Dal is an Indian cuisine comfort-food standby made with lentils, dried beans or peas. Tarka is a technique in which spices are sauteed in fat to magnify their flavor. And as we learned from spice guru Monica Bhide, you'll enjoy even more vivid flavor if you grind whole spices. Depending on your choice of cooking fat and stock, you can make this vegan, dairy-free or gluten-free. Prepare the tarka and raita while the lentils simmer. Serve this dal with brown basmati rice, roasted cauliflower and our Fennel and Mint Raita.
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils, rinsed and sorted
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 small dried red chile pepper (1 inch)
- 2 tablespoons DIY Ghee (or canola oil or coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced vertically
- 1 carrot, julienne cut
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- sea salt, to taste
- 1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 4 lime wedges
Instructions
- Combine lentils, stock and water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 18 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally. Crush lentils with the back of a large spoon (or use an immersion blender to puree lentils to desired texture).
- While the lentils simmer, place dried chile in a spice or coffee grinder, and process to grind (or use a mortar and pestle). Heat ghee in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add ground chile, cumin, turmeric, coriander and fennel. Cook 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add onion, carrot and garlic. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 10 minutes, or until very tender. Season with salt to taste. Stir onion mixture, peas and lime juice into cooked lentils. Adjust seasoning. Serve lentils with lime wedges.
Servings: 4
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