3 G loaded Dal

I can have dal all through the year.  I like this particular preparation of dal.  This dal is what I call a 3G loaded dal:  ghee, garlic and ginger – all of which have medicinal properties.  And yes, it has a good bit of turmeric, again known for its medicinal properties.  With coronavirus our only line of defense is immunity: garlic, ginger, turmeric help build immunity. Ghee has been misunderstood, it is healthy.  I strongly recommend that you follow this recipe to the tee. Enjoy.

Collect it:

·           100 gms tuvar / toor dal

·           100 gms split yellow moong dal

·           Salt to taste

·           1 tsp turmeric powder

·           1 tsp oil

For the chopped Green Masala you will need:

·           50 gms / 3-4 tbsp Butter Oil / Ghee

·           1 medium sized onion chopped

·           1 medium sized Tomato chopped

·           1 whole pod of garlic, peeled and chopped

·           Chopped Garlic-1 whole pod peeled

·           ½ inch Ginger chopped fine 

·           5 – 6 green chillies chopped

·           A pinch or ¼ tsp Hing

·           Salt to taste

For the Powdered Masala you will need:

·           1 tsp Jeera powder

·           1 tsp red Chillie powder 

·           1 tsp Turmeric powder

For the Tadka you will need:

·           50 gms or 3 tablespoon  Butter / Oil / Ghee

·           6 to 8 garlic cloves smashed / cut lengthwise  

·           1 level tbsp Jeera / Cumin Seeds

·           1 level tbsp whole Dhaniya Seeds  

·           1 level tbsp Whole rai (Mustard ) 

·           2 twigs Kadi Patta Leaves

For the garnishing you will need: chopped Coriander Leaves

Wash and soak Tuvar Dal and Split Yellow Moong Dal in cold water 2 hours prior cooking. I soaked it overnight.

Drain the water and use fresh water. Place the dal (and water) on medium fire to cook it.

Add bit of salt, Turmeric Powder and oil.

Cook the Dal on slow fire until the Dal is tender and fully cooked.  Alternatively, you can pressure the Dal for 15 minutes, 3 whistles. It is cooked much faster in a cooker.

Once cooled, divide the Dal in two. Pour 50% in a blender and puree. Set aside.  

You now prepare the chopped green masala and tadka:

Heat in a pan with Oil/ Butter or Ghee 

Then add Onions fry until rich golden brown 

Then add chopped Green chillies sauté for 1 minute

Then add Garlic, Ginger, Tomatoes.  Now fry this on a high flame until tomatoes go mush and green masala turns golden brown.

Add the Powdered Masalas: Jeera powder / Red Chilli Powder & Turmeric powder 

Lower the heat, gently stir to bring it all together.  Add just ½ cup water if you have to so as not to burn the Green Masala.  Pour this fried Green Masala over the cooked Dal along with its hot oil in the pan.  

Add sufficient water but don't make it too watery. Add a pinch of Hing to enhance Dal Taste Salt as per taste.

Now prepare the tadka: take a pan add some Oil / Butter or Ghee to it.

Add Whole Rai mustard seeds and on medium heat crackle it.

Then add whole jeera and whole dhaniya seeds and fry until rich golden brown. 

Then add some smashed Garlic saute until soft. 

Lastly add Kadi Patta leaves fry until crispy.

Pour this Hot Tadka over the Dal.  Cook the Dal on a slow flame and let it cook for one last time.  Check the Salt. Add if you have to. Garnish with a handful of chopped Green Coriander Leaves. Serve with white rice.