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Just Daal - High Protein, Lentils, Indian recipe for Lentils

I just made this, with Tehsin giving me the recipe over the phone. Making daal is the most basic thing in India, it is commonly eaten with rice. It is an excellent source of protein and I think fiber too especially if you are vegetarian, or on a budget!

For some reason, I cannot make daal, either its too much water, or too little! Or the masala is not enough! I dont know, I am jinxed when it comes to daals! But I today it looks and smells fantastic, probably its good! I will update later if it tastes equally good too. Thanks to Tehsin, ofcourse!

Ingredients:

Tuar daal (or any lentils, like red lentils, chick peas split lentils etc), 2 cups (approx for 4-6 people )
1/2 tsp turmeric, (Turmeric is full of antioxidants, excellent for anti-aging)
1/2 onion, chopped,
1/2 or 1 small tomato chopped,
1 tsp cumin(jeera) whole,
4 cloves,
1 small stick cinnamon,
2 cloves garlic chopped,
1-2 green hot peppers (mirch) (like jalapeno, etc), just run your knife through it to make a couple slits
spice mix: 1/2 tsp cumin powder (jeera powder), 1 tsp corriander (dhania) powder, 1/2 tsp chilli powder (laal mirch), 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
almost 4 cups (or more) water and oil for cooking,
Method:

First pressure cook the lentils (daal) with the water and the turmeric. If you dont have pressure cooker, boil the lentils, till they are soft/cooked. Then at the same time, start preparing the masala. For this heat the oil in a little pan, add the cumin to this (they will make a crackling noise). Then add the cloves and cinnamon stick to this. Add the onion, sautee for sometime. Add the garlic and the green pepper. Fry till the onion is golden brown. Now add the spice mix to this. Fry for half a minute, add the chopped tomatoes. Fry till you see oil on the top. Stop cooking at this point, you might need to add a little water, approx 2-3 tbsp. When the lentils are boiled, add this masala and salt to it. Mix and give it a boil.

Thats it.
Eat with steamed rice.

Bon apetit! To simple food and a healthy life!

March 10th, 2007