Yellow Lentil Dal Recipes

MOONG DAL: VEGETARIAN INDIAN YELLOW LENTIL DHAL

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large soup or stock pan, combine mung dal or yellow lentils, vegetable broth, turmeric, cayenne, and salt. Bring to a slow simmer.
• Cover partially with a lid and allow to cook for at least 20 minutes, and up to 30 to 40 minutes if you prefer a smoother dal. You can add a bit more liquid if needed.
• In a separate skillet, saute onion, cumin seeds, and clove in olive oil for just a few minutes over medium heat, until onions are soft.
• Add onions and spices to mung dal or lentils and allow to simmer for a few more minutes, stirring well to combine. Sprinkle with a dash of black pepper and add extra salt to taste, if needed. Serve plain, as soup, or over rice. Dal tends to thicken up a bit as it cools, so you may want to add a bit more water if you are planning on having leftovers. However, personal preference also plays a role in how thin or how thick you prefer your dal to be. It's always easy to add more liquid.

EVERYDAY YELLOW DAL

Steps:

• To make the dal, in a medium heavy saucepan, cover the dal with water. Swish the lentils around with your hand, then drain the water through a fine-mesh sieve. Return any dal from the sieve to the saucepan and repeat, washing, agitating, and draining, until the water runs absolutely clear. It will probably take 7 to 10 changes of water. Pour the 3 cups (710 ml) of water into the pot to cover the lentils. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, skim any scum that rises to the surface, then lower the heat to maintain a simmer. Add the turmeric and cook until the dal is quite creamy, 45 to 60 minutes. Stir the dal regularly as it simmers or it can catch at the bottom of the pan and burn. If the dal starts to look dry before the lentils are cooked, add hot water (from the tap is fine). Season well with salt.
• About 20 minutes before the dal is done, make the tarka. Melt the ghee over low heat. Fry the cumin seeds for maybe 1 minute, until sizzling and fragrant. Add the onion and chile and cook, stirring, until the onion is very soft and translucent, 15 minutes. When the dal is ready, tip the tarka over the dal, stir to partially combine, then sprinkle the cilantro on top. Serve right away with lime wedges and naan or over rice.
• For the Tomato Tarka Variation:
• Melt 3 tablespoons ghee over low heat, then add 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds. Fry for 1 minute. Add 1 minced onion and 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often. Scrape in 1 teaspoon grated ginger and cook to take away some of its rawness, about 1 minute. Stir in 2 small tomatoes that have been diced, 1 or 2 green chiles split lengthwise, and 2 curry leaves (optional). Fry until the tomato starts to break up, 5 to 7 minutes more. Stir most of the mixture into the cooked dal and let simmer for 5 minutes. Check for seasoning, then tip the remaining tarka over the dal. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

YELLOW LENTIL DAL

Steps:

• In a saucepan add lentils and chicken stock, ginger and turmeric.
• Bring to boil cover partially and cook for 20 minutes on medium heat until lentils are tender.
• Puree 1 c of lentils in a blender, add back to pan and cook 15 minutes more.
• In a skillet heat oil.
• Add mustard seed and shake pan until they start to pop, 20 seconds.
• Add the onion and cook until softened, 5- minutes.
• Add serrano chile, and garlic, cook 1 minute.
• Add cumin and bay leaves, and tomato, cook minutes more.
• Stir this mixture into the lentils, add lemon juice and salt to taste, simmer for 5 minutes.
• Serve over basmati rice.

CHANA DAL (YELLOW LENTILS) WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Wash lentils and allow to soak in water at least an hour before use (I usually let mine soak overnight).
• Drain the lentils, place in a large pot with enough water to cover the lentils, bring to a boil and let simmer for 20-30 minutes until the lentils have softened (you may use additional water to do this).
• Cook uncovered to let the cooking liquid evaporate - but be careful not to overcook such that they become mushy.
• Heat oil, add bay leaves and cinnamon, and then fry mustard seeds till they sputter, then add onion, ginger, garlic and chili and fry a further 5 minutes.
• Add spinach and cook for 10 minutes or until spinach is dry and liquid has been absorbed.
• Stir in the remaining spices and salt and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Finally add the lentils, stir and cook a further 5 minutes.