Basic Tempering for Dals
- Ready In:
- 1hr 10mins
- Ingredients:
- 21
- Serves:
-
4-6
ingredients
- 1 cup beans or 1 cup lentils (Any whole or split beans/ lentils)
- 3 -5 cups water (depending on whether you use split or whole beans/ lentils)
- 1⁄4 teaspoon turmeric
- salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon grated gingerroot (optional)
- 1⁄4 teaspoon chopped garlic (optional)
- 3 -4 tablespoons clarified butter or 3 -4 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
-
Cumin-Coriander Baghar Temper
- 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin seed
- 1⁄2 teaspoon garam masala (mixed spices)
- 1⁄2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1⁄8 teaspoon dried mango powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander seeds
-
Tomato Onion Baghar Temper
- 1 onion, chopped fine
- 1 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 green chili, slit lengthways
-
Asafoetida Mustard seed baghar temper
- 1⁄8 teaspoon asafoetida powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 2 whole dried red chilies
- 3 -5 curry leaves
directions
- Wash pulses.
- Soak whole pulses overnight or soak in boiling hot water for 20 mins.
- Split/unhusked pulses can be soaked in cold water for 30 mins before cooking.
- Use the same water for cooking in which the pulses have soaked.
- Add a little salt, turmeric powder and ginger and garlic (if used) I add an onion and tomato too while cooking if I am not using these in the tempering or sometimes even if I am there is no limit to the permutations and combinations once you get the hang of it.
- Spinach, pumpkin, beans and many more veges can be added while cooking.
- Also can add a little oil or ghee to speed up the cooking and keep the dals from frothing.
- Pressure cook for 1 whistle and then reduce heat for 1-7 mins for split beans (red and yellow lentils for eg. cook a little faster than red and yellow gram) and pressure cook and then reduce heat for 30- 45 mins for whole dals.
- Well cooked and blended dals taste better.
- Take off heat and wait for all steam to escape.
- You can cook them on the stove top too- simmer till done.
- But they cook faster in the Cooker.
- Method for Tomato Onion Baghar (Temper) (Just omit ingredients for the Cumin Coriander baghar) Now heat the oil/ clarified butter in a small fry pan or vessel.
- Reduce heat and add cumin seeds.
- When it turns golden (do not burn them) add onion.
- Cook till onion turns brown.
- Do not undercook the onions.
- Brown them, stirring all the time.
- Add tomatoes and cook 2-3 minutes Add coriander, raw mango powder (if not avalable then omit and add 2 tsp of lime juice to the dal after tempering and garnishing with coriander leaver (cilantro)), and garam masala.
- Cook for 1/2 a minute.
- Remove from fire and add the green chillies and the red chilli powder.
- Pour tempering over the hot dal and mix gently.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro.
- Note for Split red lentils you can add chopped garlic while tempering after you add the cumin and then brown them too.
- THe more garlic the merrier for me but then you can use your discretion.
- For the Asafoetida Mustard baghar Fry the asafoetida till brown in the hot oil and then add the mustard seeds.
- Fry till they crackle.
- Remove from fire and add the red chillies and curry leaves.
- Mix and add to the cooked dal.
- Try it and enjoy this item which is a must at every Indian household and the variations that one can introduce.
- I can make over 50 types of dal (tastewise) and I am still counting.
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Reviews
-
I am so happy I found this recipe! I love dals, but being european, I never felt confident enough to spice them on my own, thus sticking to a handful of well-liked recipes. - Your wonderful instruction already was and will be in future a great basis to work on my "own" dal creations. _ My first try was mung dal and 3 oz spinach (left out garlic)tempered with tomato onion baghar. YUM!! Thanks so much. :)
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Yummy. I used the Cumin-Coriander Baghar Temper with lentils and it was sooo delicious with my adventurous addition of some garlic, onions and chopped spinach. The instructions confused me a little and I wasn't quite sure when to add the ingredients to the lentils, so I just precooked the lentils, then added them to the skillet after cooking the spices, onions and spinach. Then I covered the pan and turned the heat to low for just a few minutes more to blend all the flavors. I love the spices! Sure do wish I had some mango powder, but had to leave that out. Fay, I have always loved Indian cuisine, and now I can make something truly authentic and delicious...Thanks.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Girl from India
Mumbai, 0
<p>Am an avid baker and love cooking too. Live in Mumbai, India.</p>