PLAIN DAL

PLAIN DAL

This recipe is given to me by my Mom. She always used to make this and I kept wondering how she makes so simple yet tasty dal without any spices and masala...! Today I have learned it and it gives me a sense of joy every time I prepare it @ my home... :) This recipe is actually inspired from Odiya cuisine.

SERVINGS: 2

INGREDIENTS:

Tuar Dal: 1 small cup

Onion: 1/2 (small)

Green chilli: 1 medium

Garlic Cloves: 2-3 (medium)

Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp

Cumin Seeds: 1/2 tbsp

Turmeric powder: 1 pinch

Salt: 1 1/2 tsp

Water: 2 1/2 small cups

Refined oil: 2 tbsp

Tuar Dal:

METHOD OF PREPARATION: 

1) Wash the dal. In a pressure cooker, mix the dal and water(quantity mentioned above). Now add a pinch of turmeric powder. (*Adding excess turmeric powder to the dal, makes it bitter in taste). Add the salt.  Now pressure cook the above mixture for about 10 min.
2) Keep it aside and allow the dal to cool. Meanwhile chop the garlic cloves into small pieces. Cut the onion into long slices. Cut the green chilli into half.
3) When the pressure releases completely from the pressure cooker, take out the boiled dal in a bowl.
4) Now heat the oil in a pan or medium sized kadai. Put mustard seeds and cumin seeds and allow them to splutter. (Always put the phodan or chonk into the oil when the oil in hot enough, else you won't find the dish as tasty). Add the chopped garlic and green chilli and stir with a spatula for few seconds. Make sure you don't burn it. Now add into it the sliced onions and again stir for about a minute or two, until the onion turns light golden brown.

FINAL STEPS:

1) To this phodan, add the boiled dal and stir it with light hands. Immediately close the lid of the pan and simmer the dal for 2-3 minutes.

2) Once done, take out the dal into a bowl. 

DRESSING AND SERVING:

You dal is ready to serve. You can enjoy this dal with hot steam rice. mmmm... delicious...(This dal unlike dal fry doesn't go well with chapati/phulka.)