I am writing down a simple recipe of this dal for the benefit of my niece who is a busy executive & has no time to cook ! She has been urging me to write lots of quick & easy everyday Dals and Curries which she can try out. So I am going to try and hopefully write down some useful stuff for her. & hopefully I don 't get too lazy in the middle of this project...............
I am starting with Moong Dal...........
Moong dal is one of the simplest dals to make. It cooks much faster than the toovar or chana dal.
It is easier to digest this dal too. Hence when we were sick or not feeling too good, my amma would often make dishes with this dal (like khichdi, ven pongal or some simple kootu ) rather than one of the others.
Moong dal can be used with or without the skin, full or halved. I normally use the halved ones without the skin.
Ingredients
moong dal - 1 1/2 cup
onion - 1, sliced or finely chopped
green chillies - 1-2 chopped
ginger - a small piece, grated or chopped finely
tomato - 1 chopped
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
salt to taste
oil - 2-3 tsp
for the tadka
oil or ghee - 2 tsp
mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
jeera - 1/4 tsp
Method
Dals can be made in lots of ways. Every cook has her own version of it. But for the benefit of those busy , young people, I am writing down 2 simple versions...............
Method 1:-
1. Heat the oil in the pressure cooker & fry the onion, ginger & green chillies for a few minutes until the onions start turning brown at the edges. Add the tomatoes & cook for for another 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the soaked dal, turmeric powder and salt. Stir for a minute & then add 3 cups of water. Mix.
3. Close the pressure cooker & cook until the cooker releases 1 whistle.
4. After the pressure is released, open the cooker, check for seasoning & cook on sim for a couple of minutes.
5. Heat a tbsp of ghee or oil, Add some mustard seeds & after it splutters add the jeera & wait for it to turn golden ( 1/2 a minute ) Add the chilli powder & immediately pour over the hot dal. Top with fresh chopped corriander & serve with Roti or rice.
P.S - If you want to cook this in a kadhai & not a pressure cooker, just put a lid on after step 2. & cook on slow flame until the dal is soft & cooked. & then continue with step 5.
Method 2:-
1. Pressure cook the dal with enough water ( enough to cover the dal) with salt & haldi or else cook on slow flame in a kadhai or wok until soft & done.
2. In another kadhai or wok, heat 2 tbsp ghee or oil. Add the mustard seeds. After they splutter, add the jeera or cumin seeds . Wait for a minute & then add the chopped onion, ginger and green chillies. Fry for a couple of minutes until onions start turning brown at the edges. Add the chopped tomatoes. Cook for 2-3 minutes until they turn slightly soft. Add the chilli powder, stir for a minute & pour over the hot dal.
3.Top with fresh chopped coriander
4. Serve with garma - garam rotis or steaming hot rice & curry & roasted pappad.
P.S - Any dal or lentil can be made in this same manner. Toovar dal, urad, chana dal etc. only the cooking time will vary slightly according to the dal being used.
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Yummy recipe :)
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