RECIPE: Dal Curry

Here's one more easy recipe. And its healthy, packed with proteins - the major ingredient for this is Moong Dal (the halved and yellow variety) or Mung Beans (dried, skin-removed and halved). You can make this dish any way you want, with any type of lentil. What I have here is probably the most simple form of it, ideal for students who don't really want to spend much time cooking!

SERVING SIZE: For 5 people

PREPARATION TIME: 20-30 mins. (Depends on pressure cooker cooking time)

INGREDIENTS:

• Moong Dal or Mung Beans - 1 cup (The yellow variety)
  
• Onions - 1 nos.
• Tomato - 2-3 nos. (small sized)
  
• Green Chillies - 1-2 nos. (Depends on desired spiciness)
• Oil - 7 -8 tbsp.
• Jeera (Cumin Seeds) - 1-2 tsp.
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp.
  
• Coriander Leaves (Cilantro) - To garnish
• Salt - to taste
• Lemon Concentrate - 2 tsp.
• Water - as needed
  

APPLIANCES NEEDED: Pressure Cooker

METHOD:

• Cook the dal in the pressure cooker for about 2 whistles, keeping 1:2 ratio of dal to water and 1/4 tsp. of turmeric powder.
• Meanwhile chop the onions and keep aside.
• 
• Chop the tomatoes and keep aside.
• 
• Pour the oil into the kadai.
• Add the jeera into the kadai and fry for sometime until the jeera is slightly darkened.
• Slit the green chillies and put them into the kadai.
• 
• Now put the chopped onions and fry until the onions turn translucent.
• 
• Add the chopped tomatoes and fry for until the tomato pieces are soft.
• 
• Now, once the dal is cooked, mash it well so that no individual lentil is seen.
• 
• Add the mashed dal to the kadai.
• 
• Mix well, adding water in small quantities to get the dal to proper consistency - it shouldn't be too thick nor too watery.
• Add salt and the lemon concentrate and stir well.
  
• Chop the coriander leaves and add that as well, and stir lightly.
• Dal curry is ready!
• 

PURPLE TIPS:

• You can use even Masoor dal for this.
• If you want to give it more flavoring, you can add some Garam Masala as well.
• Lemon concentrate gives it a slightly tangy taste. I like it that way, but it would turn out well even if you didn't add it.
• You can add some cooked, chopped spinach and that would be Dal Palak!

Try it out and let me know how it turned out.

XOXO,

Purple Poise