Dal, which translates roughly as "lentils" in Hindi, is an Indian dish in which lentils are the main ingredient combined with spices to make a hearty, healthy and versatile delicacy. Dal is not only easy to cook, but lentils also provide a variety of nutritional benefits including fiber, protein, iron and magnesium. There are many different types of lentils that you can cook into dal, so try cooking with different types of lentils for different flavors and colors.
Ingredients
- 400 grams of lentils
- 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
- 1 ginger root size 4 cm, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 tbsp turmeric
- 4 small green chilies (2 finely chopped, 2 left whole)
- 2 tbsp ghee (refined butter) or peanut oil
- 2 red onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp crushed dry red chili
- 1 small bunch of fresh coriander leaves, coarsely chopped
- Salt to taste
Step
Step 1. Prepare the lentils by washing them under running cold water in a large bowl
Drain the water and repeat until the washing water is clear.
Step 2. Place the lentils in a tall saucepan or large saucepan then pour 2 liters of water over them
Bring the water to a boil and then scoop out and discard any dregs that rise to the surface with a wooden spoon.
Step 3. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, chopped chilies and a pinch of salt to the lentils
Reduce the heat of the stove and cover the pot, leaving the lid slightly ajar to allow the steam to escape.
Step 4. Boil gently over low heat for about 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally
The lentils will be soft and fluffy at the end of the cooking process.
Add a little boiling water at the end if you prefer a thinner texture for the dal
Step 5. Toss two whole chilies in the dal with a pinch of salt
Simmer gently for another 15 minutes.
Step 6. Heat the ghee or peanut oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the shallots
Stir in the shallots until they are golden brown and slightly crunchy, then add the cumin, mustard seeds and crushed dry red chilies. Stir the ingredients gently until the mustard seeds start to open.
Step 7. Combine the cooked lentils into the onion and spices mixture
Stir all ingredients until everything is perfectly mixed.
Step 8. Top the finished dal with cilantro and serve
Tips
- Soaking the lentils in cold water for about two hours before cooking can help create an even softer consistency. Soaking is usually also necessary for whole, unsplit lentils.
- Try experimenting with flavors by adding or removing different spices to create a wide variety of dal flavors. Asafoetida, cinnamon, cloves and a mix of spices like garam masala can provide a great variety of flavors.
- Dal can be eaten as a side dish for the main meal or as a main meal itself by adding vegetables or meat to it.
