KHATTI DAL, HYDERABAD-STYLE

Khatti Dal, Hyderabad-Style image

Julie Sahni is an architect by training, but while teaching Indian cooking on the side, she was "discovered" in 1974 and written about in The Times by Florence Fabricant. She has since become a well-known author of Indian cookbooks. In 2012, she taught Mark Bittman how to make several different kinds of dal, including this one. Carefully follow instructions for the tadka - heated ghee or oil and spices. It is the finishing touch, unparalleled in its brilliance and simplicity, and pairing the correct tadka with its designated dal is if not critical then at least desirable. To make it, you take ghee or oil and heat it with seeds, spices and, usually, some kind of onions, often to a degree that other cuisines might consider "overcooked." The tadka is poured into the dal just before serving, and the whole thing explodes with fragrance and flavor.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories dinner, quick, weekday, main course

Time 30m

Yield About 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

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Ingredients

1 cup yellow lentils (toor dal)
1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon green chili or jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon tamarind concentrate dissolved in 1/4 cup water (or 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice)
2 tablespoons sunflower or safflower oil, or other neutral oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon minced garlic
12 curry leaves (optional)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Steps:

Combine the dal, turmeric, chili, salt and 4 cups water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles aggressively and steadily and cook, uncovered, for 25 minutes.
Add the tamarind concentrate and 1/2 cup additional water, and let bubble for another minute. Turn off the heat. Use an Indian mathani (see related article) to purée the dal for about 1 minute; the dal should be saucy but not soupy.
To make the tadka, heat the oil in a small saucepan over high heat. When the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and cover the pan; let the seeds pop and sizzle. When the popping begins to subside, add the garlic and cook until lightly browned, about 15 seconds. Add the curry leaves, if you're using them. Cover the pan (to prevent spattering) and cook for about 10 seconds, allowing flavors to meld.
Pour the tadka into the dal; stir gently to combine. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 239, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 32 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 141 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams