Ingredients :
1 cup of toor dal
2 medium tomatoes(do not cut them)
5 green chillis slit lengthwise
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
A pinch of turmeric powder
2 cloves of garlic roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon urad dal
4 dry red chillis
A few curry leaves
chilli powder to taste
Salt to taste
A pinch of Asafoetida
1 teaspoon oil
Few sprigs of cilantro
Directions :
1. Wash toor dal and keep aside.
2. In a pressure cooker, add the toor dal, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, green chillis, garlic cloves and turmeric powder. Place the 2 tomatoes on top. Add water till it covers half of the tomato.
3. Cook on high heat till you get one whistle. Then lower the heat to medium and cook for 20mins ( or 3 more whistles). Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.
4. After the pressure cooker cools down, we have to season the dal.
5. Heat a pan on medium and add oil. Once the oil is hot, add urad dal, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, mustard seeds, dry red chillis and curry leaves.
6. Once they are fried, add asafoetida. Now remove pressure cooker cap and with the help of a spoon remove the tomatoes and add it to the seasoning. Increase the heat and cook the tomatoes till water evaporates.
7. Add the cooked dal to the seasoning. Mix well and if required add some water to get the right consistency.
8. Add salt and red chilli powder. Bring dal to boil and add some finely chopped cilantro.
9. Transfer dal to serving bowl and server plain rice or roti.
Ingredients :
2 nos. Beerakaya or ridge gourd
1 1/2 cup moong dal
7 green chillis, slit lengthwise
1 medium onion finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon oil
A few curry leaves
A pinch of turmeric powder
Salt according to taste
Directions :
1. Heat a pan on medium heat and dry roast the moong dal. Keep stirring the moong dal continuously and do not increase the heat. Fry till you get nice aroma from moong dal and also it gets a nice color. Transfer to a bowl and add water. Let it soak for 1hr.
2. Peel the skin of ridge gourd, wash and cut it into medium chunks.
3. Heat a pan on medium high and add oil. Once the oil is hot add cumin seeds. Fry for 30secs and add curry leaves, green chillis and onions. Fry till onions are nicely caramelized.
4. Add the ridge gourd pieces. Add little salt and mix well. Cover and cook for 5- 8 mins.
5. Now, add the moong dal without water. Add turmeric and mix well. Cover and cook till moong dal is cooked.
6. Keep stirring time to time and add water if required.
7. Checked for salt and add more of required. Serve with hot rice.
Note : Before cutting the ridge gourd, eat a little piece of it and check for bitterness. If the ridge gourd is bitter then do not use it.
You can add or reduce the amount of green chillis used.
