Dal Fry - Punjabi style

Dal Fry, popular recipe from Punjabi, India, which goes well with jeera rice, phulka or just plain rice. You can make this recipe with Toor dal/arhar dal/pigeon pea lentils or half-half of tuvar dal and masoor dal.

At home, we prepare dal by just pressure cook it and temper or add coconut paste to the boiled dal and temper. For a change try this style, you'll surely like this recipe and like to have this in your everyday menu. In my recipe, I have used Toor dal.

Ingredients

• Toor dal  - 1/4 cup 
• Finely chopped onion - 1 no 
• Finely chopped tomato - 2 nos 
• Ghee - 3-4 tbsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp 
• Green chillies finely chopped - 2 nos 
• Cumin seed - 1/2 tsp 
• Cinnamon- 1 piece
• Cloves - 2 pieces
• Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
• Garlic finely chopped - 1 and 1/2 tbsp
• salt to taste
• Dry red chilly - 2 no 
• Curry leaves - As required 

For Dal

Wash the lentils thoroughly. Soak them for half an hour in 1 and half cup water. Pressure cook it for 3-4 whistles.

For Dal Fry

1. Heat about 1 & 1/2 tbsp of ghee in a pan.
2. Add the seasoning ingredients- cumin seeds, cloves and the cinnamon stick. 
3. Add curry leaves ( i personally like to have curry leaves more in my cooking) 
4. Add the onions and green chillies, and saute until translucent but make sure that they do not turn brown in colour (If you over cook the onions, in your recipes it starts to float and spoil your recipe).
5. Add the tomatoes,turmeric powder and red chilli powder and let the ingredients cook until the tomatoes are soft
6. Pour in the boiled dal and mix well. Add water if required. 
7. Add salt and let it boil for about 5 - 6 minutes.

For tempering

1. Heat the remaining ghee in a small pan. 
2. Add dry red chilli and let it cook, 
3. Add 1/4 tsp asafoetida, chopped garlic and curry leaves. 
4. Stir and pour it all over the dal.