Maharastrian Amti Dal ( with Kokum )

The ascent of monsoon marks a period of lethargy and frequent bouts of illness for most people. My household is no exception to that and I find myself reluctant to cook elaborate meals during the rains. Dal-chawal-bhaji, parata-dalma, roti-subzi or even khichdi with alu bharta (mashed potato) are regulars on the monsoon menu. While I do prepare a variety of dals, I am always looking for new versions that would do away with the need to cook another curry. Just a dash of pickle and maybe a papad, and I am good to go.

This Maharashtrian Amti dal had been on my list for sometime now. Just that I could not lay my hands on some good quality Kokum so had been putting it off till last week. Once I found that I could purchase it off the net, I ordered it along with a cache of exotic foods like the chia seeds, quinoa and black rice. Since June is the birthday month for my blog and I am also inching close to the 1K mark, I was in a mood to indulge myself and surprise my readers with something new. Yes, my baby has turned 7 !!! Thanks to all you lovely folks out there for being an indispensable part of this most amazing journey !

The deluge of recipes like quinoa kheer, quinoa and kidney beans salad, Kung pao lotus root and chia pudding on my blog is just the beginning as I plan to give a more cosmopolitan touch to this space. More surprises are on the way, so stay tuned !

Read on for the recipe of 'Amti' -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup toor dal
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 pinch asafoetida
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp garam masala ( use Goda masala for authentic taste )
• a pinch of stone flower (pathar ke phool) (optional)
• 3-4 kokum petals ( can be substituted with a thumb sized piece of tamarind )
• 2 tsp powdred jaggery
• 3-4 tsp grated coconut
• 2 tbsp coriander leaves
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp ghee
• 1 tsp oil

Preparation - Soak the kokum in 1 cup hot water.

Cooking - Wash the toor dal and transfer to pressure cooker with 2 cups water, salt and turmeric. Close lid and cook for 2-3 whistles.

Keep aside till steam escapes. Open and give it a good stir with a heavy spoon.

Heat the oil and ghee on a pan. Add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, stone flower, curry leaves and asafoetida. Once the seeds start to splutter, add the cooked dal.

Mash the kokum slightly and add to the pan along with the water in which it was soaked. Also put in the jaggery, chili powder and garam masala. 

Finally add the coconut and the cilantro. Give it a good stir and take it off the burner.

Serve hot with white rice and papad.

Fish and Spring Onion Dal Curry ( Adapted from the Odia Mudhi Ghanta )

That I love to experiment with recipes is nothing new to you. Usually I try to do a fusion/crossover with two different cuisines but with this recipe, I have tried to bring together two different Odia dishes and create a completely new one. 'Mudhi Ghanta' or channa dal cooked with fish and ' Muga Dali -Paija Patra Tarkari' are two completely different recipes. The first one is spicy while the second one is as light as it can get.

Using the common ingredient, which is the lentil, I made a dish which is lightly spiced and can go either with rice or rotis. Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup channa dal 
• 200 gm spring onions
• 1 medium sized potato
• 2 pieces lightly fried Rohu fish 
• 2-3 dry red chillis
• 1 green chili
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 5-6 nos garlic flakes
• 2-3 pinch turmeric 
• 3-4 tsp vegetable oil
• whole spices ( 1 inch cinnamon, 2-3 cloves, 1 bay leaf )
• salt to taste

Preparation - Wash the spring onions and drain excess water. Cut into inch long pieces. Peel and cut the potato into six halves.

Lightly mash the shallow fried fish .

Wash and soak the channa dal for 3-4 hours.

Cooking - Wash and transfer the dal to a pressure cooker. Add salt, turmeric, green chili, potato, whole spices and 2 cups of water. Close the lid and cook for 2-3 whistles.

Remove from the stove and allow steam to escape. Lightly mash the dal.

Add the spring onions to the mashed dal and cook on medium flame for 4-5 mins.

Heat oil in a wok. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and broken red chillis. Crush the garlic
flakes lightly and add to the spluttering seeds. Fry for 10-20 secs.

Pour the contents of the wok over the dal and spring onions. Add the fish. Close the lid and simmer for 2 mins.

Serve hot with white rice/rotis.

Note: Adjust the consistency as per your liking. 

Maa Ki Daal ( Mother's day Special )

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!! Well, actually I would like to wish all the mothers every single day throughout the year since it is a 24 X 7 job with no pay and no leaves. But since the second Sunday of May is the designated day, hence a special post that is dedicated to all the mothers who follow by blog :) !!

