aisle 2)

c. salt – according to taste – (check in aisle 2)

d. red chilli powder – 1/2 teaspoon (for medium spicy) for lentils and 1/4 teaspoon for tadka (sauteed onions) –(check in aisle 2)

e. turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon – (check in aisle 2)

f. fresh ginger, cut in thin slices  – 1 tablespoon or ginger paste 1.5 teaspoon

h. asfoetida (hing) – 0.5 teaspoon – (check in aisle 1)

i. 5-6 curry leaves – (check refrigerated section)

j. 1 onion, finely chopped

k. tomato puree – 3-4 tablespoon or 3 fresh tomatoes (finely chopped) – (check in aisle 4)

l. cilantro chopped  – 2 tablespoon , chopped

m. water – 3 cup

n. oil – 2-3 tablespoon – ( check in aisle 6)

o. mustard seeds – 1 teaspoon – (check in aisle 2)

p. amchoor (dried mango powder)  – 1/2 teaspoon – (check in aisle 2)

q. 1 thai green chilli (optional) – only if you want spicy – (check refrigerated section)

Method:

1. Wash the lentils before using, make sure they are clean. Then put 1 cup lentil and 3 cup water in the pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds (1 teaspoon), salt (1.5 teaspoon or according to taste),ginger ,turmeric powder(1/2 teaspoon), asfoetida( 0.5 teaspoon),red chilli powder (1/2 teaspoon) to it. Close the cooker and put on high heat. After 1 whistle close the heat (Make sure you close the heat after one whistle as the lentils become really tender and dissolve). Make sure that you leave the cooker aside to cool down – only open it when the steam is out. When you open the cooker make sure that the lentils are tender, if not you can just leave it medium heat for a while.

Also if you feel water is little less, you could add a little more to it while the lentils are on heat.

If you do not have a cooker:

Wash the lentils before using, make sure they are clean. Then put 1 cup lentil and 3 cup water in a medium sized pan. Add cumin seeds (1 teaspoon),salt (1.5 teaspoon or according to taste),ginger ,turmeric powder(1/2 teaspoon), asfoetida( 0.5 teaspoon),red chilli powder (1/2 teaspoon) to it. Let the dal simmer on medium heat for about 30 minutes till it becomes tender.

2. (Method for making tadka)

Take a kadai (deep vessel), add 2-3 tablespoon oil to it and put it on medium heat. After oil is heated add the curry leaves and 1 teaspoon mustard seeds to it. When the mustard seeds turn a little redish then you add onions to it. You could also add finely chopped green chilli if you want it spicy. Wait until the onions turn brownish and become tender, keep stirring it occasionally. Now add 1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder (if you want spicy). Now add 1/2 teaspoon dried mango powder (amchoor) to it. Put 3-4 tablespoon tomato puree or tomato. Let it be on medium for 5 minutes.

3. Mix the tadka (sauteed onions mix) to the lentils in the cooker. You can now put the lentils in the dish bowl and garnish it with cilantro.’