Spice Kissed Masoor Dal Split Red Lentils Recipes

EASY MASOOR DAL

Steps:

• Pick and rinse the pink lentils (dhuli masoor dal) well.
• Pressure cook the pink lentils in a 2-litre pressure cooker with 1.5 to 1.75 cups water, till they become soft and mushy. Pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles on medium flame.
• When the lentils are cooked, beat with a wooden spoon or wired whisk lightly.
• Keep the cooked pink lentils aside. If lentils are not cooked, then add some more water and pressure cook for a few whistles more.
• In another pan or pot, heat oil. Fry the cumin seeds till golden.
• Then add onions and fry till they are light golden.
• Add chopped ginger and garlic. Stir and fry for 10 to 15 seconds or till the raw aroma of ginger and garlic goes away.
• Add green chilies and red chilies. Stir.
• Add all the dry spice powders one by one including asafoetida (hing) and stir.
• Add the tomatoes and fry till the oil separates and the tomatoes become soft.
• Add the cooked pink lentils. Pour 1 to 1.5 cups water. You can adjust the quantity of water as required.
• Add salt and stir. Simmer for 6 to 7 minutes more on a low or medium flame till you get the desired consistency.
• This dal is neither thick nor thin and has a medium consistency.
• Lastly add kasuri methi and simmer for 1 minute.
• Towards the end add lemon juice and 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves and stir. Switch off the flame.
• You can also garnish the dal with coriander leaves if you want while serving. Serve this masoor dal hot with steamed basmati rice or roti or chappati.

SPICE KISSED MASOOR DAL (SPLIT RED LENTILS)

Steps:

• In a medium sized pot over medium flame, add 1 tbsp peanut oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp ginger powder, and 1 tsp garam masala powder. Stir spices and oil together, allow to fry slightly (when you smell the spices releasing their fragrance you're done).
• Add the dal and water to cover (by an inch or so), turn the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Skim off foam that forms on top and discard. Cover and turn the heat to low. Allow to simmer until dal begins to fall apart and is cooked through. While cooking, monitor the water level. If it is too low, the dal will burn to the bottom of the pan, so add more water. If the water level is too high, uncover the pan so some will evaporate. When done, the dal should be a porridge consistency--not watery, but not burning to the bottom of the pot.
• Heat frozen green peas (I usually defrost in the microwave with a few tablespoons of water), drain excess water, and add to cooked dal.
• Taste dal and adjust salt. Since you have not salted the pan yet, you may need to add a few teaspoons to tablespoons of salt. Add slowly--you can always add more but it is hard to get rid of too much.
• Make the tadka: In a frying pan over medium heat add the butter, 1 tsp tumeric powder, 2 tsp garam masala powder, and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes. Fry lightly until spices release their fragrance. Add the onion and fry for another few minutes to the softness you desire. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for another 2 minutes. Add tadka mixture to dal mixture and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
• Serve Spice Kissed Masoor Dal over rice with yogurt, raita, red raw onions, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes or other fresh vegetables of your liking.
• To read about dal, visit the wikipedia page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dal.
• To read about tadka, visit the wikipedia page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaunk.

MASOOR DAL (RED LENTILS)

Steps:

• wash dal in a few changes of water, until the water runs clear.
• soak in cold water for about half hour
• drain.
• place in pot with water, salt, red chilli powder and cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until dal is very tender.
• when dal is tender it should resemble a creamy soup (you might have to add more water if the its not creamy and cook for furtur 10 to 20 minutes).
• For the temper - heat oil in a frying pan add the garlic and fry until light brown , at this point add cumin and fry for few seconds and pour over the lentil and stir and cook for few minutes.
• cover and take off heat.
• serve hot.
• garnish with coriander and green chillies.
• Sprinkle a little garam masala on top.
• serve with boiled rice or chapatis.

RED SPLIT LENTILS (MASOOR DAL)

Steps:

• Rinse rice in several changes of water and transfer to a container. Cover with water and let soak at room temperature, 15 minutes to 1 hour. Drain.
• Combine 3 cups water with red lentils in a large pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, skimming any scum that collects on the surface. Stir in onion, cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, cayenne, and turmeric. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Stir broccoli, tomatoes, peas, and salt into the pot. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes more.
• Combine drained rice with remaining 1 1/2 cup water in another pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to very low and simmer, covered with a tight-fitting lid, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, ginger, and garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour over lentils; stir to distribute. Cook lentils until flavors combine, about 5 minutes. Serve lentils with rice.

MASOOR DAL (SPICED RED LENTILS)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, heat oil, and sauté onion until softened. Add sweet potato, and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add minced ginger and garlic; stir, and reduce heat to low.
• Finely dice chili, keeping seeds if you wish to add more heat. Add chili, lentils, coriander, cumin, turmeric and ground ginger to pan. Stir until lentils are well coated with oil. Add tomatoes and 4 cups water. Raise heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat until mixture is at a fast simmer. Cook uncovered until lentils and potatoes are soft, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt, and continue to simmer until mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes. Whisk dal to amalgamate lentils and sweet potatoes. If dal is too soupy, increase heat and cook for a little longer.
• To serve, place dal in a serving bowl and sprinkle with chopped cilantro. If desired, shave thin strips of fresh coconut on top. Serve hot.

SPICED UP RED LENTILS(MASOOR DAL)

Steps:

• Mix the spices in a small bowl and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat until it shimmers. Add the spices and saute until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Stir in onion and cook till softened, 5-7 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger and cook till fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Now stir in the water and lentils. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the lentils are tender and resemble a coarse puree, 20-25 minutes. (At this point, you may refrigerate the lentils in an airtight container up to 2 days. Reheat over medium low heat before continuing).
• Stir in tomatoes, cilantro, and butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. Enjoy!
• Variation:.
• Substitute 1 cup coconut milk for 1 cup of the water and omit butter. Using coconut milk makes for a lush, creamy texture and rich flavor. Don't use light coconut milk. You can freeze any leftover coconut milk.