Read on -

Preparation Time - 1 hour

Ingredients -

• 2/3 cup black lentils (urad dal)
• 1 medium sized onion
• 1 1/2 tsp GG paste
• 2-3 medium sized tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/3 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp Garam masala
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp Kasuri Methi
• 3 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• cilantro for garnishing

Preparation - Wash and soak the black lentils overnight.

Chop the onion into small pieces. Grind the tomato into a puree.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a pressure cooker. Add the cumin seeds an allow to splutter.

Add the chopped onions and fry till translucent.

Follow with the GG paste and fry for 2-3 mins.

Add the powdered spices and fry for 30 seconds before adding the fresh tomato puree. Cook till the oil starts to separate from the tomatoes.

Wash and drain the soaked lentils. Add them to the pressure cooker along with salt, 21/2 cups water and the Kasuri methi. Cook for 7-8 whistles. Remove from flame and allow steam to escape naturally.

Return it to the burner, this time with the lid open. Allow it to simmer for 10-12 mins( take a dal masher and lightly mash the lentils while it is still on the burner).

Finally add the cilantro just before removing from the flame.

Serve hot with roti or white rice.

Note - One can also cook the dals separately and then add to the onion tomato gravy. This method is advisable when the lentils are old or the tomatoes are too acidic/sour, both of which will increase the cooking time.

Chilkewali Moong Dal

While enough is said about the benefits of consuming whole lentils ( that includes the skin ), few of us can resist the irresistible lure of  yellow dals . As a result, whole lentils usually make a rare appearance on the plate in the form of sprouts salad or maybe a sundal . But this is one recipe that will change the way be treat whole lentils. I first discovered it thanks to a neighbour who cooks it regularly for her two year old. Since then, it has become a part of our menu.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation time - 15-20 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup green moong dal ( split ones will also do if they have the skin on )
• 1 large ripe tomato
• 1 small onion
• 1/2 tsp GG paste
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tbsp coriander leaves
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• pinch of garam masala
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tsp oil
• salt to taste

Preparation - Wash and soak the green/whole moong overnight .

Finely chop the onion and tomato.

Cooking - Take the soaked moong dal in a pressure cooker along with salt, turmeric, coriander powder and half of the coriander leaves. Add 2 1/2 cups water. Cook for 2-3 whistles. Keep aside till steam escapes.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the cumin seeds. When they stop spluttering, add the onions and fry to translucent. Then add the GG paste and fry for 2 mins more.

Add chopped tomato along with red chili powder and garam masala . Cook till tomato turns mushy. Pour the cooked lentils into the wok. Bring everything to a gentle boil. Simmer for 2 mins

Add the chopped coriander and  remove from the flame.

Serve with roti/chappati. Goes well with rice too !!

Kolotho Dalma (Coastal Odisha Special)

In Coastal Odisha, if you happen to cook any lentil with vegetables, you end up with a dish that is suffixed with a 'dalma'. So, when I decided to add some veggies to my regular horsegram dal recipe (a western odisha version and my personal favorite), I had to peddle it as 'dalma' to please my husband who is rather fond of this particular category. While there are different versions of the recipe favored by different households, I have used the recipe provided by my mother in law who prefers to ditch the 'ambula' or dried mango / tamarind in favor of an overload of country tomatoes.

It is a very healthy and delicious recipe that provides a good dose of protein and fiber in one go. A word of gentle caution though. Since it is a winter recipe that is used to keep the body warm in the chilly weather, it is best to avoid consuming the lentil frequently during the summer months. However, one can continue to drink the water that is obtained by soaking the lentils overnight as it is perceived to be a cure for kidney and gall bladder stones.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 20-25 mins

Ingredients -

• 2/3 cup kolotho/horse gram (lightly roasted & broken)
• 1/4 cup baigana/eggplant (cubed)
• 1/4 cup saru/taro (cut into roundels)
• 1/4 cup pumpkin (cubed)
• 1/4 cup green papaya (cubed)
• 1 drumstick ( cut into 2 inch pieces )
• 1 small potato (cubed)
• 2-3 big ripe tomatoes (roughly chopped)
• 1/2 tsp pancha phutana (mix of fenugreek, cumin, mustard, nigella & fennel seeds)
• 4-5 garlic flakes
• 3-4 dry red chilis
• 5-6 curry leaves
• 3 tsp rice bran oil
• 1/3 turmeric
• salt to taste

Cooking - Wash and cook the kolotho in a pressure cooker with 2 cups water, salt and turmeric. Allow for 2-3 whistles. Remove from flame and allow steam to escape.

