EMPRESS DAL

EMPRESS DAL image

Categories Bean

Yield Serves 4 -6

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
3 whole dried red chiles
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 small garlic clove, minced, or 1/8 teaspoon asafetida
1 cup lentils, picked over, washed and drained
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried mango powder (amchur), or the juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

Steps:

Instructions: Combine the oil, cumin, red chiles and turmeric in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic or asafetida, lentils, cayenne and mango powder (if using lemon juice, add it just before serving), and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add 3 1/2 cups water and the salt, bring to a boil and skim. Reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Add more water during cooking, if necessary. To thicken the dal, ladle out about 1/2 cup or more of the lentils and mash them with a spoon or puree in a food processor. Stir them back into the dal and simmer 5 minutes longer. Taste for salt. If you would like a thicker dal, mash or puree more of the lentils. If you would like a thinner dal, add water. Stir in the lemon juice, if using. Serve hot. Per serving: 256 calories, 12 g protein, 30 g carbohydrate, 11 g fat (1 g saturated), 0 cholesterol, 540 mg sodium, 12 g fiber.