DISH 1: ARHAR DAL

Welcome back guys. So as I belong from Uttar Pradesh one of the staples in our diet right from the time we begin eating is Arhar dal. Arhar is a kind of lentil that can be eaten with rice or roti. I absolutely love indulging in a plate of hot rice with arhar dal and a little ghee mixed with it. It is like comfort food for me, it tends to remind me of how my grandmother used to make this for me and my brother on a cold winter day while we would soak up sun sitting her in veranda.

So here’s the recipe of arhar dal for all those who would like to try to make this, just like I did.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup arhar dal
• 2 tbsp ghee
• A pinch of asafetida
• 1/2 tsp cumin seed
• 1 dried red chili (broken)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/4 tsp red chili powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 green chilies
• 1 tsp ginger chopped
• 1 tomato (finely chopped)
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp coriander leaves (finely chopped)

How to make Arhar dal:

1. Wash and soak the arhar dal in 2 cups of water for 1/2 hour. Soaking the dal reduces the cooking time.
2. Drain out the water and put dal with 3 cups of water, salt and turmeric in a pressure cooker. Close the lid and cook the dal. After the first whistle turn the heat down and cook on medium flame for 3 – 4 minutes. Turn off the flame. Once the pressure ends open the lid and check if the dal is cooked or not and if it requires some more water. If the dal is thick in consistency then add some water for the desired flow.
3. Now move the dal to a serving bowl and begin tempering.
4. Take ghee or clarified butter in a pan, heat it; add cumin seed. When the cumin seeds begin to sputter add hing, dried red chilli, stir it and then add green chilli, ginger, garlic and fry till golden brown.
5. After few seconds add onions to it when it’s translucent add tomatoes to it.
6. When the oil begins to separate add pinch of salt and red chili powder to it. Quickly stir with a spoon and pour it over the dal and close the lid. Ensure that the red chilly powder does not get burnt.
7. Before serving garnish it with the coriander leaves and add lemon juice to it, stir it properly.
8. Serve hot with steamed rice or roti.