Dhaabas, the roadside eateries serving Punjabi food is a common feature along the Indian highways. The traditional dhaabas mostly cater hearty food at a reasonable price to weary truck drivers and the others who are eager enough to try out their greasy offerings. I have not been adventurous enough to try out the food from a roadside shack but have tried to create some of their dishes in my kitchen albeit low cal versions. This dhaabay di dal which literally means a lentil preparation from dhaaba comes from a cookbook by Sanjeev Kapoor and have been tried in my kitchen many times over the years. This tasty and spicy dal is prepared using a mixture of three different kind of lentils and is a favorite of mine.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup kidney beans / rajma
1/4 cup whole black gram / sabut urad dal
2 to 4 tbsp. roasted split chickpeas / chana dal
2 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. ginger - garlic paste
1 small green chillie, chopped fine
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 tsp. cumin powder
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp. red chili powder
1 to 1.5 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. kasuri methi
Minced cilantro to garnish
Method:
* Soak all the beans overnight or for about 8 to 10 hours and pressure cook them softly adding sufficient water. Drain the water if preferred and lightly mash the dal with the back of the ladle.
* Heat oil in a pan and add ginger and garlic paste and saute until golden brown. Next add chillies and onion and fry until the onion start to brown.
* Next add cumin and chili powders and stir. Add tomato pieces and cook until mushy.
* Add the cooked dals, butter, salt, cilantro and extra water (to the desired consistency) to the pan and stir. Bring it to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for about five minutes.
* Crush kasuri methi between your palms and sprinkle over the dal. Stir and turn off the stove.
* Serve hot with rotis / rice.
This goes to Blogging marathon #69, under the theme 'Bookmarked Recipes'. Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking as part of the BM.
Comments
Rajma and chawal is so famous in North India. It is my favorite too. But i don't add chana dal to it. Next time i'll give it a try.
ReplyDeleteWe call it mah chole di dal and it looks so scrumptious.
ReplyDeleteSuch a nutritious dal, cant wait to give a try soon.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a cool combination of dals. I am yet to try this combination at home. Bookmarked!
ReplyDelete