The Indian Dal..

There are many types of Dal we use in India...The recipe here can be used on almost any of following specified dals..to get a whole new and different taste to ur lunch or dinner.. Dals are eaten as a main course all over India. It is consumed either with Rotis (Hindi/Tamil) / Bread (English) made out of wheat flour or Chaval(Hindi) /Sadam(Tamil)/ Cooked Rice (English). Dals are the main source of Proteins for any vegetarians...and also a very good substitute for replacing protein that u get from animal source..In India it is very essential to eat at least lunch or dinner having dal served in it ...in one form or other.

TYPES OF Dal (Hindi)/ Parruppu (Tamil)/ Pulses (English):

We generally use dals broken in half and dehusked...but it also can be used as whole and with husk. If u want to use a whole seeds of these lentils the preparation procedure would be slightly different...and would take more time to prepare than the dals broken in half and polished. These dals can be bought in any Indian or any middle eastern stores by these names.
If ur a new cook i would suggest to try the daals broken in half first.. before proceeding to preparing the whole daals..

1. Toor Dal
2. Chana Dal
3. Urad Dal
4. Masoor Dal
5. Moong Dal

COOKING PROCEDURE

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup of any of the above mentioned dals.
2. 2 pods of lehsun(Hindi)/Poondu(Tamil)/Garlic(English).
3. 1 small or medium size Tamatar/Thakkali/Tomato.
4. small piece of Adrak/Ingi/Ginger.
5. 1 small Pyaz/Vengayam/Onion.
6. 1 tablespoon of cut kothmir or dhania patta/Kothamalli/ coriander or cilantro leaves.
7. 1 green chilli. ( if u like it hotttt...)
8. pressure cooker.
9. Knife.
10. measuring cup.

List of Spices needed (For more infomation "Click me")

1. 1 teaspoon cumins.
2. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric.
3. 2 tablespoon oil (use corn oil).
4. Salt .

for added taste u can use (try ur dal without these ingredients and for party occasions we add these two masalas so spice it up and give it a different taste). for day to day cooking of dals these things are avoided as lot of hot n spicy things are said to be avoided in daily use..U can add it once in a while... :-)

1. 1 teaspoon garam masala.
2. 1 tablespoon amchur powder.
3. 2 bay leafs.
4. 1/2 cup Tomato sauce or 1 tablespoon tomato paste. ( i buy it from Walmart either hunt's or great value. buy the one without salt).

Method :

Cut all onion, tomato into medium small size cubes store them separately.. cut ginger, garlic, green chilli into very fine small pices using knife or u can also crush the ginger and garlic into paste. Also cut the coriander or cilantro.

1. Put the bottom part of the pressure cooker on a medium flame for about 1 min till it becomes slightly warm.
2. Now add the 2 table spoon of oil in it.
3. Add the cumin seeds.
4. Once the cumin seeds become light brown in color add ginger, garlic , onion.
5. IF U WANT THE PARTY PREP SEE THE ADDED INstructions BELOW ELSE GOTO STEP 7.
6. cook it till the onion becomes slightly red or brown in color.
7. Now add salt according to taste. ( would suggest just add less salt in case u don't have idea then ask people to add salt by themselves while serving according to their taste...this wouldn't kill u know...but more salt will...hahha)
8. add the tomatoes and half of the cut coriander and cook it for about 2 min.
9. now add the washed dal in it and again stir it for 2min allowing it to cook.
10. Add about 5 cups of water to this dal and cover the pressure cookers lid and put the weighted stopper or weight as we call it .
11. Increase the heat to medium high and cook it till u get about four whistles from from ur pressure cooker.
12. Switch the heat off. allow the cooker to cool for about 20 mins. Release the steam by slightly lifting the stopper. Once all the steam is released u can open the pressure cooker.
13. put the remaining coriander on the top to decorate the dal .

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS:

serve it hot with rice (add few drops of ghee in the rice for nice taste) or rotis and yogurt on the side.

FOR PARTY PREPARATION:

1. add the 2 bay leafs , 1/2 teaspoon garam masala, and 2 tablespoons of amchur powder and stir .
2. now add the 1 tablespoon of tomato paste or the 1/2 cup of tomato sauce which ever u have and stir.
3. GOTO STEP 7 OF METHOD.

NOTES:

To reduce the heat in the chilies remove their seeds before cutting them.