Open the lid and add the vegetables (except tomatoes) before closing it once again. Cook for 1 whistle on high flame. Remove from flame and keep aside till steam escapes.

Heat 2 tsp oil in a pan. Add the chopped tomatoes, sprinkle a little salt and cook till they become mushy. Add the tomatoes to the contents of the pressure cooker. Put the cooker back on the flame. Adjust the consistency of the dalma by adding some hot water if required.

Heat the remaining oil in a tempering pan. Add the pancha phutana, broken red chilis and curry leaves. Allow it to splutter before pouring it over the dalma.

Serve hot with some white rice and a light stir fry.

Click here for other recipes with horse gram.

Kolotha Dal ( the Western Odisha Version )

A heart warming recipe that is usually made during the winter months, Kolotho or Horsegram dal is one of those dishes that never given their due credit. Perhaps best known for keeping the body warm and driving away the common cold, its equally beneficial properties of regulating blood sugar and reducing/preventing the incidence of kidney/gall bladder stones are hardly known to many folks.

This is the time of the year when the freshly harvested batch of the lentil hits the markets. While most of it is sold whole, sometimes tribal women (especially in Odisha) also sell the roasted & broken version of this dal in the weekly markets (also known as 'haat'). Here is the version that my mom makes and I can never resist myself from having a bowl of the hot dal when it has been freshly tempered -

Preparation Time - 20 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 1/2 cups roasted & broken horsegram
• 1 medium sized tomato
• 1 ambula (or dried mango)
• 2 dry red chili
• 4-5 fat garlic cloves
• 1/3 tsp panch phutana (else one can also use a mix of mustard & nigella seeds)
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp oil
• salt to taste

Preparation - Wash and cook the dal with 3 cups water, salt and turmeric in a pressure cooker. It takes 6-7 whistles or about 15 mins on a medium low flame. Keep aside till steam escapes.

Soak the ambula in 1 cup hot water.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add the panch phutana and the broken red chilis.

Add the crushed garlic once it gets spluttering. When the garlic starts turning brown, add the finely chopped tomato and cook till mushy.

Pour the dal into the wok. Bring it to a boil. Allow to boil for 2 mins before adding the ambula along with the water in which it had been soaked. Simmer for 5-6 mins.

Remove from flame and serve hot with rice.

Note - This dal will not get completely mushy such that when you allow it to stand for a few minutes, there is a layer of clear liquid which separates out. Once can also add more water while cooking this dal and use only the liquid portion as a soup.

Panchras Dal (Gujrati recipe)

Another one of Tarla Dalal's recipes, this is a spicy Gujrati dal preparation that is fast becoming a permanent fixture in my kitchen. Apart from being very healthy, it tastes similar to some of the spicier dalma preparations of Odisha (even my husband kept asking from whom I had got the recipe). A must try for folks who love the dalma served at temples, this one is much more spicier (and just a little tangy) than the variety that we usually cook at home. While the recipe calls for the use of onions, one can skip the onions without compromising much on taste.

I have made a few changes in the original recipe to save time and effort. Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup toor dal
• 1 cup red pumpkin
• 1/2 cup potatoes
• 1 cup raw banana
• 1/2 cup eggplant
• 1/2 cup carrots
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp corinader powder
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp oil/ghee
• salt to taste

For the masala paste

• 1 /2 tsp coriander seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 whole Kashmiri chili
• 1 green chili
• 1 inch ginger
• 1/2 tsp tamarind paste
• 1 medium sized onion
• 1 tbsp dried coconut milk powder
• 2 tsp oil

Preparation - Soak the toor dal for 1-2 hours.

Heat 2 tsp oil in a wok. Add the cumin and coriander seeds. When they start to give out a fragrance, add the broken red chili, followed by the chopped onion. Fy till onion starts to turn light brown. Remove from wok to a blender. Add the chopped ginger, green chili and tamarind. Buzz for 30 seconds to 1 minute to get a smooth paste.

Dissolve the cconut milk powder in 2-3 tbsp warm water and keep aside.

Cooking - Wash and cook the toor dal with 2 1/2 cups water, salt and turmeric for 2-3 whistles. Keep aside till steam escapes. Mash the dal with a heavy ladle.

Simultaneously, heat the oil in a wok. Add the cumin seeds . When it starts to splutter, add the chopped veggies along with all the powdered masalas. Fry for 2-3 min on medium heat. Then add 1 1/2 cup water, salt and a pinch of turmeric. Cove with lid and cook for 8-10 mins.

