While growing up, dal, or lentils, was a staple part of a meal. Tuvar dal, moong daal, chana dal, it didn’t matter. There were so many different recipes, and all were so nutritious and delicious. When you were sick, you had a simple dal soup, and on occasions, you had some more complex recipes. This recipe is a staple in our home. It’s flavorful and can be just had with rice. On some days, the perfect accompaniment to dal and rice is fried fish, stuffed with red masala…..but more on that fried fish later!

Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup tuvar/tur dal rinsed
• 3/4 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 large tomato, chopped into small pieces
• 1 medium onion, diced fine
• 1 tsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• .5 tsp red chili powder
• .5 tsp garam masala powder
• .5 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
• Salt, to taste
• Optional: 1 tsp lime juice

Method:

• In a pressure cooker, or Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot (both on sear setting) heat oil
• When oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and mustard seeds, they will splutter
• Add in the onion, ginger and garlic and fry for 2 minutes until onions are soft and translucent
• Add in the tomato and fry for 2 minutes
• Add in the dry powders and stir for another minute
• Add in the dal and 2.5 cups of water along with the salt
• Put the pressure cooker lid on (for Foodi or Instant Pot, turn setting to Pressure cook and put timer to 16 minutes)
• Pressure cook for 16 minutes
• When done, wait until the lid can be safely removed. You can change the consistency of the daal by adding more water
• Stir in the cilantro leaves (and lime juice, if using) and serve with rice or chapatis