Maa ki daal (simpler version)

Since I always look for shortcuts to good tasting food, I like this dish which takes under 45 minutes to make, and tastes divine with rotis. Here we go:

Ingredients:

1. Urad dal (split) with husk- 1/2 a cup
2. chana dal - 1/2 a cup
3. tumeric powder- - 1/2tsp
4. chilli powder - 1tsp
5. Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
6. Salt - 1 tsp
   

For Tadka or seasoning:

1. Tomatoes medium (finely chopped) - 2
   
2. Green chillies (finely chopped) - 2
3. Onion large(finely chopped)- 1
   
4. Ghee (clarified butter)- 2 tablespoons

For Garnish:

1. Butter - 1 dollop
2. Coriander(finely chopped) - a few leaves

Preparation:

Soak the dals together for an hour if possible(I found that it tastes okay, even if you can't soak it prior also. Since this website is all about making dinner quick-fixes, do it only if you have the time, half an hour also should do). Then pressure cook them with enough water with the green chillies, salt and turmeric.

Method:

Heat the ghee in a separate pan, add the chopped onions and fry them until they are slightly browned. Add the chopped tomatoes and let them cook for a while until the ghee starts separating. Add the garam masala powder. Now mix the seasoning with the cooked dals and let them all simmer for about 10 minutes.Check the seasoning and add some more salt if required.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with a dollop of butter or cream with nans/rotis/chapatis/bread(Yes, It tastes yum with bread, making rotis is a pain after office hours). Mmmm... its going to be finger-licking good.

P.S: The taste of the food varies from cook to cook. The honest wish to really please someone has its roots in the amount of patience and care you invest in the preparation of any dish. That's why there is a saying that " Mom cooks with love, so it tastes so good" evolved. Cooking, like poetry or any other art is an expression of love. So all the men and women out there, if you can express love without hurting your partner's feelings, then, it goes without saying that you can also cook very well.

Please watch the video of dal makhni (which looked unpalatable to me.) Those huge tomato pieces for seasoning were so annoying. Now a days everyone is out with a cooking video, whether their recipe is good or otherwise.