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Clean, soothing, comforting...a balm for the jaded or the ill
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Tadka Dal, a spicy lentil stew, is a favourite 67 dish for Januaries - frugal, tasty, 'clean', yet spicily enticing. Usually served as a puree with rice, this recipe turns it into a soup to ease it down a painful throat.
67 first tasted Tadka Dal in a City dining room and was blown away. Dal is a staple of Indian diets, mistakenly considered something like rice - nice but not the star of the dish. What a surprise! There are many dal recipes; this one was adapted from celebrity chef Atul Kochhar* which was closest to the original dish 67 tasted.
All the spices are normal store cupboard ingredients.
Cost: £1.50
Feeds: 6-8 (recipe halves nicely)
Ingred:
300gm/10.5oz yellow lentils
1 tsp tumeric
1 litre (1.5pints) water
2 tablespoons of washed rice
1 tsp veg oil (not olive)
1 tsp dairy or plant butter
1.5 tsp mild red chilli powder
1/2 tsp dried coriander (opt)
1/2 tsp garam masala (opt)
1/4 tsp cloves (opt)
1.5 tsp grated garlic
3 med tomatoes, in med dice
min 1/3 tsp - max 1 tsp salt
180 ml good veg stock (granules ok)
Garnish: 1 tsp chopped parsley
1 medium tomato, seeds removed, in julienne strips
Method:
- Place lentils in a sieve over a large bowl; run cold water over until the water runs clear
- Put lentils, rice, tumeric & water into a heavy-bottomed saucepan; bring to the boil; reduce heat to med-low; cook 15-20 mins or until lentils are soft
- Heat another pan over med heat, add oil & butter then chilli powder and other herbs of choice; saute over med heat for 2-3 mins
- Add tomatoes and garlic; cook another 3-4 mins, stirring to prevent the garlic burning
- Pour tomato-spice mix into the cooked lentils; add salt; stir & simmer 5-7 mins
- Add stock; blend with stick or stand-alone blender until very smooth and velvety; add extra water/stock to thin, if desired
- Garnish with parsley and julienned tomato strips
Tip:
Optional spices are not necessary but add depth of flavour
*The Cook's Book, Dorling Kindersley 2005. Around £35
See How to...Cook Clever with Pulses plus Recipes II/Soups
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This recipe has been developed by B Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.
