Yellow Split Pea Dal Recipes

YELLOW SPLIT PEA DHAL

Steps:

• Rince split pea until water runs clear.
• Boil 1 litre of water, add cinnamon stick, turmeric, chilli pieces and 2 slices of ginger. Simmer for 30-45 minutes (check packaging of split pea for recommended cooking lengths.)
• Heat oil in frying pan and add cumin seed. Fry for 30 seconds and add onion, chilli (add aditional chilli here if required), ginger. Fry until onion is soft. Add garlic, coriander, garam masala and salt and fry for further two minutes. Add tomato plus 100ml water and allow to cook for 20-30 minutes.
• Add spice mix to split pea and stir though. Squeeze in lemon juice and serve topped with coriander leaf.
• Eat as a main with roti or as a side.

YELLOW SPLIT PEA DAL

Steps:

• Place split peas in a saucepan with 5 cups of water.
• Cover and bring to boil.
• Lower heat and simmer very slowly, partially covered until soft (2-2/12 hours) Melt butter in large skillet.
• Add crushed garlic, cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, and cinnamon.
• Cook, stirring, over medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Add cooked peas and stir until everything is well mixed.
• Keep stirring and cooking as you gradually add an additional 1/2 cup water.
• You want a creamy consistency but not soup.
• Add salt, black and red peppers.
• Cook and stir another 5 minutes over low heat.
• Serve hot.

TOOR DAL (SPLIT YELLOW PIGEON PEAS)

Steps:

• Prepare the dal: Soak the pigeon peas in a large bowl of warm water for about 1 hour. (They will have swelled a little.) Thoroughly rinse the soaked pigeon peas with fresh water, then tip the drained pigeon peas into a pot.
• Add tomatoes, turmeric, salt and 5 cups water, and bring to a boil over high. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until very tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Use an immersion blender to purée some of the dal, leaving some intact and getting some very smooth, or whisk vigorously to break up some of the soft dal. Stir in the peanuts and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the dal is very tender, about 30 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt. If the dal has become too thick for your liking, stir in a splash of water.
• Prepare the tempering: In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the ghee. When hot, carefully add all of the tempering ingredients (the mustard seeds will sputter!) and swirl the pan until you can smell all the toasted spices, about 30 seconds. Pour everything over the hot dal.

EASY CURRIED YELLOW DAL (YELLOW SPLIT PEAS)

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and salt. Saute until soft, about five minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add remaining spices and stir. Saute for about 1 minute, cooking spices. If spices start to stick to pan, add some water - 1/4 cup should do. Add peas and stir to coat with butter, onion, and spice mixture. Add broth, 1/2 cup water and bring to boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer.
• Simmer for 40-50 minutes or until peas are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. (Check peas periodically - you may need to add more water during cooking if peas are absorbing the liquid too quickly). Garnish with chopped cilantro/coriander leaves before serving.
• Options: Serve with hot basmati or brown rice for a filling one-dish meal. Or, double the broth/water to make a curried pea soup. To turn this into a spicy curry, add some finely chopped jalapeno, serrano, or chile pepper at the same time as the garlic.
• Update 1/6/2010: Some people have reported issues with the peas taking longer to soften. I have never had an issue but try cooking the onions without salt and waiting until the last 10 minutes or so of cooking time to add the salt. I have heard salt interfers with lentils softening perhaps it is the same for split peas. Curry powder - I usually use a mild Indian yellow variety, the all-purpose kind found in most US supermarkets. But I have also made this with a hot Madras and it was also delicious (but spicy!).

EASY MOONG DAL (MASHED YELLOW SPLIT PEAS)

Steps:

• In large pan boil the split peas in plenty of water for about 30 minutes until tender. If the water starts evaporating too quickly, add more as needed. By the end of the cooking time, the split peas should have the dry consistency of mashed potatoes, the majority of the lentils will have lost their shape and most of the water will have evaporated.
• Remove pot from range, drain the water from the lentils and stir in salt. Cover and set aside.
• Chop onion, and combine with the jalapeno, turmeric and curry powder.
• Heat the oil or ghee over medium heat in a heavy saute pan with lid. When oil is hot, carefully add the black mustard seeds. Stand back as they may pop up into your face. Cover the pan with the lid and continue cooking the mustard seeds until the popping quiets down.
• Now add the onion mixture to the pan and saute until the onion is translucent and golden. Finally, stir in the cooked split peas. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Garnish each serving with minced cilantro leaves.
• Serve with basmati rice.