Once the veggies are almost done, pour the cooked dal and the masala paste into the wok along with 1 1/2 - 2 cups of water (adjust consistency as per your taste/preference). Simmer for 5-6 minutes before taking to a boil. Allow to boil for 3 mins or till everything is mixed together. Add the coconut milk and boil for 1 more minute. Remove from flame.

Serve hot with rice/rotis.

Makhana Dalma

Just as the Dalma (dal cooked with vegetables) is symbolic of fasting in Odia culture, the phool makhana (roasted padma manjee) is consumed by North Indians on fasting days. Makhana or puffed lotus seeds are rich in protein, carbohydrates, phosphorous, calcium, iron, thiamine and zinc. They have a neutral flavour and hence can be added to just about any cuisine. Hence thought of adding this crossover ingredient to our very own Dalma.

This is a regular Muga ( split moong dal) Dalma that i have prepared. Have used vegetables like cauliflower, pumpkin, sweet potato, ridge gourd, arum, brinjal and potato. The makhana is thrown in during the chunka/tadka (tempering). Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 20 mins

Ingredients - 

• 1/2 cup muga dali / split mong dal(lightly roasted)
• 2 cups diced vegetables (use any 5-6 vegetables of your choice)
• 1/2 cup phool makhana/puffed lotus seeds
• 1 dry red chili
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
• jeera lanka gunda /roasted cumin-chili powder
• salt
• ghee for tempering

Cooking - Wash the dal and put in a pressure cooker. Add sufficient water cover dal and stand about 2-3 inches above it. Wash and cut vegetable into medium sized pieces . Add the vegetables to dal. Add turmeric powder and salt, and close the lid. 

Cook on medium flame.Allow for 2 whistles. Remove from fire and keep aside for 5-6 mins.

Heat ghee in a pan. Add broken red chili, cumin and mustard seeds. Pour the spluttering mix over the cooked dal. Add chilli-cumin powder and mix. Throw in the makhana. Simmer for 1-2 mins.

Serve hot with white rice (arwa bhata) or paratha. (sprinkle some ghee over the rice/paratha for added flavour)

Andhra Style Mango Dal (Mamidikaya Pappu)

Another recipe which has been lying in the draft for very long time. This tangy and easy to do mango dal is an Andhra recipe that I got from a teammate a few years back. Perfect comfort food with hot white rice and some fries/papad. Read on -

Preparation Time - 20 mins

Ingredients -

1 cup toor dal
1 small green mango (peeled and chopped)
1 small onion ( cut into medium sized pieces)
2-3 cloves garlic (crushed lightly)
1/2 inch ginger (cut into juliennes)
1-2 green chilli
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
salt to taste

For tempering -

1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2-3 red chillis
1 sprig curry leaves
2 pinch asafoetida
1 1/2 tsp oil
coriander leaves for garnishing (optional).

Cooking - Wash and transfer the dal into a pressure cooker. Add about 2 1/4 cups water along with the remaining ingredients (except those for tempering).

Close lid and cook for 2-3 whistles. Allow steam to escape before opening lid. Mash lightly with a heavy spoon.

Heat the oil in a wok/tadka pan. Add the mustard seeds and red chillis. When it starts spluttering, add the asafoetida and curry leaves. Once the leaves wilt /turn brown, pour the mixture over the contents of the pressure cooker. Stir in.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Note - Excuse the badly clicked pics. Will provide a replacement at the earliest.

Palanga Dalma

Odiya folks love their flavorful  Kosala/Leutiya/Khada/Sajanna Sagaa. And with a whole range of greens being available in the local markets around the year, it is hardly a surprise that the humble 'Palak' or palanga sagaa as we call it does not get the respect it deserves. However, with the latter being elevated to the status of a superfood, Odiya folks are trying hard to incorporate it in their menu.

No easy task adjusting to the slight astringency of the Spinach. Unlike the mellow sagaa's that we consume, this one has a overbearing effect on the palate. No wonder most North Indian recipes include generous amounts to ghee to tone down its strong taste. But copious amounts of ghee is a strict no-no in oriya food except for the osa-baras or the fasting days. Hence was born the 'Palanga Dalma', a variant of our 'Buta Dalma'. A nice combination of spinach, vegetables and lentils, this makes for a very nutritious sidedish without the added calories.

My very first post for 2014 had to be something healthy keeping in line with my New Year resolutions. So here it is. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 20 minutes

Ingredients - 3 cups chopped palanga/spinach, 1 1/2 cup split channa dal, 1 cup cubed pumpkin, 1/2 cup cubed potatoes, 3-4  dry red chillis, 1 tsp oil, 1 tsp ghee, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/3 tsp jeera-lanka gunda (roasted cumin chilli powder), 1/5 tsp cinnamon powder/garam masala, 1/3 tsp turmeric, salt to taste.

