Tomato Dahl Dal Or Mango Or Cucumber Or Lemon Or Spinach Recipes

TOMATO DAHL DAL (OR MANGO, OR CUCUMBER, OR LEMON, OR SPINACH)

Steps:

• Wash dahl 2x. Soak half an hour or so if you want it softer. Add 3 c water.
• Cook dahl 20-25 minutes over medium heat.
• Add diced tomatoes, green chiles, and turmeric. Cook 20 minutes.
• In a separate pan, heat oil (medium heat). Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chiles, and asafoetida. Mustard seeds will "pop" like popcorn. (I advise keeping a lid on it to avoid seeds all over your stove.).
• Add seed mixture to dahl. Add salt to taste and curry leaves. Cook for 2-3 more minutes. Serve with rice. Enjoy!
• To make mango dal, cut up 2 green mangoes. (again, available in Indian grocery stores). Use in place of tomatoes. This makes a sweet dal.
• To make cucumber dal, peel and cut up 2 cucumbers or Indian cucumbers (dosaki). Use in place of tomatoes.
• To make lemon dal, do not add a vegetable and add the juice of 2 lemons with salt and curry leaves.
• To make spinach dal, add 2 c fresh spinach (or frozen spinach) about 10 minutes before cooking is over.
• You may have to add a little water with the different types of veggies.

SPINACH AND TOMATO DAL (INDIAN LENTIL SOUP)

Steps:

• Bring lentils and 4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in salt. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook at a simmer 10 minutes. Skim off any scum that forms and continue to simmer until the lentils are tender, about 1 hour.
• Heat the oil in a separate saucepan. Cook mustard seeds and cumin seeds in hot oil until they start to splatter, 2 to 3 minutes. Add onion, garlic, and turmeric to the seeds; cook and stir until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Stir spinach, tomato, and cayenne pepper into the onion mixture; cook until the spinach wilts and the tomato is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir the cooked lentils and cilantro into the spinach mixture; bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Adjust salt and water to taste and texture preferences.