Arhar Dal, Kali Dal, Sindhi Curry Cooking Recipe
Arhar Dal Cooking Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- Arhar dal 1 cup
- Lauki [bottle gourd] a small piece about 3″, grated when ready to cook only. It turns dark if done earlier
- Haldi 1 tsp
- Jeera 1 tsp
- Mustard Seeds 1 tsp
- Hing a pinch
- Tamarind paste 2 tblsp or
- Amchur powder 1 tsp
COOKING METHOD
For a well balanced meal, a Dal is a must. If made well, one does not need any other dish. It serves as a source of pro¬tein and combines well with rice or rotis. Here I am giving you the favourite in many North Indian homes, Arhar dal, also called Tur dal. To add to the taste as well as texture , a small piece of grated Bottle Gourd [lokki] is added, while cooking. To give it a tangy sour taste, a tsp of amchoor powder or a tbsp of tamarind paste is added to the Dal. The tempering is with jeera and hing and when the oil or ghee stops smoking, i tsp of red chilly powder is added. This gives it a truly remarkable taste.
- Soak Dal in 2 cups of water for half hour
- Cook in Pressure cooker for 10 min with salt
- In a separate pan, fry mustard seeds, Zira and curry leaves
- Add the softened dal to this mix and add grated Lauki
- Add remaining spices, mix and allow to simmer, cover and turn off flame
- Serve hot.
Kali Dal (Dal Makhani) Cooking Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- Kali Dal (Urad whole) 1 full cup
- Channa Dal ½ cup
- Rajma (chitra] ¼ cup (The chitra rajma gets cooked and softens faster, it is of a lighter pinkish shade)
- Oil 3 to 4 tbsp
- Onion 2 large chopped finely
- Garlic cloves 6 to 7 chopped finely, ginger 2″ sq piece chopped finely
- Whole garam masala mix 1 tblsp
- Tomato puree half cup
- Fresh tomatoes 2 for tempering
- Green chillies 2
- Pure ghee for tempering
- Fresh cream ½ cup
- Milk 1 glass full 200 ml
- Garam masala powder 1 tsp
- Red chilly powder ¼ tsp
- Butter 1 tsp [for garnishing]
COOKING METHOD
This preparation is very elaborate in making. It is usually made for special occasions and family and friends’ get-togethers.
- Soak the Rajma in luke warm water for 4 to 5 h or over-night
- Mix kali dal and chana dal and soak for half an hour
- Keep a large cooker on the fire. Put oil and the whole garam masalas
- Next come the chopped onions, as it changes colour, add the garlic- ginger paste and mix well
- Drain out the dais and the rajma and put in the cooker with the onions and mix well
- Put the powdered garam masala, red chilly powder and salt and mix
- As soon as the mixture starts to stick to the base of the cooker add enough water to cover the contents with a little extra (never fill the cooker to the top with water)
- Let the flame be full for 2 whistles, then lower flame and cook for 5 to 6 whistles
- Allow the cooker to cool then open the lid
- Mash the contents well with the back of a ladel [karchi]. If there is excess water, simmer on an open fire until the dal becomes thick and then add milk
- Add the tomato puree and slit green chillies then cook on low flame (the consistency should be thick and creamy)
- Turn off the fire, add half the amount of cream, mix and make the tempering
- Heat pure ghee on fire, add chopped fresh tomato and fry until soft, add a pinch of red chilly powder and pour over the dal
- Empty the contents into a serving bowl, spread the re¬maining cream on top and add a blob of butter in the centre. Serve hot.
Sindhi Curry Cooking Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- Besan 3 table spoons
- Curd 1 cup [sour)
- Water sufficient to mix well into a Lassi like texture
- Haldi 1 tsp
- Salt to taste
- Jeera 1 tsp
- Mustard seed 1 tsp
- Rai, small red mustard seed, 1 tsp
- Methi seeds 1 tsp
- Whole dry red chillies 3 to 4
(some for the tempering , some to put in the liquid while boiling) - Mixture of vegetables cut into medium sized pieces: 1 large potato, 2 to 3 carrots, 10 to 12 french beans, 4 to 5 small brinjal, a small piece of bottle gourd , 6 to 7 lady fingers and drum sticks cut into 3 inch pieces (any vegetable can be put, except cauliflower, cabbage and peppers)
- Tamarind paste or kokam for making the dish sour
- A small piece of Jaggery
- Oil
COOKING METHOD
- Mix besan, curd and water into a paste and keep aside
- Add oil into the cooker and put on flame
- To the hot oil, add the dry red chillies then a few curry leaves, and as soon as they begin to crackle, add all spices, except the methi seeds (to be added last) and then add the besan -curd mixture
- When it comes to boil, add the cut vegetables, except the bhindis
- Close lid give 2 whistles, when it cools, open lid, and add bhindi and the sour ingredients according to taste. Check salt and allow to boil.