Monday, January 6, 2014

Yellow Lentils with Veggies/ Sabji diye Moong Dal

This is one of my favorite dal recipes. I usually make this every time I have guests at home. It is easy, super tasty and very healthy with all the veggies in it. The touch of coconut at the end add a sweetness which just makes it perfect!

Have it any way- thick and mushy with rice/roti or thin to enjoy it like lentil soup!



There are many types of lentils or dals used in Indian cooking. Besides red lentils or masoor dal, Yellow lentils/ Moong/ Mung Dal is also very commonly used in a Bengali household. Although this recipe is a vegetarian version, moong dal is very commonly made with fish too. This recipe is simple and easy to make. Enjoy!



Ingredients:

¾ cup yellow lentils/moong dal

½ cup carrots chopped

½ cup green beans chopped

½ cup green peas

1 tomato diced

1 dried red chili

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

pinch of turmeric powder

1½ tablespoon ginger paste

¼ cup shredded coconut

salt

sugar (according to taste)

oil for cooking




Method:

Roast the lentils in a deep sauce pan over medium heat until it turns golden brown. It will smell toasty.

Add water and boil the lentils. Keep it thick and mushy and not runny (if you want to serve with rice).  Takes about 20-30 minutes. Otherwise make it thin to enjoy like lentil soup. For soup, boil till the lentils lose their shape. You can also mash them with the back of your ladle.

In the meantime, add oil in another pan on medium heat. Add the cumin seeds, dried red chili, ginger paste, turmeric and fry the spices. Once the raw smell of ginger is gone, add the vegetables except tomato and coconut. Add salt.

After the vegetables are fried along with the spices, add the tomato and stir. Cook for another few minutes till the tomato is soft and mixed with the spices.

Add the boiled lentils. Mix thoroughly. Simmer for a few more minutes on medium heat for the spices to incorporate nicely with the lentils.

Add the coconut. Taste for salt. The coconut will add some sweetness to the lentils but you can add some sugar (I do!) to have a nice balance of salty and sweetness in the final taste.

Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or roti or enjoy just as it is like a soup!


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