Dal Tadka - My simple version

Dal is THE comfort food for many people. Like others, we too enjoy a simple dinner of Rice and Dal :). It is just heavenly when you taste home cooked simple dal and rice after a busy and a tiring day at work. DH loves dal /blush and he is the most happiest person at home when the menu for the day has DAL....Its a surprise dinner for him today with his favorite food. Lets take a look at Dal Tadka - My simple version.

Ingredients:

• Toor Dal - 1/2 cup
• Tomatoes - 2 medium sized (I used grape tomatoes)
• Salt - To taste
• Water - 2 cups

For the seasoning:

• Ghee / oil - 1 tbsp (I used coconut oil)al cooks fast and gets really
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds / jeera - 1 tsp
• Asafoetida - A pinch
• Curry leaves - a few
• Cilantro - Finely chopped for garnishing
• Dry Red chillies - 3-4

Method:

• Soak the Toor dal for 15 min. By doing so the dal cooks faster and gets really mushy. 

• Add salt, tomatoes and pressure cook for about 4-5 whistles.

• For the seasoning, take a tadka pan and add the ghee/ oil. I used coconut oil to get an authentic south Indian taste.

• Add the mustard seeds and allow it to pop. Then add cumin seeds, dry red chilies, asafoetida and curry leaves.

• Pour the tadka/seasoning into the cooked dal and mix well.

• Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with basmati rice or phulka rotis. 

• Enjoy!!

Notes:

• You can use ghee or any kind of oil suited to your taste.
• You can choose to add tomatoes or make a plain dal without any veggies which would taste just as fine.
• You can even use moong dal or masoor dal/red lentils for this dal tadka.

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Kitchen - The Chef 's Paradise: Tips & Tricks:                                                                   Image Source: Graphics Fuel This page is all about tips and tricks in ...

Paalak And Paneer Pathrodae - Spinach Rolls With Cottage Cheese And Coconut Filling

PAALAK AND PANEER PATHRODAE 

 The innovative No Grain dishes my daughter makes look so delicious and healthy. Inspired by her I prepared  Pathrodae using no grains, but with a South Indian Touch. 

 I had never imagined that a No Grain dish could be so filling and satisfying until I tried and tasted the Paalak And Paneer Pathrodaes. 

My mother aptly christened the dish 'The Enchanting Emerald Delight' !

INGREDIENTS

 Large paalak leaves - 6 

Home made paneer - 1/2 cup 

Fresh coconut gratings - 1/2 cup 

Turmeric powder - 1 pinch 

Red chillies - 4 

Coriander seeds - 1/4 tsp 

Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp 

Tamarind - the size of a cherry 

Salt - 1/4 tsp 

METHOD 

1. Wash and pat the paalak leaves dry and keep them aside. 

2. Grind together coconut gratings, red chillies, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, tamarind, salt and turmeric powder into a thick paste, adding very little water if necessary. 

3. Add the paneer and run the mixer for one or two more minutes so that it blends well with the coconut paste. 

4. Take a heaped  table spoon of the coconut - paneer mixture and spread it on a paalak leaf. 

 

5. Fold both sides of the leaf lengthwise over the paste and press gently. 

6. Starting from the tip, roll the folded paalak up to the base and press it down gently. 

7.  Roll all the leaves using  the filling  into individual Pathrodaes .

8. Grease a steamer and steam the Pathrodaes for fifteen minutes using a pressure cooker.



Enjoy the Paalak And Paneer Pathrodaes while they are warm.