My today’s recipe is cholar dal – a popular Bengali side dish prepared from chana dal. the dal is cooked to a thick consistency and is sweetish. It is very tasty and aromatic and made on occasions.
Cooking time – 45 mins Serve – 4
Ingredients –
1.Chana dal – 2 cups.
2.Whole red chilly – 2
3.Onion – 1 (chopped)
4.Cumin seeds – 1 tsp.
5.Ginger paste – 1/2 tsp.
6.Garlic paste – 1/2 tsp.
7.Bay leaves – 2
8.Tomato – 1 (chopped)
9.Red chilly pwd – 1/2 tsp.
10.Cumin pwd – 1/2 tsp.
11.Turmeric pwd – 1/2 tsp.
12.Garam masala pwd – 1 tsp.
13.Sugar – 1 tsp.
14.Salt to taste.
15.Oil – 3 tbsp.
16.Ghee – 1 tbsp.
17.A pinch of hing (asafoetida) 18.Green chilly – 4 (sliced)
Method –
1.Wash the dal and boil in water with 1 tsp. of salt and turmeric until tender.(use pressure cooker)
2.In a small bowl mix ginger-garlic paste. chilly pwd, cumin pwd with 1/4 cup of water. Keep the masala mix aside.
3.Heat oil in a pan, when the oil is hot add red chilly and cumin seeds. When it splutters, add hing and onion and fry till light brown. Add bay leaves, tomato and saute for 2mins. Add the masala mix and saute until the raw smell of the masalas goes off.
4.Add boiled dal, sugar and salt, mix well and let It bring to boil. Add green chilly and simmer for few minutes with stirring constantly. If needed add warm water.
5.Take out the pan from heat, add ghee and garam masala pwd. Mix well and cover the pan and give 5 mins. standing time.
Chana dal is ready. Garnish with lemon slices and serve with rice/roti/paratha
