Today was one of those days when I didn’t really feel like cooking anything! But I had to make something for S and the children, so thought of making a very simple dal to go with a vegetable stir fry. Here’s a very simple dal which you can make in minutes, but which is so hearty and tasty.

Simple Chana Dal

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chana dal (Split chickpeas), soaked in water for 10 minutes
• 2 medium sized onions, finely chopped
• 1 large tomato, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp grated or finely chopped ginger
• 1 tbsp grated or finely chopped garlic
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 3-4 dried red chillies
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/8 tsp asafoetida
• 1 tbsp Kasuri Methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method:

• Boil the soaked chana dal in a pan or the pressure cooker with the turmeric powder and asafoetida until it is cooked and slightly mushy. At this point, beat it well till it becomes a homogenous mass. Keep aside.
• In a separate pan, heat the ghee and when it becomes warm, add the cumin seeds and let them pop. Break the chillies into smaller pieces and add it to the oil. Then add the ginger and garlic and stir for a few minutes till the aroma is released.
• Next, add the onions and saute till the onions become translucent.
• At this point, add the tomatoes and a bit of salt to cook the tomatoes. Let the tomatoes become mushy and completely cooked.
• Then pour cooked dal into the tomato-onion mixture and bring it to a rolling boil. Check for seasoning and add more salt if needed.
• Crush the kasuri methi between the palms of your hands and sprinkle this over the dal. Boil for another 5 minutes and switch off the flame.
• Drizzle the lemon juice over the dal and serve hot with rice and a dry vegetable or even with Indian flatbreads.