Preparation - Wash and soak the channa dal for 2 hours.

Cooking - Take the channa dal, pumpkin cubes, potato cubes along with salt and turmeric in a pressure cooker. Cook for 1 whistle on high flame.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the chopped palanga and stir fry till soft. Transfer to the pressure cooker and mix with the cooked dal.

Heat ghee in the wok. Add broken red chilli and cumin seeds. Pour the spluttering mix over the contents of the pressure cooker.

Put the pressure cooker back on medium flame. Add the jeera-lanka gunda and cinnamon powder. Simmer for 2 mins.

Serve hot with rotis/puri/paratha.

Sending this to the event Healthy Vegetarian Side Dishes hosted by Nandoo's Kitchen and Priya's Versatile Recipes .

Dal Fry (Odisha Style)

Dal Fry is one of the most common dishes ordered at any Indian restaurant. While it tastes best with white rice, this rich aromatic lentil dish can go down well with any flavored rice or flat Indian bread. Usually it is prepared from toor (tuvar) dal but in Orissa channa dal is most commonly used in this recipe. I consider this as comfort food ( if m not making it for guests ) and i pair it with a simple white rice & fried papad. Blissfully easy and deliriously yummy.

Read on the recipe for my version:

Preparation Time - 15-20 mins (10 mins of idle/standby time)

Ingredients -
To be pressure cooked - 3 cups channa dal, 2 green chillis, 1/2 inch long ginger, salt to taste, 1/2 tsp turmeric.
For tempering - 2 medium sized onions, 1 large tomato, 3 green chillis, 1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp asafoetida, 1/4 tsp chilli powder, 1/5 tsp garam masala, 3 tbs kasuri methi, 4 tsp oil, salt to taste.

Preparation - Chop the onion and tomato into small pieces. Make small slits in the green chillis.

Cooking - Wash and soak the channa dal for 2-3 hours.

Take the soaked channa dal in a pressure cooker. Add salt, turmeric, crushed ginger and green chilli. Add 4 cups of water and close the lid. Cook for 2-3 whistles.

Allow steam to release. Open the lid and slightly mash the dal with a heavy spoon.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add mustard and cumin seeds.

Once the seeds start spluttering add one chopped onions. Fry till they start turning translucent.

Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 1-2 minutes.

Add chilli powder, asafoetida and a pinch of turmeric. Stir fry masalas for 30-40 seconds.

Add the chopped tomatoes and sprinkle salt over it. Allow to cook till tomatoes soften and oil starts leaving the sides of the wok.

Add kasuri methi and garam masala at this stage. Cook for a minute.

Pour the contents of the pressure cooker into the wok. Mix well.

Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves (or grated coconut if you want that exclusive Odisha touch). Serve hot with rice/rotis.

Habisa Dalma ( Kartika Masa Special Dalma )

Kartika Masa is perhaps the holiest month in the Hindu Calendar. Fasting on the Mondays of this month has a special significance as mentioned in the Puranas. Most people in Orissa give up non vegetarian items (and also onions and garlic in some cases) for the entire month. If not for the entire month, atleast the last five days or 'Panchuka' as it is called in oriya is strictly abided by many.

Womenfolk usually keep a fast and eat once a day on the Mondays of Kartika masa. Their meals consist of arwa anna, habisa dalma and aau khatta. This is a special kind of Dalma that is prepared without turmeric and the moong dal that is to be used is not roasted as usual. Only a few vegetables are sanctioned for this recipe. As 'Habisa' was primarily observed by widows in the earlier times, certain restrictions are imposed on the diet. But now a days quite a few married women observe the fasts and even a few rare men have started following these customs.

This changing profile of the devotees following Habisa has brought about a lot of change in the way this dalma is now prepared. Now people have also started adding turmeric and various vegetables. In fact some married women have this superstitious belief that turmeric should be added for making the dalma auspicious. Defying the very reason why widows are forced to skip adding turmeric. Personally, I don't buy any of this logic. Moreover I can't even use vegetables like Taro and yam as I have developed an allergy to these .

