What A Dhal Recipes

Steps:

• Wash lentils and pick out all the brown bits (as otherwise this will color the dahl a brown color).
• Wash; place in a medium saucepan and cover with water 3-4 inches above lentils. Simmer for 45 minutes (lentils should be very soft when cooked), skimming the foam off the top of the water occasionally. Top up with extra water, if necessary.
• Strain lentils, retaining the liquid. Blend lentils with some of the liquid in blender until smooth. Add more water if necessary--blend should be like a thick paste. Put to one side.
• Place oil in medium saucepan. Add the mustard seeds and cook stirring until the seeds start to pop. Immediately add the onions and garlic. Cook, stirring until onions are soft. Add all the spices; stir and cook for another minute or two. Add the pureed lentils and stir well until fully mixed.
• This freezes extremely well. Serve with curry and rice as an accompaniment.

Steps:

• Cook the lentils by boiling or pressure cooking until lentils are soft. (Pressure cooking is faster.)
• In a skillet heat the oil and add mustard seeds. When mustard seeds begin to flutter, add onions, ginger, jalapeno peppers, and garlic. Saute until the onions and garlic are golden brown. Add coriander and cumin. Add chopped tomatoes. Saute the mixture well until tomatoes are well cooked.
• Add water. Boil 6 minutes. Add cooked lentils, stirring well. Add salt to taste, stirring well. Add finely chopped cilantro and remove from heat. Serve hot.

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat the ghee and stir-fry the onions just until wilted, do not brown. Add the garlic, jalapeno, cumin, lentils, ginger, curry powder, salt, pepper, sugar and bay leaf. Saute for 1 to 2 minutes, until the herbs and spices bloom (aromatic). Add the tomatoes and deglaze with the vinegar. Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer and cook until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning with cumin, salt, pepper and sugar.
• In a large saute pan, combine the black peppercorns, cloves, cardamom seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks, and dried red chiles. Over medium heat, cook just until slightly toasted, stirring constantly. Turn off heat and stir in the grated nutmeg.
• Transfer to a food processor and grind to a fine powder. Pass through a fine strainer. Allow to cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight jar. Use as needed.

Steps:

• Add split peas to 6 cups boiling water, salt and saffron powder. Boil for 1/2 hour, or until soft. Using an immersion blender, puree peas. In a saucepan add oil, garlic, and cumin and fry until it is dark brown. Then pour oil in Dhal. Let sit for a few minutes.

Steps:

• Rinse dhal and lentils in some lukewarm water. Soak overnight if you have the time otherwise not necessary. Pour in to large saucepan cover with water, 1 tsp each of the salt and tumeric. Boil like you would do for beans until soft and mushy.
• In a separate saucepan, saute onions, cinnamon stick and cumin seeds in oil till a pale gold colour .
• Add meat and the spices. Stir a few times without adding water.
• Gently cooking the spices, by adding water you don't give the spices a chance to cook, and then you will have a tasteless curry remember this with all Indian food.
• When it starts sticking to the pot add the tomotoe and about half a cup of water.
• Simmer slowly till well blended and the water has dried up.
• Liquidise the dhals and add to pot and some water to the consistency you would like the dhal about a cup of water should be enough. Bring to boil and then simmer slowly till dhal is well blended in, about half an hour. Adding water if becoming to thick.
• When done, make your tempering, heat your ghee in a pan add onion, cumin and mustard seeds and garlic cloves,and fry till nice golden brown. Add to pot of dhal and close lid tightly.
• Just before serving add your chopped cilantro and your gharam malasa. (In Indian cooking gharam masala is always added just before serving as it is a pepping up spice. Stir and serve with white rice/roti etc.