So, if you get a late morning hankering for some lentils, you can easily whip up a batch in time for lunch.
Dal: A Staple Indian Recipe
This red lentil dal recipe comes by way of my friend Kerissa Barron, who spent several months living and traveling through India. According to Kerissa, every region of India has its own version of the Indian staple dal, which is essentially lentil soup. This particular version comes out of the state of West Bengal and features Bengali five spice, called panch phoran, a fragrant blend of fennel seed, fenugreek, nigella seeds, cumin seed and mustard seed. If nigella seeds are not available where you are, you can use black (or white) sesame seeds instead. In West Bengal and throughout India, dal is eaten at nearly every meal, serving as a sauce, a soup and a way to mash and stick food together (traditionally they eat with their hands in this region). I’ve made Kerissa’s recipe a couple of times and love the flavors and how easy it is to make. Do you have a favorite Indian dal recipe? Please let us know about it in the comments.
What to Serve With Dal
You can serve dal as a simple meal with a side of rice, naan, or papadams. You can also serve dal as a side dish for chicken or lamb.
How to Store and Freeze Dal
Dal will keep refrigerated for about five days and can be gently reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave. You can also freeze dal for up to three months (try this method).
Try These Other Indian Recipes
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No fresh tomatoes? You can substitute with 1 cup of canned crushed tomatoes. Pour cleaned lentils into a medium sauce pan. Add 3 cups of water. Bring lentils and water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the lentils are soft. Score the peel of the tomatoes with a sharp knife in the shape of an “X”. Place the tomatoes in the boiling water and blanch for one minute. Remove the tomatoes to a bowl to cool. Once cool, peel the tomatoes and cut out and discard the tough stem end. Chop the tomatoes, or mash them, and set aside. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions. Cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic paste and cook for 1 minute more, stirring continuously, making sure that the garlic does not burn. Add the Bengali five spice. Cook and stir for another 2-3 minutes. Add bay leaf and turmeric. Stir. Stir in chopped cilantro and remove from heat. Garnish with more chopped cilantro. Serve with basmati rice or naan bread.
