Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Danedar Dal



My "microwave recipe" for today in blogging marathon #7, happens to be a regional dal adapted from 'Gourmet Indian in minutes' cookbook. Check what the other marathoners are cooking.

What tempted me to try this recipe was the beautiful image associated with it. According to the book, this simple, basic dal is a usual fare at Gujarati homes during the festival of Navratri.  It is supposedly a sweet - sour kind dal and the original recipe uses only a green chillie for about 2 cups of dal. If you prefer those flavors to shine, feel free to add tamarind and jaggery accordingly. I modified the recipe a bit to suit our taste buds so that even my daughter who is not a great fan of sweet stuff enjoys it. She ate it without any complaints and that means this recipe is a keeper for me. So far, this is the first moong dal recipe she ate with out uttering a word. For me it is a basic, comforting sort of dal that can be put together quickly. Especially an opt one when you run out of veggies. And surprisingly, the dal didn't have the typical "moong dal" smell. Don't skip the peanuts; they add a contrasting texture to this filling dal.

Ingredients for 2 - 3 servings:
1/2 cup moong dal (skinned, yellow ones) / pesara pappu
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 Tbsp salted peanuts (I used raw ones but toasted ones may be better.)
1 tsp jaggery powder / brown sugar
1-2 Tbsp tamarind puree or to taste
Salt to taste
For tadka: 2 tsp oil, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 green chillies - slit lengthwise, few curry leaves
Cilantro leaves for garnish


Method:
* Soak moong dal in hot water for about 30 minutes. This step is optional but it sure cuts down the cooking time. Throw away the water used to soak and rinse the dal well.
* Add 1.5 cups of water, turmeric powder and the dal to a microwave safe bowl and cook until the dal turns mushy, about 12 - 15 minutes. Remove the bowl.
* Heat oil in another microwave safe bowl and add the tadka ingredients. When they start to splutter, remove the bowl.
* Add the tadka, peanuts, tamarind paste, salt and jaggery powder to the dal bowl and put back in the microwave. Cook for another 2 -3 minutes.
* Garnish with cilantro and serve along with rice / rotis.

This moong dal dish goes to Cook it Healthy - Proteinicious event.

Comments

18 comments:

  1. Absolutely love the pic. I thought gujaratis usually used toor dal, but I could be wrong. I love this version of gujarati dal.

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  2. Ilanti kammati pappu, avakaya, rice and yogurt - a simple and comforting meal !! I also love to add peanuts to dals.

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  3. Pappu is looking yummy. I've never made pappu in the microwave. Sounds quite simple.

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  4. Delicious version of dal,luks gr8!!!

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  5. This variation of dhal is super yumm ..

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  6. Delicious dal, great combo for rice/roti's..

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  7. Never tried dal in microwave !! sounds interesting !! and looks delicious !!

    Ongoing Event - CC-Roti Pachadi/Chutney

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  8. this goes perfect with hot rice and even some spicy roast potatos will do..What do you think about that combo

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  9. delicious dal.. one of the most comfort foods..

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  10. The name itself is intriguing me...thanks for sharing!!

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  11. Love dal anytime. Comforting and tasty.

    Vardhini
    Event: Fast food not Fat food

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  12. Dal is anytime comforting dish..looks flavourful n yummy with rice

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  13. Nice version of dal....loved d fact that it is made in MW..:)

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  14. Delicious dal Suma..so good to make this in microwave..

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  15. This recipe is surely a keeper and very simple to make.suma I think,my boys would love this..let me give a try..!!

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