Maa ki Dal
A simple dish of creamy lentils, Maa ki Dal, which literally translates to “Mom’s Dal,” is a dish to both comfort and savor. It's also easy to make with just a few simple spices needed.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 139kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup urad dal
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 2 teaspoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed into a paste
- 1 teaspoon coconut or other vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 medium red onion, minced
- 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon cayenne or paprika for less heat
- 2 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- Salt to taste
- ½ lemon
- Cilantro for garnish
- 12 almonds (soaked for 30 minutes then blended into a very smooth paste with ½ cup water)
Instructions
- Cook the urad dal with the bay leaf, turmeric and 1 teaspoon grated ginger until the dal is really tender. This is best done in a pressure cooker. If you don't have one, soak the dal for at least two hours, then place in a large saucepan with the other ingredients and water to cover by an inch. Bring to a boil, cover, lower heat to a simmer, and cook until the lentils are really soft and mash easily.
- Heat the oil. Add the cumin seeds and, when they sputter, add the minced onions.
- Add a pinch of salt and saute the onions until they are just beginning to turn color.
- Add the tomatoes and saute for a couple of minutes. Then add the coriander powder, cayenne or paprika, and garam masala powder.
- Stir well to mix, then add the cooked dal and mix really well. You can discard the bay leaf at this time.
- Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. If the dal is really thick, add water. Let the dal cook for five minutes for flavors to merge.
- Add the almond paste and chopped coriander. Squeeze in the lemon juice. Add salt to taste. Stir well and turn off heat.
- Serve hot with rice, a subzi, and roti.
Nutrition
Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 3mg