Dal Makhani

Its been a long time since I blogged. My boys keep me on my toes all day long, so blogging becomes a bit difficult. I decided to start with Dal Makhani, an all time favourite with everyone. I found the perfect recipe on Malabar Spices . Only difference is that I did not use canned tomatoes, only fresh ones. The end result was just great. My entire family loved it.

Ingredients:

To pressure cook:

Split Black Gram (Urad dal): 1 cup

Bengal Gram (Channa dal): 2tbsp

Red Kidney Beans (Rajma): 1/4th cup

Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 tbsp

Ghee: 1 tsp

For the seasoning:

Green Chillies: 3

Garlic: 1 1/2 tbsp chopped

Onion: 1 1/2 cup chopped

Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 tbsp

Tomatoes: 5 medium

Tomato Paste: 2 tbsp

Red Chilli Powder: 1 tbsp

Garam Masala Powder: 2tsp

Kasuri Methi Powder: 1 tsp

Salt: to taste

Oil: 2-3 tsp

Butter: 2-3 tsp

For garnishing:

Butter: 2tbsp

Fresh Cream: 1/2 cup

Corriander leaves: a handful

Method:

1. Soak the black gram dal, bengal dal and red kidney beans overnight. in lots of water.
2. Rinse the dal properly and pressure cook with ghee and the ginger garlic paste. Cook till the dal is mushy.
3. Heat oil and butter in a pan. Fry the onion, garlic and green chillies, till the onion is translucent. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute a bit more.
4. Then add the tomatoes and salt and saute till the tomatoes are cooked. To this, add tomato paste, red chilli powder and garam masala and cook.
5. Next add the cooked dal, some salt and water and simmer constantly over a low flame for around 20 minutes. 
6. When the dal seems cooked, add the kasuri methi (it should be crushed in the palms to release the flavours better)
7. Garnish with butter, cream and corriander leaves.

My favourite Dal

Normally when we make dal, we first pressure cook the dal and then temper it. When I get bored of doing that, I make this dal, where I fry everything first and then pressure cook with the dal. It is yummy, looks good, and smells amazing. This can be made with Masoor Dal as well as Tur Dal. I prefer Tur Dal. It is very simple. Ingredients:

Tur Dal

Onion

Tomato

Garlic

Chilly

Cumin Seeds

Coriander powder

Cumin powder

Turmeric powder

Red chilly powder

Salt

Oil or Ghee

Method:

1. Wash the Dal and keep aside.

2. Heat oil or ghee in the pressure cooker.

3. When it is hot, add cumin seeds.

4. When the cumin seeds splutter, add the slit green chillies, garlic and onion. Add them one by one frying each a bit.

5. Add the tomato. Fry well.

6. Add the ground spices and salt.

7. Fry for sometime sprinkling water.

8. Add the dal and mix well.

9. Then add water as per the required amount, and pressure cook it.