Basic Toovar Dal Or Arhar Dal Recipes

Steps:

• Place dal in a bowl; cover with water. If using oily dal, rub with hands to remove oil; if plain, just wash it. Pour out water. Repeat 5 or 6 times, or until water is mostly clear. Cover with water one more time; let soak 30 minutes.
• Drain dal and transfer to a medium saucepan; add 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, skimming foam. Stir in turmeric. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Mash with a potato masher. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste), then about 1 cup water, until desired consistency is reached. Cook over medium-low heat 5 minutes more.
• Heat oil in a very small pan over medium-high; add asafetida. A few seconds later, add mustard seeds. As soon as they pop -- a matter of seconds -- add both chiles and garlic. Stir until garlic turns light brown on both sides. Add curry leaves (take care, as mixture will splatter) and stir once, then immediately tip contents of pan over dal. Cover to entrap aromas. Stir before serving. Toovar dal can be stored in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently before serving.

Steps:

• Pick over the peas and wash them well. Drain. Soak the peas overnight in water to cover by 5 inches. Drain, discard soaking liquid.
• PRESSURE COOKER METHOD:.
• Put the drained peas in a pressure cooker and cover with water by 1/2 inch. Add a few drops of cooking oil to prevent foaming. Put the lid on and bring up to pressure. Cook for 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to drop by itself.
• NON-PRESSURE COOK METHOD:.
• Put the drained peas in a medium pan along with water to cover them by 2 inches and bring it to a boil. Cover partially, turn the heat down to low, and simmer gently until the beans are tender, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours.

Steps:

• Pick over the hulled and split pigeon peas from Recipe #483388 #483388. Wash in several changes of water, and drain.
• Put the split peas and 4 cups of water in a heavy-bottomed pan and bring to a boil. Watch carefully to prevent the contents of the pot from boiling over. Skim off the froth that rises to the top.
• Add the turmeric and stir once. Cover partially, turn the heat down to low, and cook very gently for 1 hour, or until the beans are tender. (Older beans may take up to 1 1/2 hours.
• Add the salt and stir to mix.