So, I will be sticking to the recipe that my MIL follows ( BTW i have added a pinch of turmeric as my son is a little picky ). Read on:

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 1/2 cups split moong dal
• 1/2 cup saru/arbi/colocassia
• 1/2 cup kancha kadali/raw banana
• 1/2 cup mati alu/yam
• 1/2 cup amrutabhanda/raw papaya ( Not used in authentic one )
• 1/2 cup mula/radish (optional) ( Not used in authentic one )
• 1 cup kakharu/pumpkin ( Not used in authentic one )
• 1-2 pieces of aau (slightly crushed)
• 2-3 whole red chillis ( Not used in authentic one )
• 1 tsp cumin seeds ( Not used in authentic one )
• 1 tsp jeera-lanka gunda ( roasted and powdered cumin seeds and dry red chilli )
• 1 bay leaf
• salt to taste
• 2 tsp ghee
• 1 tsp crushed ginger
• grated coconut for garnishing

Cooking - Heat the ghee in a pressure cooker. Add broken red chillis, cumin seeds and bay leaf. Fry for 20 seconds. (Skip the above step if you want to keep it really authentic. But it tastes much better this way. The logic behind this step is that Habisa dalma shud not be tempered hence some people add these tempering ingredients while cooking itself. Crazy logic rite ? But when has religion n logic ever gone together !)

Wash and transfer the dal along with 4 cups of water to the pressure cooker. Wash and add all the vegetables to it. Add the bay leaf too if you are skipping the tempering. Close lid and cook for 1-2 whistles.

Remove from flame and allow steam to escape before opening the lid. Add the crushed ginger, jeera-lanka gunda and grated coconut.

Serve with arwa anna (raw rice) and Oou Khatta / sagaa bhajja.

This is offered as prasad to Dhabaleshwara ( Lord Shiva ) by the devotees before consumption.

This above pic is a earlier one . I have used quite a few vegetables in this one and have also used a bit of tempering !!

Dal Rozana (Harada Dali Recipe)

When I am neither fasting nor feasting, I prefer simple meals. A piping hot pot meal with some raita or rice/roti with dal, stir fried vegetables and roasted papad/pickle is enough to make my day. As i usually chop and store the vegetables on the weekends and use pressure cooker for cooking both the rice and dal, the meals take minimum time and effort. ( Tip for bachelors - In order to save time, use a separator to make the rice and dal at the same time. I used to do the same during my bachelor days.)

Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 12-15 mins

Ingredients - 1 cup toor/arhar/harada dal, 1 small onion, 1/3 tsp ginger garlic paste, 1 medium sized tomato, 1 tbs chopped coriander roots, 1/4 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 2 whole red chillis, 1/5 tsp asafoetida, 2 tsp oil, 1/4 tsp turmeric, salt to taste. (Optional-1 tbs coriander leaves for garnishing)

Preparation - Wash and clean the toor dal under running water. Keep is soaked for 2 hours.

Chop onion into thin long pieces. Finely chop the tomato.

Cooking - Transfer the toor dal to a pressure cooker. Add 3 cups water, salt and turmeric.

Close the lid and cook for 2 whistles on medium flame. Remove from flame and allow steam to escape before opening lid. Take a heavy spoon and swish it around to smoothen the dal.

Heat the oil in a tempering/tadka pan. Add broken red chilli, mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once seeds start spluttering add the onions followed by the ginger garlic paste. Fry for 1-2 minutes.

Add chopped tomatoes and coriander shoots. Fry till the tomatoes soften a bit.

Add the asafoetida and fry for 5 seconds. Pour it over the contents of the pressure cooker.

Put the pressure cooker over a low flame and allow the contents to come to a boil.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with rice/rotis.

Khatti Meethi Dal

The humble 'Dalma' (link here) used to reign supreme on my menu on the fasting (Osa-bara) days till I discovered its tantalizing Western counterpart. Like a willful seductress it threatens to steer me away from my ever dependable wife 'dalma'. When I first glimpsed her while leafing through a Tarla Dalal cookbook, i was hardly impressed. But the supremely impossible task of feeding vegetables to my kiddie made me try it out. And i have been re-visting her ever since while side-stepping the risk that it poses to my digestive system ( Tamarind and my system are not exactly compatible ). But for the more fortunate beings, this tangy-sweet-spicy Gujrati Dal is a must try.

With Mahalaya today, the nine day Navaratri fasting/celebrations have begun and most of us will be avoiding the use of onion/garlic in our meals/snacks. I have adapted the original recipe for fasting days as the former makes use of onions. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 20-25 mins

Ingredients - 1 cup toor dal, 1/2 cup whole/skinless masoor dal, 1 1/2 cups peeled and diced pumpkin, 1/2 cup diced carrot, 1/2 cup diced eggplant, 1/2 cup peeled and diced raw banana, 1 cup diced potato, 2 tbs powdered jaggery, 1 1/2 tbs tamarind paste, 1/2 tsp turmeric, salt to taste.

