Gujarati Dal From Sukham Ayu For Indian Cooking Challenge

Gujarati dal... that is the recipe for this month s Indian Cooking Challenge. This recipe was choosen by Sri valli from Jigyasa Giri& Pratibha two proud Authors of The Ayurvedic cook book-Sukham Ayu,Which is the winner of the 2nd place for best health and Nutrition book in the World 2009.This Gujarati dal recipe is from there book,In this book they give many healthy recipes and Ayurvedic tips too.Thanks to both of them for sharing this recipe with us and big thank to Sri valli for choosing this delicious recipe.

Comming to the recipe Gujarati dal is a simple and little sweet and tangy lentil curry which is a perfect combination with rice and roti .This recipe contains drumstick and yam,kokam since I am living in Libya here I don't get those ingredients so I skiped them and just fallowed the recipe and here I go....

INGREDIENTS:---

• Split red gram/red lentils/Toor dal -- 3/4 cup
• Turmeric powder -- 1/2 tea sp
• Few drops of oil
• Drumstick -- 2 cut in to 3 inch pieces(I didn't use this)
• Yam --- 4-5 pieces i inch pieces(I didn't use this)
• Hard dry dates --- 4
• Raw Groundnuts --- 1 tab sp
• Green chillies -- 4 slit
• Ginger -- 1 inch piece grated
• Soft dry Kokam -- 4-5 pieces or tamarind pulp 2 tab sp (I used tamarind pulp)
• Jaggery --- 1 tab sp
• Coriander powder -- 1 tea sp
• Roasted cumin powder -- 1/2 tea sp
• Garam masala -- 1/4 tea sp
• Coriander leaves -- 1tab sp chopped
• Salt --- 1 tea sp or according to your taste.

For Seasoning :---

• Ghee -- 1 tea sp
• Mustard seeds -- 1/2 tea sp
• Fenugreek seeds -- 1/4 tea sp
• Cumin seeds --1/2 tea sp
• Dry red chilies -- 2 broken
• Asafoetida -- a pinch
• Curry leaves --- 1Spring.
  

METHOD:---
1. Wash and soak dal in enough water for half an hour then add turmeric powder and oil to dal and cook till dal become soft.
If you would like to cook it in a preasure cooker then cook the dal for 2-3 whistles.
2.Remove the dal from heat and mash well.
3. By the time soak dry dates in hot water for 10 minutes
4. In a other pan take drumstick pieces,yam pieces add 1 cup of water and cook till the vegetables are tender.
5.Now add mashed dal to the vegetables fallowed by all other ingredients exept garam masala,coriander leaves and seasoning .
6.Add 1 cup water and cook in a low flame for 15 more minutes stir in between.
7.At the same time heat ghee in a small pan add mustard seeds,let them popup then add fenugreek,cumin seeds, broken red chillies,asafoetida and curry leaves.
8.Pour this seasoning into the dal and cook for another 5 minutes.
9.Remove the dal from heat and add garam masala mix well and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with rice or roti.

Source: Plantain leaf