| Cholar Dal |
This is a Bengali version of Chana Dal which includes coconut, nuts and raisins.
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
| • Chana dal | 1 cup | |
| • Water | 2 cups | |
| • Cinnamon | 1 stick | |
| • Bay leaf | 1 | |
| Tarka: | ||
| • Oil, canola | 1 Tbsp | |
| • Cumin seed | 1/2 tsp | |
| • Asafetida (hing) | pinch or 1/8 tsp | |
| • Cloves | 4 | |
| • Coconut, dried | 1/4 cup | |
| • Water | 1 cup | |
| • Cardamom seeds | 1/4 tsp crushed or 4 green pods |
|
| • Ginger, grated | 1 tsp or 1 Dorot cube |
|
| • Turmeric | 1/2 tsp | |
| • Salt | 3/4 tsp | |
| • Sugar | 1½ tsp | |
| • Chili, red dried | 1 | |
| • Raisins | 1 Tbsp | |
| • Cashews | 1 Tbsp | |
| Reverse Columns | ||
Directions:
- Wash the dal. Rinse 3 or 4 times until the water runs off clear. Using a strainer can help with the draining.
- Soak in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes. When done, discard the soaking water.
- Put the soaked dal, cinnamon stick, bay leaf and 2 cups of fresh water in a pressure cooker. Heat until the pressure weight begins to dance. Lower the heat (3) and let it cook for 8 minutes. Then release the pressure (quick release method).
- While the dal is cooking, make the tarka. In a medium pan (3 qt), heat 1 Tbsp of oil, when hot, add in the cumin seeds and let them crack. Add in hing and cloves.
- Add in the coconut and sauté on a low heat until lightly browned.
- Add in 1 cup of water, remaining spices, raisins and cashews. Bring to a simmer.
- When the pressure cooker is done, pour the cooked chana dal and its water over the tarka mixture.
- Simmer over a medium-low heat (3) for about 5 minutes until everything comes together.
Notes:
Serve over brown basmati rice and with another vegetable curry. Meal below uses Bhindi Masala (okra).
To reduce preparation time, a pressure cooker is used with the quick release method. This only takes 8 minutes. Otherwise, the stovetop boiling method will take about 40 minutes.
If whole chili is not available, you can add 1/4 tsp chili powder to the water mix at the start. Also, a fresh green Serrano chili could be substituted for the dried red one. Dried coconut can be grated, shredded or chips as available.
Post a Review