For tempering - 3 tsp oil, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 2 whole red chillis, 3 cloves, 1 inch long cinnamon stick, 2 sprigs of curry leaves, a pinch of asafoetida, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder (optional).

Preparation - Take the jaggery and tamarind in a bowl. Add 5-6 tbs water and make it into a paste.

Cooking - Wash and transfer the dals to a pressure cooker with 2-3 cups water. Add salt and turmeric .Cook for 2-3 whistles.

Allow to stand till steam escapes. Open lid and beat the dal with a heavy spoon to get a smooth mixture.

Boil the vegetables with 2-3 cups of water, little salt and turmeric. Remove from stove when done.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the mustard seeds, broken red chilli, cloves and cinnamon. Fry for 20-30 seconds. Add the asafoetida and curry leaves followed by red chilli powder.

Add the dal an boiled vegetables to the wok. Boil for 2-3 minutes.

Add jaggery-tamarind paste. Simmer for 5-6 minutes.

Remove from flame and serve with rice.

Odisha Style Dal Tadka

For folks residing in Odisha, Dal Tadka is not the usual thickened yellow dal with a heavenly tempering as it is for the rest of the country. Rather it is a wonderful medley of lentils ( mostly with skin ) that is cooked with onions, ginger garlic, spices and an abundance of tomatoes. While for me the egg bhurji that goes on top is the crowning glory (pun intended!!), some dhabas directly break the eggs on top of the boiling dal ensuring that it gets poached in that divine gravy. I also prefer to cook the lentils till they are tender but somewhat retain their shapes while my husband likes it gloriously mashed together. So, I end up mashing his portion after I have removed mine from the wok. Tasty and high of fiber and proteins, this one is a regular in my kitchen !!

Read on for the recipe -

Cooking Time Required: 30-35 mins
Cost of preparation: 40-50 rupees

Ingredients: Urad dal ( 1/2 cup ), whole green moong ( 1/2 cup ), channa ( 1/2 cup ), rajma ( 1/4 cup), onion ( 1 medium ), tomato ( 2 large ), ginger-garlic paste ( 1 1/2 tsp ), green chillis ( 2 nos ), cumin seeds ( 1 tsp), garam masala ( 2 pinches ), maggie magic cubes ( 2 nos ),turmeric, salt, oil ( 3 tsp ), egg ( 1 - 2 nos), butter( 1 tsp ).

Preparation: Soak the pulses overnite.

Chop the onion, green chillis and tomatoes into small pieces.

Cooking: Wash and transfer the pulses to a pressure cooker. Add salt and turmeric and just sufficient water to cover the pulses. Cook for 3-4 whistles or till the pulses are a little overdone.

Heat oil in a wok. Add the cumin and green chilli . Once the seeds crackle, add onions and fry till they turn translucent. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook till the onions are brown.

Add chopped tomatoes and cook till soft. Add the boiled pulses at this stage and cook for 5 mins.

Add the garam masala and crushed maggie cubes. Mix well, cover with a lid and remove from the fire.

Heat a little oil in another pan. Add the beaten eggs and scramble them .

Sprinkle the egg bhurji over the Tadka dal and add a tsp of butter.

Serve hot with rotis or naan or Kerala paratha.




















Note: Special Tadka masala is sold in Orissa and it adds a very good flavour to the dish. As i could not get my hands on it here, i used the garam masala and maggie cubes which tastes equally good.

One can also add yellow peas and whole masoor dal to this dish.

Panasa dalma ( Kathal wali daal )

Cooking Time Required: 15-20 mins
Cost of Preparation: 30-35 mins

Ingredients: raw jackfruit ( medium sized pieces, 1 cup ), moong dal ( 1 1/2 cup), potato ( 1 no, medium ), tomato ( 1 no., big ), fennel seeds ( 1 tsp ), red chillis ( 4-5 nos ), garam masala ( 1/5 tsp ), bay leaves ( 2-3 nos ), jeera-lanka powder ( 1/3 tsp ), ghee ( 1 tbs ), salt, turmeric.

Preparation: Dry roast the moong dal till it gives off a fragrance.

Wash and cut the potato into cubes. Cut the tomato into half and deseed it.

Cooking : Wash dal and add to pressure cooker. Add the potato and tomato to the cooker. Add salt and turmeric along with cups water.

Close lid and boil for 1 whistle. Allow steam to escape.

Add the jack-fruit pieces along with garam-masala. Boil for 2 whistles. Keep aside.

