Dal Fry

                 

                    Dal or Lentil curry is a common everyday household food in India. It tastes best with Jeera (Cumin) Rice. After a tired long day, this is the food that gives you warmth, and relaxes you.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Toor Dal (Split Pigeon Pea)
• 1 finely chopped Onion
• 2 finely chopped Tomatoes
• 2 chopped Serrano Peppers (Green Chilies)
• 1 tbsp Red Chilli-Garlic paste
• 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 4-5 Curry Leaves (Sweet Neem Leaves)
• 2 tbsp Red Chili Powder
• 1 tbsp Turmeric Powder
• 1 tbsp Garam Masala (Optional)
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
• A pinch of Asafoetida
• Finely Chopped Cilantro for Garnish
• 2 tbsp Oil

Instructions:

• Wash the Toor dal properly, and boil it. I prefer to use pressure cooker and cook for 3-4 whistles or till the dal is cooked properly.
• Heat some oil in the pan.
• Once the oil is heated, add asafoetida and cumin seeds
• As soon as the cumin seeds start to crackle, add the curry leaves, chili-garlic paste and the serrano peppers
• Saute them for a minute and then add onions
• Add little salt and saute the onions till they turn pinkish
• Now add the tomatoes
• Then add salt, chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam masala and mix it well 
• Let it cook for a minute and then add the boiled Dal to it and mix it
• Add lemon juice and let it cook for 2 more minutes.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with either plain Rice or Jeera (Cumin) Rice