This is a traditional Indian dish that is very simple to make. Lentils, unlike dried beans, are easy to cook. They are a great source of fiber and protein and are available throughout the year. Split red lentils take lesser time to cook than many yellow lentil/ gram varieties.
Dal – Lentils
Dal - Lentils
This is a traditional Indian dish that is very simple to make. Lentils unlike dried beans are easy to cook. They are a great source of fiber and protein and are available throughout the year. Split red lentils take lesser time to cook than many other yellow lentil/ gram varieties.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Split Red Lentils, (Masoor Dal)
- 4 1/2 Cups Water
- Salt to taste
- 1 Medium Tomato, Diced
- 1 Green Chilli, Slit
For Masala Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Coriander Seeds
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Cumin Seeds
- 1 Teaspoon Black Peppercorns
- Grind this to a fine powder in your Spice Grinder
For Flavour Infusion (tempering)
- 1 Tablespoon Oil or Ghee
- 2 Tablespoons Cumin Seeds
- 2 Tablespoons Mustard Seeds
- 1/2 Teaspoon Asafoetida
- 1/2 Tablespoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Split Black Gram Dal (Urad Dal)
- 4 or 5 Curry Leaves
For Garnish
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons of finely chopped coriander leaves
Method
- 1)
Wash the masoor dal. Add water to the lentils and add all rice cooker ingredients in a pot/ bowl that will fit inside your rice cooker.
- 2)
In your rice cooker dish, add 1 ½ cups of water and set it for the preset timer for white rice.
- 3)
Place the bowl with ingredients inside the cooker and let it cook. (About 40 minutes). The dal is cooked if it is mushy. Once the dal is cooked, mash it up just a little bit.
- 4)
On the stove place a pot and add oil or ghee and add all the flavor infusion (tempering) ingredients. When the mustard seeds splutter add 2 to 3 tbs of water so the tempering mixture calms a bit. Then add the cooked dal into the pot and add the ground masala powder.
- 5)
Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- 6)
Garnish with coriander leaves. The dal are ready to be served and can be had with rice, quinoa, Indian bread (chapati/ naan).