Heat a pan. Add the fennel seeds, broken red chillis and bay leaves. Dry roast for 5-6 secs. Add ghee.

Pour the tempering over the boiled dal. Sprinkle jeera-lanka powder.

Serve hot with rotis/rice.

Buta Dalma ( Mandira Dalma )

Cooking Time Required: 20 mins
Cost of preparation: 35-40 rupees

Ingredients: Chana dal ( 11/2 cup ), pumpkin pieces ( 1 cup ), potatoes ( 1/2 cup ), freshly grated coconut ( 1/ cup ), roasted cumin-chilli powder ( 1 tsp ), turmeric (1/2 tsp ), salt.

For seasoning : Dry red chillis ( 3-4 nos ), cumin seeds ( 1/2 tsp ), fennel seeds ( 1/2 tsp ), asafoetida ( 1/3 tsp ), bay leaf ( optional ), ghee ( 2-3 tsp).


Cooking: Soak the chana dal for 5-6 hours. Wash and transfer to a pressure cooker, add the pumpkin and potato pieces along with 2-3 cups water (Do not add too much water as the dalma should have a thick consistency ). Add turmeric and salt. Close the lid and allow for 2-3 whistles.

Remove from fire and allow steam to escape.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the red chillis, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, bay leaf and asafoetida. Remove from the fire in 30 seconds and pour over the boiled dal. Add the chilli-cumin powder and grated coconut . Mix well. Serve with puris/ aruwa bhata.

Note:- I have used cumin-fennel for seasoning as in Mandira dalma preparation. One can use pancha-phutana instead.

Yellow dal

Cooking Time Required: 20 mins
Cost of preparation: 10-15 rupees

Ingredients: Toor dal ( 1 cup), garlic pods ( 4-5 nos), green chilli ( 1 no), mustard seeds ( 1/3 tsp ), coriander seeds (1/4 seeds), fennel seeds (1/4 tsp), red chilli powder (1/5 tsp, optional), finely cut coriander leaves ( 2 tsp), turmeric, oil ( 1 tsp), salt to taste.

Preparation: Wash and soak the daal in warm water for 2-3 hours.

Cooking: Add the dal to a pressure-cooker along with salt and turmeric. Add about one and half cups of water. Close the lid and put on the stove. Allow for two whistles. Remove from the fire and keep aide to cool. Once the steam escapes, open the lid and mash the dal .

Chop the garlic into small pieces. The chilli should be diced into 3-4 pieces along its length.

Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan. When it starts smoking, add the mustard, coriander and fennel seeds, followed by the garlic pieces and red chilli powder. Also add the green Chilli. Stir for 20-30 secs and pour over the dal along with half cup warm water . Sprinkle the coriander leaves over the dal and close the lid. This will help the dal to absord the flavours of the tadka.

Serve hot with rice or rotis.

Enjoying a hard earned meal : Rice with Yellow dal and tomatao-badi curry.

Dalma - dal cooked with vegetables

Cooking time required: 20-25 mins (approx)Cost of preparation: Approx. 25-35 rupees
Ingredients: Dal (200 gms), vegetables ( string beans(4-5 nos), green banana( half ), raw papaya(100 gm), tomato ( 1nos, optional), potato ( 1 smal, optional ), drumsticks (2-3 nos ), green chilli ( 1 no.), cumin seeds (1 tsp), saunf (1 tsp), ghee (2-3 tsp), cumin-chilli powder (1/2 tsp), turmeric powder(1/2 tsp), salt, coriander leaves.

Preparation : Wash the dal and put in a pressure cooker. Add sufficient water cover dal and stand about 2-3 inches above it. Wash and cut vegetable into medium sized pieces . Keep the drumsticks aside and add rest of the vegetables to dal. Add turmeric powder and salt, and close the lid. Cook on medium flame.Allow for 2 whistles. Remove from fire and keep aside for 5-6 mins. Open lid, add the drumstick pieces and close lid. Put on stove for 3-4 mins on high flame. Remove from fire and keep aside.
Heat ghee in a pan. Add cumin and saunf seeds. Pour the spluttering seeds over the cooked dal. Add chilli-cumin powder and mix. Garnish with coriander leaves.


















Dalma Chakuli(Dosa)

For preparing chilli-cumin powder : Heat a iron pan, put whole red chiilies and cumin seeds. Roast till the chillies darken a little. Remove from pan, and grind into a coarse powder. Store in a airtight jar and use within 1 month.

Note - In authentic dalma recipe, tomato is not used . Yam, green papaya, taro and raw banana on the other hand are must haves !