INDIA
Dahl
30 minutes
4 persons
Easy
Get ready to experience the rich and flavorful world of Indian cuisine! This time we dive into the delicious and nutritious dish: Indian Dahl. This dish has been eaten for centuries and is a staple in Indian cuisine, where it is sometimes eaten almost every day. Dahl is a mixture of lentils, herbs and vegetables that are simmered, creating a delicious aroma and taste. Dahl is not only tasty, but it is also a good source of protein, fiber and essential nutrients, making it a good fit for a vegetarian and vegan diet. In India, dahl is considered a comfort food and is often served to sick individuals as it is easily digestible and provides necessary nutrients. The spices used in Dahl vary from region to region in India, and each family often has their own secret blend of spices that they use to make the dish. We received the recipe from Gaby's family.
The best thing about Dahl is that it is very versatile, so you can add your favorite vegetables and herbs to make the dish your own.
Preparation
Step 1: Cook the dahl
Wash the lentils well.
Squeeze garlic cloves over the dahl and sprinkle with some salt. Add the water and bring to the boil. For some extra flavor you can use chicken stock instead of water.
As soon as the water boils, cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer until the lentils are soft and you can press them flat with two fingers. Then remove the pan from the heat.
Step 2: Prepare the vegetables and herbs
Cut the ginger and eggplant into thin slices
Cover a pan with oil, and add the curry leaves, cumin seeds and ginger. Fry briefly.
Add the onion and fry until soft and light brown.
Add the thinly sliced eggplant
As soon as these slices become soft, mix in the tomato pieces.
Add the hing powder (asafoetida), cumin powder, coriander powder, chilli powder, turmeric, cinnamon powder and salt. Fry until done while stirring.
Step 3: Mix with the dahl and serve
Add the dahl to the mixture and stir well.
Add salt and chili powder to taste.
Sprinkle the dahl with coriander and lime and serve with naan or rice. We added yogurt ourselves for a fresh touch.
Ingredients
400 grams dahl (red lentils)
1.5 l of water
Possibly 3 chicken stock cubes
2 eggplants
2 onions
4 large tomatoes
5 cloves of garlic
4 curry leaves
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 thumbs ginger
0.5 tsp hing / asafoetida (available at the store)
2 tsp cumin powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1.5 tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
1 tsp turmeric
0.5 tsp Cinnamon
Salt to taste
Bunch of fresh coriander
Naan
1 lime
Yogurt
Want to get in the mood? Here a music suggestion!
Achchese bhojon kijie! ('Enjoy your meal!')
